Is the Balmuda phone being discontinued?

Table of Contents

• A One-of-a-Kind Smartphone That Did Great and Then Nosedived
• The Balmuda Phone Hands-On
• The Discontinuation Rumors
• What Can We Expect in the Future with Balmuda Smartphone Market?
• Conclusion

What is a Balmuda phone? Made in which country

The Balmuda phone is a beautiful and small smartphone, but definitely one of the weirdest we've seen at launch. Balmuda, the Japanese company best known for its fancy high-end kitchen appliances with a cult following, has decided to follow down that unusual path from appliance-maker straight into smartphone designer, and we love it.

But the Balmuda phone was tested by bad luck. As nice-looking and feature-packed as it may be, due to its somewhat high price point and the competitive nature of this market, it did not sell all that well. Naturally, though, talk of its death began to take hold.

The Balmuda Phone Hands-On

Before we get to the early cancellation rumors, though, let's consider what made the Balmuda phone special. The device also had a nice, small size and was relatively easy to handle. What is interesting about its design philosophy was its focus on minimalism and tactile experiences. Other than that, the Balmuda phone also offered some of the latest camera features as well as a sound system mainly targeting multimedia consumers.

However, the Balmuda phone wasn't shy when it came to established smartphone giants. At a $699 price point that's competitive with the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Google, other than pricier models targeting audiophiles, it meant this device never had mainstream appeal.

The Discontinuation Rumors

The rumors continued to roll in early this year when reports surfaced that Balmuda had halted sales of the Balmuda phone. The news was a surprise to many, as the unique aesthetics and features of this device had attracted plenty of fans. While the reasons for its cancellation are not entirely transparent, it is suggested that subpar sales along with technical problems played at least some part in ending its existence.

Nevertheless, the Balmuda phone has left a significant impression on mobile phones. This has trickled down its sense of design and what constitutes good UX around the form factor—a vibe that other manufacturers seem to be willing to try on for size, delving into new unexplored waters in terms of their aesthetics and functions.

What Can We Expect in the Future with Balmuda Smartphone Market?

The latter a Balmuda phone or more generally, some other fancy pivot into smartphones—is already into speculation about itself. Given the company's reputation for innovation and outstanding industrial design, we wouldn't be too surprised to see Balmuda in mobile again at some point.

Still, unless Balmuda spends time considering exactly how the market has changed and what customers actually want from a new smartphone today, they will have to establish a real point of differentiation with the established giants for which they want to garner attention.

Conclusion

The Balmuda phone was a daring experiment that showed how good the company's design could be. The end of this device is unfortunate for fans, but it serves as a good illustration that new entrants trying to tackle our most popular platform in a crowded market face extraordinarily high hurdles.

We will be able to confirm this if Balmuda makes a comeback in the near future as the smartphone industry continues its growth. Until then, the Balmuda phone will be one more quirky footnote in mobile tech history.