News > Phones Fancy Toaster Maker Is Getting Into Smartphones The first phone is 5G, with 6GB RAM, and a 4.9" screen By Rob Rich Rob Rich Twitter News Reporter College for Creative Studies Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on November 16, 2021 11:42AM EST Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Phones Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming The maker of the $300 toaster, BALMUDA, is branching out into mobile devices with its upcoming BALMUDA compact 5G smartphone. It may seem odd when a company known for making a costly, steam-powered toaster announces a new smartphone, but in fairness, it is a rather complex toaster. To its credit, BALMUDA is taking the new device very seriously—touting a compact form factor and 5G capabilities. It's even created a BALMUDA Technologies sub-brand, specializing in the development of IT technologies. BALMUDA, Inc In addition to the compact size and 5G, the BALMUDA phone also offers charging via USB-C or a wireless connection. It contains 6GB of RAM and a Qualcomm®︎ Snapdragon 765 CPU, features fingerprint ID biometrics, and is both water and dust-proof (IPX4). And it sports a 4.9-inch full HD display screen, though it ends up weighing less than half a pound (closer to five ounces). SoftBank Corp. will be the exclusive carrier for the BALMUDA Phone in domestic markets. However, SIM-free models will be available for purchase as well. So if you want to get your hands on one, you could, in theory, import it and set it up with your own SIM card. A brief tutorial on switching over from an iPhone or Android phone is also available. BALMUDA, Inc The BALMUDA Phone will be available for purchase for ¥ 104,800 (about $916 USD) online or in-person from its stores in Aoyama, Matsuya Ginza, or Hankyu Umeda. Reservations open on November 17, with a planned release for November 26. There's been no mention of an international release. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit