HMD has started rolling out the HMD Fusion X1 smartphone, after it was introduced at MWC 2025 earlier this year. Developed in collaboration with Xplora, a company specializing in safe smartwatches for children, the Fusion X1 aims to provide a controlled environment for young users to explore the online world at a pace determined by their families.
HMD said that has spent nearly a year engaging with parents and experts through “The Better Phone Project,” a co-creation initiative to develop solutions addressing family needs. The project involved working with parents and teens in 84 countries.
The HMD Fusion X1 is the first of two new devices planned for 2025, designed to help teens establish healthy digital habits while prioritizing protection.
Recognizing that no single device can fully insulate children from the challenges of the digital world, HMD plans to integrate real-time protection against harmful content with SafeToNet. This technology, expected to launch later this year on HMD phones, provides on-device AI-powered protection to detect and block harmful content before it reaches the user, without relying on external, potentially bypassable apps.
HMD emphasizes the importance of empowering children with appropriate technology at the right time and states that The Better Phone Project aims to challenge existing norms in smartphone design for younger users.
The HMD Fusion X1: Features for a Smart First Phone
The HMD Fusion X1 is designed to facilitate a controlled introduction to the digital world for younger users. It incorporates parental controls deeply integrated with Xplora’s technology, balancing digital freedom with safety:
- Social media & browser controls: Parents can instantly allow or block access based on their family’s rules.
- Safe calls & messaging: Communication is limited to trusted contacts approved by parents, with the option to expand the circle or eventually transfer full control.
- GPS tracking & safety zones: The device can alert parents when the user enters or leaves up to 10 pre-defined safe zones (e.g., home, school).
- Stay Focused Mode: This feature allows for limiting distractions during specific times like school or bedtime.
- Starts with zero apps: Parents have control over which applications are added and when.
Parents can manage the entire smartphone experience through the Xplora Guardian subscription, starting from €4.99/month. The customizable app and internet access allow parents to decide whether to permit, limit, or completely switch off social media and Browse.
Beyond safety features, the Fusion X1 includes elements designed to appeal to teens, such as a powerful camera with slo-mo selfies and gesture controls, a sleek design, and “Smart Outfits.” These customizable snap-on cases can enhance the phone’s functionality with gaming controls or improved lighting.
- Selfie Slo-Mo: Enables capturing slow-motion video.
- Smart Outfits: Snap-on accessories including:
- Flashy Outfit: An LED light ring for enhanced photos.
- Gaming Outfit: Adds buttons and joysticks for gaming.
- Charging Outfit: Provides 65% additional power and doubles as a stand.
The device also features a repairable design, allowing for easy at-home replacement of components like cracked screens or batteries, encouraging a sense of ownership and understanding of technology.
HMD views the Fusion X1 as more than just a phone, positioning it as part of a broader movement, “The Better Phone Project,” which aims to address a market gap for phones developed with parental input for teen users.
HMD Fusion X1 specifications
- 6.56-inch (720 x 1612 pixels) HD+ LCD screen with 90Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits peak brightness
- Octa Core Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 4nm Mobile Platform (2.2 GHz x 2 A78-based +2GHz x 6 A55-based Kryo CPUs) with Adreno 613 GPU
- 6GB LPDDR4x RAM, 128 GB (UFS 2.2) storage, expandable memory up to 1TB with microSD
- Dual SIM
- Android 15
- 108 MP rear camera, EIS, 2MP portrait camera with f/2.4 aperture, LED flash
- 50MP front-facing camera
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
- Dimensions: 164.15×75.5×8.32g; Weight: 202.5g
- Dust and water resistant (IP54)
- 5G SA/NSA, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, GPS/ GLONASS/ Beidou, USB Type-C
- 5000mAh battery with 33W PD & QC fast charging
Pricing and availability
The HMD Fusion X1 comes in Noir colour, is priced at 269.99 Euros (USD 307 / Rs. 26,360 approx.) / 229 GBP (USD 310 / Rs. 26,560 approx.) and is available to purchase from Xplora site in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, UK, Denmark, Norway, Poland, and Sweden.
Two outfits (Casual and Flashy) are included in the box, while others are sold separately.