It’s not often we see something genuinely novel from a smartphone, but HMD’s new Fuse handset promises just that. The company that used to put out Nokia phones calls this “a phone that grows with your kids,” but that’s not what will grab your attention at first.
The most eye-catching feature is an AI feature called Harmblock+, which “[s]tops nudity from being shown, shot, or stored.” That’s a major concern for any parent looking to give their kid access to a smartphone, but it’s not where the HMD Fuse begins.
Sparking the Fuse
HMD‘s new handset starts life as a locked-down device, with access to anything subject to parental control. Social media apps and access to app stores are absent until parents decide that kids are ready. Parents can whitelist approved contacts, limiting who the youngster can call, while also blocking suspicious numbers that may attempt to contact them.
The Fuse also acts as a geo-fencing device, with up to ten locations being designated as ‘safe’. When Junior wanders outside of these areas, parents are sent a notification. The feature could prove a sketchy one for teenagers, but younger kids may not feel quite so privacy-deprived (at first).
App installation and access are controlled by a parent’s device, with permission being granted from that end. Any installed apps may be hidden or made available at any time, using the Harmblock+ app, and HMD promises that “as with all HarmBlock+ protections, they are built deep into the device and cannot be bypassed by your child.” Time will tell if that’s a true claim.
As far as the HMD Fuse’s capabilities as a smartphone go, it’s not a bad starter device. A 6.56in 720 x 1,612 90Hz display lives up front with a 50MP front-facing camera sensor tucked into its screen. A Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, 6GB of system memory (with another 6GB of virtual memory), and 128GB of storage occupy some of the internal space, while the Fuse also packs a 108MP main camera sensor in the rear. A 2MP depth camera, which we don’t expect much from, lives next to it.
Elsewhere, the Fuse is powered by Android 15 (for software) and a 5,000mAh battery (for hardware). 33W wired charging ensures its battery is topped up, while a side-mounted fingerprint sensor provides biometric access.
As kids’ smartphones go, the HMD Fuse is a fantastic effort on paper. Robust parental control that evolves as children age will be an attraction for many parents. Automatic blocking of nude imagery, via the Harmblock AI system, will also bring some peace of mind. The system works by scanning onscreen activity and automatically censors nude images on websites and apps. Additionally, HMD says that if the Fuse “detects nudity through any app using the camera, HarmBlock AI makes it impossible to take a photo, video or stream.”
The HMD Fuse is launching in the UK first, with an Australian release scheduled for soon after. Other regions will follow later, with more details to be revealed closer to the time. If Stuff can get its hands on the Fuse, we’ll have a review up as soon as humanly possible.
