
Flip telephones are nice little devices — they allow you to talk, keep in contact with the world, and, for essentially the most half, discourage endlessly scrolling by way of that juicy viral content material you are craving.
However whereas the tech trade is hitting us with those big glass slabs and even bigger glassy slabs that can fold in on themselves, there nonetheless stays some selection within the class of the clamshell characteristic telephone.

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Whether or not you favor the old-school model, like we noticed with Gen-Z’s curiosity surge over the past yr, work a tough and tumble job, or search an easy-to-use mannequin for a loved-one who struggles with tech, we have you coated. We have scouted out what’s out there now in North America and provide you with our tackle what could also be the very best for you.
Finest flip telephone: Our prime picks

Nokia 2780 Flip
1. Finest general flip telephone
The unique flip masters
Nokia (or, fairly, its dad or mum firm HMD) is buying and selling on the model’s status as a dependable characteristic telephone producer with the 2780 Flip. It will not survive an atomic bomb like a few of its predecessors, however it’s going to maintain you within the twenty first century with 4G connectivity and richer internet options by way of KaiOS.
- 18 days battery life
- KaiOS with Google apps built-in
- USB-C charging
- Costly for a flip telephone
- Maybe extra fragile than its legendary Nokia brethren
Even at the moment, if you consider Nokia, your thoughts will probably head straight to candybars and clamshells designs. That stated, the corporate has advanced away from cumbersome plastic bricks that may face up to nonstop abuse and gone for a typically extra fashionable method.
The 2780 Flip is the model’s solely flip telephone on supply proper now and, at $90 out of your favourite retailer, we take into account it to be a dear one. That stated, it is designed to maintain low-intensity computing calls for for a perpetually or so, give or take. It helps Voice over LTE in the USA — we’ll discuss extra in regards to the nuances of that under — and sports activities KaiOS, one of many newer characteristic telephone interfaces with a concentrate on internet apps with the intention to do a ton on the open web with no need loads of processing energy. Oh, and it prices by way of USB-C, a lot in contrast to its speedy predecessor, the 2760 Flip, which makes use of an outdated Micro-B connector — ew.
The design is smooth, the T9 keypad is pretty extensive, and it has a battery for 18 days, except you take requires longer than 3.5 hours.

Sonim XP3plus
2. Finest sturdy flip telephone
Rugged design to flip for
The XP3plus runs on a customized fork of Android 11, has a number of programmable shortcut buttons, and is constructed rugged as all get-out. You need to use the touchscreen with gloves on, too.
- MIL-STD-810H, IP68 scores
- Programmable buttons are a boon
- Android OS is succesful
- New models solely out there carrier-locked
- Refurbed unlocked models at Amazon
- Android OS might be cluttery on a small display
There is a good probability that the Sonim XP3plus is the one flip telephone your provider is providing proper now. The corporate makes cellular hotspot units in addition to rugged telephones and this undoubtedly suits into the latter description with its MIL-STD-810H and IP68 scores. You are additionally in a position to make use of the touchscreen by way of gloved arms for the development website gauntlet. And simply in case you will have a ton of apps it’s good to get to rapidly, the XP3plus has a number of programmable shortcut buttons everywhere in the machine.

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However for all of its hardcore perspective and magnificence, it does include trade-offs. For starters, the telephone runs a customized fork of Android 11 and, on a tiny 320 x 240, you could discover it somewhat troublesome to navigate. AT&T, T-Cell, and Verizon all supply network-locked variations of the XP3plus without cost with a brand new line or, maybe, a brand new machine fee plan, however for those who’re trying to seize the telephone outright, it is both $200 or $50, however you will be getting a T-Cell-locked refurb from Amazon. We can’t deny it — it may be arduous getting enthusiastic about flip telephones if it’s important to make compromises that you just weren’t anticipating to even get one.

Jitterbug Flip2
3. Finest flip telephone for additional wants
Fast entry to emergency companies
The Jitterbug Flip2 is a cellphone for essentially the most susceptible in society, with large buttons, an easy-to-use menu, and 24/7 entry to emergency well being companies by way of the large crimson button.
- 24/7 entry to well being companies
- Straightforward listing menu and massive buttons
- Alexa in-built
- Solely works on Energetic wi-fi service
The Jitterbug Flip2 telephone from Energetic is a tool aimed toward being additional helpful to aged and susceptible populations. It has massive buttons and may be very simple to make use of. The easy listing menu is straightforward to navigate, and it even has Alexa built-in for voice instructions. Plus, for individuals who want it, there is a large crimson button on the telephone designed to provide you a one-press connection to emergency companies, nurses, and docs.

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As quickly because the telephone arrives, you will must activate it with Energetic’s proprietary wi-fi service — both on-line or over the telephone with a Energetic agent — after which signal as much as a minutes plan beginning at $15/month. You will even be provided a Well being and Security bundle to benefit from the telephone. It would not work with another American provider, nonetheless, so you will not be capable of purchase the telephone after which skip city.

Easyfone T300
4. Finest retro-looking flip telephone
For the techy classic lovers
The Easyfone T300 has a classy look, is available in three colours, has large buttons, and a devoted flashlight button and works with T-Cell and all of its MVNOs.
- Nice-looking telephone
- Large buttons and devoted flashlight shortcut
- Emergency SOS perform
- Solely works on T-Cell networks
Easyfone’s T300 may be essentially the most contemporary-looking of the flip telephone period and comes with a bunch of helpful options. It is obtained GPS positioning — with a linked emergency SOS button — plus built-in flashlight with its personal devoted shortcut key, FM radio, digicam, process lists, audio participant, Bluetooth and calculator.
It at present is available in two colours — you will need to pay a premium to get the crimson model. It additionally has a 1,500mAh battery and 4G LTE help for T-Cell and all of its related digital networks, together with Metro, Tello, Lyca, Speedtalk, Mint Cell and Extremely Cell. There is no help for Verizon or AT&T, although.
Finest flip telephones: The underside line
In case you completely, positively want a flip telephone in your life, you’re finest off with the Nokia 2780 Flip. It prices with USB-C, so you will not want to interchange your cables for the foreseeable future. It runs on a light-weight, however succesful working system that matches its light-weight processor simply high-quality. And its sturdy design will be sure that it will final you thru the day and the years — with out having to cost each evening, because of its legendary battery. The $90 is well worth the funding for those who’re critical a couple of flip telephone.

Nokia 2780 Flip
Editor’s Alternative
Why we selected these flip telephones
Our remit in recommending flip telephones right here is that they need to both be out there unlocked or might be bought from a wide array of carriers. There’s little or no incentive as of late for a producer to supply a product in declining demand, in order that’s why you see only a few of them within the unlocked market.
The state of affairs is barely totally different once we discuss carrier-locked units, since it is the carriers chipping in cash to OEMs whereas they appeal to potential subscribers to their service. You’ll discover a bunch of telephones locked to Straight Speak or Verizon on the open market. Lots of people are keen to go down the carrier-locked path, however we’re attempting to maintain issues a bit extra open in case you do resolve to maneuver your telephone over to a greater plan someplace else.
Voice over LTE
All of the telephones we have advisable are capable of transmit and obtain telephone calls by way of the Voice over LTE protocol or VoLTE. As the foremost carriers have shut down their 2G and 3G networks, we’re speaking about tens of 1000’s of units which might be not capable of place a mobile name, so VoLTE help is a primary requirement at this level.
That stated, your flip telephone may not final greater than a decade at this level, as AT&T, T-Cell, and Verizon proceed to interchange 4G cell towers with 5G radios. We aren’t conscious of a clamshell-style characteristic telephone that helps Voice over 5G but, however suffice to say that if there is not any 4G sign in your space, your machine could develop into out of date.
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