HMD Global is making a bold new move in the mobile market with the HMD Touch 4G. The market is full of smartphones with a lot of features and basic feature phones. This small device, which was released in India on October 7, 2025, is the country’s “first-ever hybrid phone.” It combines the simplicity and long battery life of a feature phone with the basic functions of a smartphone. The Touch 4G is aimed at first-time digital users, students, blue-collar workers, and anyone who wants a lightweight secondary device without the hassle or cost of a full-fledged Android phone. It costs ₹3,999 (about $45). It’s part of HMD’s “Better Phone Project” under the COMPASS initiative, which focuses on innovation that is useful in the real world.

The Touch 4G is a modern phone that connects to 4G networks and has cloud-based apps. It is based on Nokia’s famous Asha and Lumia lines. It comes in Cyan and Dark Blue (with Grey versions teased) and will be available starting October 9, 2025, through HMD’s website, major online stores, and retail stores in India. The company plans to expand to other markets around the world, including Europe, the US, the UK, Germany, France, China, and Thailand. This metal unibody phone is only 100 grams and 10.85 mm thick, making it easy to carry and tough. It also has an IP52 rating for dust and splash resistance.

Design and Build: Small and Old-Fashioned

The HMD Touch 4G’s design is a love letter to simpler times. It looks like the iPod Touch or Nokia’s colorful Lumia series, but with a modern twist. The 3.2-inch QVGA touchscreen is the best part of this device. It lets you swipe and tap to navigate without needing a physical keypad. However, there are still dedicated keys for quick access to core functions like calls and SOS emergencies. There is a touch-sensitive home button below the screen, and on either side of it is a 0.3-megapixel front camera for simple selfies and video calls.

A round camera module on the back has a 2-megapixel main sensor and a flash, which lets you take pictures with point-and-shoot in good light. With dual SIM support, you can use both your personal and work lines. The microSD slot lets you add up to 32GB of storage for music, photos, or more cloud content. There are also extra ports, like a 3.5mm audio jack for wired headphones, USB-C for charging and transferring data, and wireless FM radio support, which is great for entertainment on the go.

A Quick Look at the Most Important Features

The Unisoc T127 chipset, 128MB of RAM, and 64MB of internal storage (which can be expanded) keep the Touch 4G light and efficient. The S30+ Touch OS isn’t meant for heavy multitasking, but it does have a smooth, gesture-based interface that works well for basic tasks.

Smart without being too much of a burden

The Touch 4G is different because it has a “hybrid” design that combines smartphone features with a feature phone. The Express Chat app is one of the best features. It lets Android and iOS users send free text, voice, photo, emoji, and video messages in 13 languages. Families or teams can easily talk to each other across platforms by just scanning a QR code.

Cloud Phone Service goes even further by giving you access to browser-based apps for news, weather, cricket scores, and light browsing. This is great for staying up to date without having to download heavy software. Users can even do basic e-governance tasks and UPI payments, which helps people in rural or underserved areas get access to financial services. The ICE (In Case of Emergency) key adds an extra level of safety. You can call emergency contacts right away by triple-clicking or long-pressing the key.

You can listen to music, record calls automatically and manage folders, and play games in your free time. The battery lasts a long time, with up to 30 hours of talk time. This is because the chipset is efficient and the design is removable, so users can swap in a spare battery to keep using it. The sound quality for calls is good, and Bluetooth 5.0 works with wireless earbuds.

Who It’s For and Why It Matters

The Touch 4G isn’t meant to compete with high-end smartphones. Instead, it’s a way for the more than 300 million Indians who still use feature phones to get online easily and affordably. For people who live in cities, it’s a simple second phone for work or travel that doesn’t have a lot of apps or notifications. Its repairable design fits in with HMD’s push for sustainability. The software updates aren’t as good as Android’s (there’s no promise of six years), but the focus on making things last through simple hardware is new.

The Touch 4G reminds us that less can be more in a world where screens and batteries are getting bigger all the time. If HMD does a good job with the execution, as early leaks suggest with its responsive UI and clear call audio, this could change the way people connect on a budget. Visit HMD’s website on October 9 to get one and see the hybrid revolution for yourself.