Big tech companies are no strangers to collaborations with names outside their niche. Samsung, for instance, has launched multiple phones in partnership with entertainment franchises like Batman and Iron Man. OnePlus has multiple collabs with gaming brands, and Huawei has been launching Porsche Design versions of its flagships for about a decade.
These partnerships allow brands to boost their exposure and keep up with trends, while the souped-up hardware often lands among the best Android phones and gadgets. However, that’s not always the case. Let’s look at the weirdest brand collaborations in tech that left many scratching their heads.
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8
Smartphone cases by KFC, Heinz, and Casetify
A finger-lickin’ good iPhone case?
Casetify has an impressive portfolio of collaborations with fashion brands, designers, and entertainment franchises. However, several names seem out of place on a smartphone case. One is KFC, which launched a lineup of Apple product accessories with Casetify in 2021. The collection included several cases for the iPhone and AirPods, an insulated bottle, and a phone charm with beads shaped like fried chicken pieces. A year prior, Casetify released iPhone accessories with another name from the food industry: Heinz. Several designs of ketchup-themed, bright-red cases were available for a limited time.
These two collabs score low on the weird-o-meter, and the resulting products could have made valuable collector’s items. Still, something is wrong with putting tech and fast food together. Images of grease-covered touchscreens come to mind when I think about it.
7
Huawei’s KFC-branded phone
5,000 units made and sold in China only
Speaking of greasy touchscreens, KFC and Huawei released a limited-edition, KFC-branded Android phone in 2017. The occasion: to mark the 30th anniversary of the fast food chain entering the Chinese market. Huawei made only 5,000 KFC Huawei 7 Plus units, and fried chicken aficionados could get one for 1,099 yuan, or the equivalent of $162.
The KFC phone was nothing special in terms of hardware specs, as it came with a modest Snapdragon 430 chip. But its looks made it stand out: it had a bright red paint job and the visage of Colonel Sanders etched on its back. The phone came with a special app that let you control the music at KFC restaurants, as demonstrated at the 0:49 mark in the video above.
6
HMD’s Barbie Flip Phone
A hot pink phone without distractions
Riding the hype wave caused by the Barbie movie in 2023, HMD made a Barbie-themed phone. It is a simple flip phone with no social media or other distractions, and you can still get one for $130. While cute, the phone carries strong novelty vibes. It is a niche product for a niche audience.
Still, those who got a Barbie Flip Phone seem to love it, judging by its Amazon reviews. Buyers must have been impressed by details and design features like the swappable colorful shells, the included stickers and gems, and the phone’s cover doubling as a mirror. Fun fact: Out of the box, the phone comes with Ken’s phone number in its contacts list.
5
Realme and Coca-Cola
A fizzier version of the Realme 10 Pro 5G
When the first leaks about this Realme phone surfaced, some people (myself included) dismissed them as fake for how silly they seemed. But they were spot on. The Chinese company released its Realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola edition in select markets in early 2023.
Did anyone want a phone with a Coca-Cola billboard on the back? I’m not sure, and I don’t see a strong association between Android phones and the world’s most popular soft drink. Still, if I were a soda connoisseur, I’d have appreciated the attention to detail Realme put into this project. The phone came with themed wallpapers, stickers, and sounds for a refreshing user experience.
4
Hyperkin’s Oscar Mayer Edition game controller
Could somebody pass the mustard?
What’s better than a game controller? A game controller that looks like a hot dog. Nope, that’s not an April Fool’s joke. This Hyperkin gamepad bearing the Oscar Mayer logo is a real product you can buy. It costs $85 and works with the Nintendo Switch, Mac and Windows PCs, as well as with Android phones and iPhones. Condiments not included. If hot dogs aren’t your jam, the gaming accessory brand has Kool-Aid and Sriracha-themed controllers.
This partnership with Hyperkin can’t hold a candle to Oscar Mayer’s collab with beauty product company Seoul Mamas. In 2022, the two released a bologna-themed face mask, which, as weird as it may sound, was a smashing hit on Amazon, Eater reports.
3
Razer and Gillette make an actual razor
A razor for gamers, I suppose
Razer’s 2023 April Fool’s joke revolved around the fictional Razer Razer, a mouse that doubled as an electric shaver. This inspired a real and fancy shaving product. It came in the form of a collab between Razer and Gillette where the latter provided the know-how and the former supplied a splash of its signature color scheme.
The Gillette Labs Razer is based on an existing razor featuring a magnetic stand, a FlexDisc contour follower, and an exfoliating strip below the five blades. It won’t make you better at Heroes of the Storm, but you’ll look good while gaming. You can buy one for about $15.
2
Audio gear from Skullcandy and Budweiser
Wireless earphones and headphones bearing the beer’s brand
What do headphones and beer have in common? Both come in cans! But beyond that, not much. Still, audio gear maker Skullcandy teamed up with Budweiser on a series of wireless headphones and earphones bearing the well-known beverage brand’s logo.
The two companies took four existing Bluetooth products and gave them a glow up. These were the bass-heavy Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones, as well as the Indy Evo, Sesh Evo, and Dime earphones. The red and black color combo looks fire, but you won’t find the Skullcandy name on our list of best wireless headphones.
1
Gamer furniture from Asus ROG and IKEA
Do opposites always attract?
Gaming gear tends to be flashy, showy, and vividly colored. It’s the opposite of IKEA’s approach to product design, but the Swedish giant now offers a series of furniture designed in collaboration with Asus ROG. It includes gaming desks, gaming chairs, and accessories, and I’m sure they do their job well. However, I suppose IKEA is far from the first brand a gaming enthusiast would associate with their hobby, which makes this one of the weirder collabs whose products you can still buy.
What were they thinking?
Brand collaborations are a tried-and-tested way to generate hype and expose a product to a broader audience. While they don’t always aim to boost sales, such partnerships help companies stay trendy and maintain a favorable image.
But as we saw, some collabs are weirder than others. Did any of them help these brands achieve their marketing goals? We will never know, but they raised a few eyebrows when they launched. They’re the exception. Most limited-edition phones excite fans and sometimes turn into treasured collector’s items, much like every Olympic edition phone.
