USA TODAY US Edition

Do flip phones still work? What to know about old school tech

- Marc Saltzman The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessaril­y reflect those of USA TODAY.

What goes around, comes around. Popularize­d in the late ’90s and early ’00s, clamshell “flip phones” were trendy for their compact design – a fraction of the size of chunky “brick” phones a few years earlier – and offered satisfying closure when you hung up a call.

But flip phones weren’t ideal for texting as you had to press a key up to three times to land on the letter you want, not to mention super-small screens. And if you were lucky to own a flip phone with a camera, photos were grainy or pixelated.

Feature-rich smartphone­s – like the iPhone in 2007 and Android devices starting in 2008 – quickly stole market share from flip phones and other cellphones (including “candy bar”-shaped devices).

Fast forward to 2023, and despite its limitation­s, this retro tech seems to be a fascinatio­n among Gen Z.

Why are we back to flip phones?

Thanks to many high-profile TikTok personalit­ies talking about flip phones, the hashtag #bringbackf­lipphones has more than 25 million views on the social media platform, along with other related and trending hashtags, such as #y2kaesthet­ic.

The craze could be linked initially to Sammy Palazzolo (@skzzolno), who says flip phones aren’t just about retro kitsch, but the 18-year-old college freshman believes our reliance on smartphone­s could have a negative effect on young users, and trading them for a simpler flip phone when going out with friends leads to a better and less stressful night.

While sales data isn’t yet available, Google tells USA TODAY searches for “flip phone” increased by more than 140% over the past five years.

Even young entertaine­rs, such as 25year-old Cuban-born Camila Cabello, posted this to her 13 million followers on Twitter: “I’m team flip phone revolution. Maybe I can write the theme song guys”

“It started with Samsung’s flip phone and has been a big hit in South Korea,” says Tim Bajarin, a veteran technology analyst and chairman of the San Jose, California-based market research firm Creative Strategies, in an interview with USA TODAY. “Then it started showing up in TikTok videos, which got the attention of Gen Z, a demographi­c not familiar with the flip phones of the 1990s, and they began searching for those models.”

Bajarin says flip phones seem “like a fad for this generation at this moment,” however social media’s interest in flip phones could eventually have an impact on new smartphone designs, “if it shows a real demand for them.”

Gen Z TikTokers have also posted about other retro tech, including film cameras (and instant print cameras), turntables, cassette players and arcade machines.

How much is a flip phone?

There are a couple of options for buying a flip phone.

Resist buying an old flip phone – say, on eBay – as this vintage tech may not work after most major carriers shut down 3G service last year.

Like Sammy K, you can spend between $20 and $50 for a new flip phone, with some of the higher-end models featuring “modern” convenienc­es like Bluetooth connectivi­ty and a better camera with flash.

Or you can opt for a modern twist on the classic flip phone design, which will cost as much as a smartphone.

Starting at $889, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 has an innovative OLED screen that folds in half.

When closed, this 5G-enabled flip phone is small enough to slip into your jeans or clutch purse, and with a 1.9-inch

Cover Screen to view notificati­ons and messages on the outside, and integrated Samsung Pay to buy something at retail by waving the device over a contactles­s terminal.

When you want more real estate, however, perhaps to view a TikTok video, play a game, read an ebook or browse the web, the Z Flip4 opens to reveal a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display, with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.

Or fold it halfway for hands-free video calling, propped up in an “L” shape, to place on a table or desk.

The waterproof Android-powered phone also features twin 12-megapixel cameras (plus 10-megapixel selfie camera), fast wireless charging and several colors.

 ?? PROVIDED ?? Entertaine­r Camila Cabello is a fan of flip phones.
PROVIDED Entertaine­r Camila Cabello is a fan of flip phones.

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