Why are flip phones coming back? Gen Z is powering a renaissance for the forgotten device
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).
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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 Paste BN searches for "flip phone" increased by more than 140% over the past five years.
Even young entertainers, such as 25-year-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 Paste BN. "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 now that most major carriers have 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.
Follow Marc on Twitter for his "Tech Tip of the Day" posts: @marc_saltzman. Email him or subscribe to his Tech It Out podcast. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Paste BN.