The best flip phones in 2023: 7 picks we think you’ll love

Before the smartphone age introduced the rectangular glass, metal, and plastic slabs we’ve come to know and love, the original flip phone was the first thing that sprang to mind when you thought of a cell phone. Yet, the venerable flip design is still in use today in current smartphones and vintage feature phones. This allows for the creation of strong, entertaining, and small designs. In light of this, it makes more sense than you would think to keep track of the top flip phones in 2023!

The feature flip phones of today nevertheless harken back to their predecessors from before the advent of smartphones, concentrating on the essentials like calls and texts while offering battery life measured in days rather than hours. They are an excellent choice if making traditional voice calls is your main motivation for carrying a cell phone because they are fairly priced, relatively portable, and frequently considerably more robust.

The more small size that a flip phone gives combined with the potent capabilities of a contemporary smartphone is good news for anyone who wants the best of both worlds, though. The idea of traditional flip phones is being combined with stunning touchscreens and all the power that Android has to offer in new designs like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4. One of the best flip phones on our list will suit your needs, whether you only need a cheap, little phone for making calls or you need a productivity powerhouse.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

The best flip phone overall

Why we chose the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4:

It was unveiled with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 as the newest in Samsung’s line of folding smartphones. It’s a gorgeously little smartphone that has a lot of power.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers an almost perfect balance of functionality, durability, and aesthetic appeal. It has a flatter, more streamlined look than its predecessor, and its Corning Gorilla Victus+ back and Armor Aluminum frame will protect it from accidents. After it is opened, you will be treated to a stunning 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2640 x 1080 pixels resolution. While keeping the phone closed, you may examine the 1.9-inch Super AMOLED cover display for alerts and other bite-sized information.

Although the phone may be visually appealing, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU within it gives it some significant power. With its 8GB of RAM, which is more than enough to perform 99.9% of the tasks you’ll throw at it, customers will not only have one of the most powerful Android smartphones available but also probably the most gorgeous. The reintroduction of Flex Mode allows you to set the half-folded phone up at an angle, with one app open in the top half of the screen and a control panel open in the bottom half, among a variety of other intriguing unique features.

As if that weren’t enough, the triple-lens camera system on the Z Flip 4 is excellent for capturing shots in ordinary situations and provides enough flexibility to take more specialized photos. It’s adequate on its own and when coupled with a respectable 3,700mAh battery, the phone becomes the total package.

Motorola Razr (2020)

Best flip phone runner-up

Why we chose the Motorola Razr (2020):

The updated Motorola Razr, which is in a league of its own, has dethroned classics like the Alcatel Go Flip. Its newer design, which serves as Motorola’s Razr 2019 replacement, resolves several of the issues of the previous generation, including its lack of splash resistance. The Razr 2020, which is unlocked and has the same size, clamshell design, and dimensions as the earlier model, as well as the inside 6.2-inch 21:9 folding display, exterior 2.7-inch Quick View display, and 5G connection, closely mimics the appearance of that device.

The Quick View display still uses the same operating system, but it can now run any app, do fast tasks, and react to messages. The new gadget has two sides of 3D curved glass and a gorgeous metal frame in shades of black, gold, and grey. The fingerprint sensor is now located on the back of the phone, while the bottom chin is smoother and slimmer. The cost of all these goodies is hefty, but if you don’t like the Z Flip 4 for any reason, this is a wonderful alternative to think about.

Alcatel Go Flip 3

Best basic flip phone

Why we chose the Alcatel Go Flip 3:

The Alcatel Go Flip 3, one of the most well-known flip-phone models, has a simple user interface with a logical keypad design for calling and navigating. You may use this phone for email, calendar, web browsing, and, of course, calling and messaging. It runs KaiOS and has a 4G LTE connection. It contains a quad-core CPU, integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, as well as 4GB of storage that can be increased by a personal SD card to a maximum of 32GB. An external display that you may use to preview incoming calls, alerts, and messages is available in addition to the internal 2.8-inch display. Eight hours of conversation time and 17 days of standby time are provided by the battery. It contains a 2-megapixel camera that you may use to record 720p HD video in addition to still photographs. This is all packaged in a stylish clamshell body. It is accessible to AT&T, T-Mobile, and Boost Mobile customers.

LG B470 Flip Phone

Best pre-paid flip phone

Why we chose the LG B470:

The LG B470 prepaid basic flip phone has a 1.3MP camera with zoom, programmable effects, and built-in Bluetooth if you’re searching for a flip phone with a few enticing extras. Also, multimedia assets like music and video may be downloaded and played by it. Its monochrome 0.98-inch outside display allows you to read texts without having to flip it open, extending the device’s seven-day battery life. A 2.2-inch primary display with vibrant colors and an improved audio mode that amplifies high frequencies are included. Text-to-speech functionality reads messages aloud, which is helpful for people who have vision problems. It functions on AT&T.

Jitterbug Flip2 Cell Phone for Seniors

Best flip phone for seniors

Why we chose the Jitterbug Flip2 Cell Phone for Seniors:

The Jitterbug Flip2 includes several characteristics that appeal to all smartphone beginners and persons who want a simpler, more constrained device while being heavily touted and promoted as the best phone for elders. With its huge screen, massive keys, loudspeaker, straightforward list-based navigation, and Amazon Alexa, the Flip2 makes it simple to use the phone and make calls.

The companion service offers several pleasant additions, like a dedicated urgent response button to call for help in an emergency and access to physicians, nurses, and carer resources, but it won’t operate on other carriers because it was built in collaboration with Lively. With no long-term commitments and live customer support headquartered in the United States, you may alter your plans at any moment. Choose between a minutes plan and a Health & Safety Package for $20 per month for unlimited talk and text. Moreover, Lively and Lyft have partnered to offer a vehicle service where a scheduler may assist day or night. It is offered in red or grey.

Kyocera DuraXE Epic

Best rugged flip phone

Why we chose the Kyocera DuraXE Epic:

The DuraXE Epic flip phone from Kyocera for AT&T promises to keep your connection active and clear of background noise. It can withstand some challenging circumstances. This tough specimen can endure drops onto solid concrete from a height of five feet and is waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and military-grade. The maximum level of protection and durability is provided by its chamfered corners and strengthened hinge. It includes 16GB of internal storage and a MicroSD card slot for an additional 512GB of storage. In addition to providing a tight hold, the device’s recessed sides and textured surfaces also feature powerful, 100+ dB front-facing speakers that produce clear music and dual-mic noise cancellation for noisy environments. You get Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, as well as more than nine hours of conversation time and 16 or 18 days of standby time.

ZTE Cymbal Z-320 Flip Phone

Best cheap flip phone

Why we chose the ZTE Cymbal Z-320 Flip Phone:

The ZTE Cymbal Z-320 is a reasonably priced, little flip phone that supports LTE and has several intriguing features. Start with a 2.8-inch main display and a 1-inch external OLED display, then add a small 2-megapixel camera and camcorder, along with Bluetooth 4.1 and FM radio, for the minimum necessities that fit in the pocket. It’s simple to use; the phone’s big buttons make sending quick, precise texts effortless. Up to 15.5 hours of talk time and 195 hours of standby time are available while yakking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why buy a flip phone?

One of a classic flip phone’s main advantages is its long battery life. A feature phone’s battery may survive for up to a week or more without a charge, in contrast to most smartphones, which must be charged every night. Flip phones may employ displays that are smaller and more robust than their all-glass smartphone equivalents since they don’t need to display as much information or support high-definition movies and games. They are therefore perfect for anyone who wishes to be sure they can keep in touch when traveling for a long time or performing a difficult job in distant locations.

A feature flip phone is for you if you’re genuinely antiquated and think that phones should only be used for making calls and not checking Facebook. Instead of wasting time and battery life on social networking applications or games, you’ll be able to concentrate on your call. Your flip phone primarily remains offline and shielded from spyware, beacons, and location services when you aren’t on a call. Also, compared to the quantity of data contained in smartphones, most hackers won’t bother with flip phones because they often don’t store or communicate personal data.

If you’re worried about the clarity of your phone calls, don’t be; a good flip phone will provide you with an excellent calling experience. Some of them have Bluetooth capabilities, allowing you to pair them with wireless earphones and headsets. Older consumers particularly enjoy more conventional flip phones since they don’t have to learn how to use all the many features, settings, and annoying touch and swipe screen controls; the majority of flip phones utilize conventional buttons to place calls and send messages.

The current generation of flip phones, which incorporate powerful Android smartphones into a novel folding form factor with dual screens and attractive aesthetics, will, nevertheless, appeal to people with more modern preferences. These newest flip phones provide complete smartphone functionality in a smaller design, making them perfect for even the tiniest trouser or shirt pocket. Given that there is less area for larger batteries due to the more compact form, battery life may be a little less than what you are used to in contemporary flagships. A younger generation that wasn’t alive when flip phones like the Motorola Razr initially entered the market finds the folding design to be unique and enticing. To appeal to younger customers, modern flip phones like the Samsung Z Flip 4 also come in a variety of colors.

In the end, the novelty of the folding form factor is as good a reason as any to select a flip phone. However, by purchasing one of the most recent models, you’ll also get excellent specs. Motorola has attempted to reinvent its iconic Razr design, but Samsung is unquestionably at the forefront of the folding phone revolution.

Which flip phones are best for older people?

All of the flip feature phones in our list should be quite simple to set up and operate, but the Jitterbug Flip2 is recommended for elderly customers looking for an easy-to-use phone or for buying a flip phone for an older family member. The Jitterbug Flip2 boasts a wide, bright screen, a roomy keyboard, a hearing aid-compatible earpiece, a button specifically designated to call for emergency assistance or vehicle trips, a flashlight, and a camera.

What’s the best flip smartphone?

There is little doubt that Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 is the greatest flip-style smartphone available at the moment. The flip smartphone industry has progressively undergone a revolution thanks to Samsung, and in the past several years, it has matured. The 2021 Galaxy Z Flip 3 was already a powerful piece of technology, but its sequel has built upon that excellent design with a faster CPU, longer battery life, quicker charging, and some pleasant design tweaks.