HMD feature phones now support PhonePe UPI 123Pay in India

HMD India has expanded PhonePe UPI 123Pay support to a broader set of its own and Nokia-branded feature phones in India. The move brings everyday digital payment functions to users who still rely on simple handsets instead of smartphones. On the supported phones, users can send and receive money using a mobile number or a UPI ID, which makes the service usable without a full Android-style interface.

The update is notable because it pushes UPI beyond the smartphone segment and into the feature-phone category, where many users still prefer compact devices with physical keypads, basic controls and familiar menus. The integration is designed around common tasks such as transfers, balance checks, transaction history and recharges, so the phones can do more than just calls and texts without changing the basic user experience.

The currently supported models are HMD 105 2G, HMD 110 2G, Nokia 105 Classic, Nokia 105 Single SIM, Nokia 105 Dual SIM, Nokia 106 and Nokia 123 Shield. These names matter because support is not being opened up to every HMD or Nokia handset at once. Instead, the rollout begins with a defined set of feature phones that already fit the use case of quick, low-complexity day-to-day communication.

For buyers, the important point is that the feature is live on specific devices rather than being a broad promise for the future. That means a customer planning to buy a feature phone for payments should check model compatibility before purchase. The company also says it is actively working to bring PhonePe UPI 123Pay to additional device models later, but the exact expansion list is still not public.

The key idea behind UPI 123Pay is to make digital payments usable on phones that do not need a full internet-first smartphone experience. In this rollout, the supported HMD and Nokia feature phones can handle money transfers through a mobile number or UPI ID. That is the most direct use case for a large number of everyday transactions, especially when users want to move money quickly to a known contact.

The experience goes a step further on camera-equipped models, where QR code scanning is also supported. That means users can pay merchants without typing in a UPI ID each time, as long as the handset has the camera needed for scanning. The phones also support bank balance checks, transaction history and mobile recharges, giving users a more complete payment toolkit on a basic handset.

This development is especially relevant in India because feature phones still occupy a meaningful place in the market for buyers who want simplicity, durability and a familiar keypad layout. For such users, the absence of smartphone-level complexity is not a drawback; it is often the main reason for choosing the device. Adding UPI access to that category can make the phone more practical for daily life without forcing a change in habits.

The value is also clear for people who use a feature phone as their primary handset but still need to pay for travel, local shopping, utility top-ups or small transfers. It can also help households where one family member prefers a basic phone while another uses a smartphone, since the feature phone can now take on a few financial tasks directly. The result is a smaller gap between what a simple phone can do and what many buyers expect from a connected device.

The support is available now in India on the confirmed device list. No separate launch price, service fee or promotional pricing has been disclosed for the feature-phone integration. Because pricing is not part of the available evidence, there is no INR figure to report here.

What is confirmed is the device availability rather than a new hardware launch. In other words, this is a software and service expansion for existing feature phones rather than a new product line. HMD and PhonePe are also working on bringing support to more models, but no date has been shared for that next phase. Buyers interested in the feature should therefore treat the current list as the only confirmed one.

For buyers, the main benefit is convenience without migration. Someone who is comfortable with a basic phone can keep the same form factor while gaining access to digital payments. That can be especially useful for users who do not want the battery drain, interface clutter or maintenance overhead that sometimes comes with smartphones. It also means the payment experience is being adapted to the device, rather than asking the user to adapt to a different device category.

For the wider market, this is a reminder that India’s digital payment ecosystem is still spreading into devices beyond the typical smartphone-first audience. Feature phones are often treated as secondary or entry-level devices, but this update gives them a stronger role in everyday commerce. It also creates a clearer path for users who may eventually move to smartphones later, because they can start with UPI on a familiar handset first.

There are still a few gaps in the announcement. The exact timetable for adding more supported models has not been shared, and the next wave of compatible phones remains unspecified. It is also not clear whether the user experience will be identical across every supported model, especially where camera-based QR payments are involved.

The available details also do not mention any activation fee, bundled service charge or special offer tied to the integration. No separate instructions about regional rollout differences, carrier restrictions or software version requirements have been disclosed either. Those missing points matter because buyers often want to know not just that a feature exists, but whether it will work on the specific handset and configuration they plan to buy.

HMD’s latest move makes its feature phones more useful for Indian users by adding PhonePe UPI 123Pay support across a defined set of models. The update covers money transfers, QR payments on camera-equipped phones, balance checks, transaction history and recharges. For anyone who prefers a basic handset, the change adds a practical digital layer without changing the core appeal of a feature phone.

The big takeaway is simple: feature phones are no longer limited to calls and SMS in this setup. They can now act as a lightweight payment device for selected users in India. The rollout is live, the supported phone list is known, and the broader expansion remains a watch item for buyers who want to see how far this support goes next.