HMD Fame appears to be HMD Global’s next attempt to make a tiny phone useful without turning it into a full smartphone: a leaked compact feature phone with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a programmable shortcut button.
The unannounced device is expected to follow last fall’s HMD Touch, which paired a 3.2-inch touchscreen with a Nokia Lumia-inspired design, according to Notebookcheck. The leak comes from @smashx_60, whom Notebookcheck describes as “highly reliable,” but HMD has not formally announced the Fame.
HMD Fame leak points to a touch-first feature phone, not another slab smartphone
The leaked HMD Fame sits in an odd category: smaller and simpler than an Android smartphone, but more modern than a traditional keypad feature phone. Notebookcheck reports that HMD is developing two slightly larger models related to the HMD Touch: the HMD XploraOne Neo and the HMD Fame.
The Fame is described as technically close to the Touch, but with a larger display and some physical-control changes. The screen reportedly grows to 3.5 inches, while narrower bezels keep the overall size only slightly larger.
That matters because the Touch was already unusual. Most feature phones still rely on physical keypads and small non-touch displays. HMD’s approach keeps the feature-phone premise — basic hardware, limited apps, long practical use — but shifts more interaction onto a touchscreen.
The device also appears to retain hardware that has disappeared from many higher-end phones. Notebookcheck says the Fame is expected to include a microSD slot, Bluetooth, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, letting it work as an MP3 player despite the typically limited app selection on feature phones.
The 3.5-inch display nudges the HMD Touch formula forward
The clearest change is the screen. The HMD Touch used a 3.2-inch touchscreen; the HMD Fame is expected to move to 3.5 inches.
That is not a reinvention. It is an incremental adjustment. But on a device this small, a few tenths of an inch can affect tapping, reading, and basic app-style navigation more than it would on a larger phone.
| Device | Display | Design direction | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMD Touch | 3.2 inches | Compact touchscreen feature phone with Nokia Lumia-inspired look | Previously unveiled |
| HMD Fame | 3.5 inches | Slightly larger touchscreen model with narrower bezels | Leaked, unannounced |
| HMD XploraOne Neo | Not specified in the supplied leak | Reportedly another slightly larger related model | Leaked, unannounced |
Notebookcheck also reports that the button below the Fame’s screen is expected to be a physical button, rather than a touch-sensitive one. That is a small but telling choice. On a compact phone, physical confirmation can matter more than gesture polish.
The right side reportedly carries a power button and volume rocker. The bottom edge is said to include a microphone and USB-C port, used to charge a 2,000 mAh battery.
The camera setup remains modest. The Fame is expected to include a 640 x 480-pixel front-facing camera, listed as 0.3 megapixels, and a 2-megapixel main camera with an LED flash.
AUX and shortcut controls point to practical users, not spec chasers
The 3.5 mm headphone jack is one of the most useful details in the leak. If the Fame is meant to double as an MP3 player, wired audio support makes the device more practical without relying on wireless accessories.
The programmable button is the other notable hardware choice. Notebookcheck says the top-mounted button can quickly call a contact or open an app. That is not a flashy feature, but it fits the device’s likely purpose: reduce friction for common tasks on a phone with limited screen space.
For readers comparing adjacent hardware choices, MLXIO’s coverage of $68 HMD Arc 2 Makes the Headphone Jack Matter Again and 5.2-Inch Enough Phone Bets Giant iPhones Went Too Far offers useful context on two design ideas also visible in the Fame leak: wired audio and smaller screens. The Fame report itself, however, does not include pricing or market-positioning details.
That restraint matters. Based only on the leak, the Fame looks less like a low-end smartphone rival and more like a feature phone trying to borrow the most useful parts of smartphone interaction: touch input, app shortcuts, Bluetooth audio, USB-C charging, expandable storage, and a camera for basic shots.
It also keeps expectations grounded. Notebookcheck says app selection is typically very limited on feature phones, so the shortcut button should not be read as evidence of a broad app platform. The reported function is simple: call a contact or open an app.
Price, software and launch markets remain the missing pieces
The biggest gaps are still the commercial ones. Notebookcheck says it is not yet known when the HMD Fame will be released or what it will cost.
Several technical details also remain unconfirmed. The leak names the display size, cameras, battery capacity, USB-C, headphone jack, microSD support, Bluetooth, button layout, and flash. It does not confirm the chipset, operating system, connectivity bands, regional availability, or final software features.
That leaves HMD with a narrow execution challenge. If the Fame costs too much, it risks being judged against fuller smartphones. If the software is too limited, the touchscreen and shortcut button may not add enough value beyond the HMD Touch formula.
The next signals to watch are certification filings, retailer listings, official renders, and HMD’s own announcement. Those should show whether the Fame is a global product, a region-specific feature phone, or simply another experiment in HMD’s growing line of compact touch-first devices.
Key Takeaways
- HMD Fame suggests feature phones are getting more touchscreen-focused without becoming full smartphones.
- The 3.5 mm headphone jack and microSD slot could appeal to users who want a simple phone that doubles as an MP3 player.
- The leak shows HMD is still experimenting with compact alternatives to standard Android slab phones.
