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Manufacturers are increasingly releasing devices that give children minimal freedom and parents maximum control. Two recent examples — the XploraOne smartphone from HMD and the emotional AI toy Smart Hanhan from HUAWEI — perfectly illustrate this trend.
HMD XploraOne: a smartphone that does not allow internet access
HMD, together with the Norwegian company Xplora (the leader in children’s smartwatches), has introduced XploraOne — the world’s first smartphone created specifically for children and completely lacking a browser and social networks.
Externally, the device resembles a simple feature phone but with a touchscreen: a physical Home button and front camera on the front, a single rear camera with flash on the back, a SIM slot and volume rocker on the left, and at the top a 3.5 mm jack and an additional button, likely SOS.
The functionality is deliberately minimal and safe:
• only calls and messages, both text and voice
• strict parental controls through the Xplora app
• no third-party apps, no YouTube, no TikTok
In essence, it is a “smartphone-phone” — a transitional option between a basic calling device and a full Android smartphone. HMD has not yet revealed the price or release date but emphasizes that the gadget will be affordable and aimed at children aged six to ten.
HUAWEI Smart Hanhan: a plush pet powered by real AI
HUAWEI has taken a different approach and released its first emotional AI pet — the soft toy Smart Hanhan, weighing only 140 grams.
Inside the plush and silicone is the Xiaoyi large language model (similar to Pangu), which recognizes emotions, tone of voice, and context. The pet reacts to touch: if you pet it, it smiles and purrs; if you shake it, it shows surprise and even mild annoyance. A 1800 mAh battery provides six to eight hours of active interaction and more than two days in standby mode.
When connected to a smartphone running HarmonyOS 5.0, the toy becomes an emotional diary for the child: it tracks mood, key phrases, and even helps keep a simple voice diary.
In China, Smart Hanhan is already on sale for 399 yuan, about 57 dollars, and is available in several colors.
In short
HMD XploraOne is a phone for calls and messages only, with strict parental controls, ideal as a child’s first device. HUAWEI Smart Hanhan is a plush AI companion that understands emotions and replaces virtual pets from mobile apps. Both devices highlight the main trend: giving children access to technology under full parental control and without the risk of getting lost in the endless internet.
