The Best Flip Phones – June 2019

Though branded as an AT&T-exclusive device, the Cingular Flip 2 goes by another name on a different carrier: the Alcatel Go Flip, available on T-Mobile. Both devices are nearly identical outside of the branding, and both function as alternatives to Verizon’s LG Exalt LTE. Like that phone, the Flip represents an evolution in basic flip phone technology. Though the physical design of that device isn’t quite as modern and minimalist, featuring a smaller display and a more basic design, the inclusion of LTE in both the AT&T and T-Mobile models make this an ideal upgrade for anyone looking to stay on a basic flip phone.

The basic design of the phone is relatively unassuming. It’s made of black or blue plastic, featuring a color display on the front of the device for the time and battery life, and an internal 2.8″ display at a relatively low-res 240p. On the front of the device is a 2MP camera, which means you’ll want to keep a point and shoot with you if you plan on taking some real photographs. Both devices feature standby ratings of up to 16 hours, and 8 hours of continuous voice calls. Both devices run the same operating system, a more modern take on the user interfaces of previous basic devices. Text messages are threaded, similar to smartphones, and you can even check your email using the device’s data connect.

Browsing is also an option, though the included browser is unsurprisingly simplistic and a bit too basic for anything beyond quick searches. Unlike Verizon’s first LTE flip phone, the Flip 2 supports both 3G and LTE, making it a perfect phone for anyone no matter where they are in the country. The inclusion of LTE means access to HD Voice for improve call quality between users, but more importantly, the phone can act as a WiFi hotspot (on T-Mobile) or as a USB tether (AT&T). Both of those options will require a data plan, but it means you can connect to the internet easily on your tablet or computer while still holding on to a basic device.

Pricing on both of these devices is pretty affordable, especially considering they’re only a couple months old as of writing. The Flip 2 model on AT&T costs an upfront payment of $59.99, but there’s no two-year contract and no device payment each month. It’s a solid price for a well-built phone considering the features included, and at only an extra $10 more than our runner-up LG device, anyone who can afford to spend the extra cash on this model should look into it—assuming of course that you can use LTE and HD Voice in your area. T-Mobile’s model, the Go Flip, is a bit more expensive, coming in at $75 in full. Again, no contract, but it’s odd to see the same device run an extra $15 on a different carrier.

At such a low price, that qualifies as a 25 percent price hike without any noticeable gain. Luckily, T-Mobile allows you to lease the device over 24 months, paying $3 down plus an addition $3 per month for a total of $75. Both of these devices offer a solid deal, especially if you have a tablet or other smart devices in your life. The inclusion of both LTE and HD Voice is something we hope to see on all basic phones moving forward, and it’s nice to see both of those options offered here.

One of the benefits to owning a flip phone over a smartphone is the improved ruggedness in its design. Since the body and screen on a flip phone are almost always made of plastic, they’re a lot less fragile than the glass and aluminum builds displayed in most smartphones today. And while rugged smartphones do exist, most of them are typically slower and more expensive than their competition. For this reason, keeping a backup rugged flip phone next to your smartphone might be an ideal solution for people who work in a dangerous profession, or spend a lot of time backpacking or camping. Kyocera makes two different devices, the DuraXE for AT&T and the DuraXV Plus for Verizon, that can fill this need for a rugged device.

The two devices have a different body, with the XE featuring a black and blue-grey design while the XV features red highlights to promote its carrier, but beyond those slight cosmetic differences, the two devices are nearly the same. They both have a grayscale external display for notifications, a 2.6 or 2.4 inch internal display, and a 5MP camera for capturing shots on the go. Both devices feature noise cancellation and were built to be used in noisy environments, making it easy to use at a concert or on a construction site. Battery life on both are solid, with a 1500mAh battery that has up to 18 days of standby time on Verizon and up to 16 days on AT&T. Finally, both phones meet military standards for shock, extreme temperatures, dust, rain, and more. In fact, despite their removable batteries, both models can be submerged in up to six feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

Pricing is, unfortunately, not standard on these devices. Despite their near-identical specs (with one notable exception), the price difference between the two models is rather extreme. Verizon users get off easy: the DuraXV Plus, which is a slightly older model than the newer XE, will run you $120 upfront without a contract or $5 per month over two years of payments. Customers on AT&T will, unfortunately, be paying nearly double.

The DuraXE costs users $269 off-contract, and without a different payment method (ie, signing a 2-year agreement or leasing the device), you’re looking at dropping nearly $300 for the device, making it the most expensive model on our list. This is where the biggest difference between the two devices come in: the DuraXE has support for LTE. That said, without advanced features like HD Voice, LTE doesn’t offer a ton of benefits here; certainly nothing worth the additional $150 upcharge. AT&T does offer certified refurbished versions of the DuraXE for only $229, but it’s still an expensive deal to make when unlocked smartphones can be had for a similar price.

The Nokia 8110 isn’t a flip phone, but it’s still worth a look for anyone looking to dump their smartphone to return to the days of basic devices. Created by Nokia, the 8110 is a revised version of the phone of the same name, originally developed in the late 1990s and made famous by, of all films, The Matrix. Dubbed “the Banana phone” for its curved body and slider piece, the Nokia 8110 is a great device if you’re looking to switch to a phone that does calling, texting, and plays Snake for when you’re bored in the supermarket line.

The phone uses a Snapdragon 205 processor, the same chip found in low-end Android devices, which is more than enough to power the basic tasks you’ll be performing on this phone. With 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage, a 2MP camera with a flash, and a 2.45″ TFT display, this is far more powerful than the original device when it was released, all for under $70 unlocked. The device supports most international carriers, in addition to AT&T (and all AT&T subsidies) in the United States. Unfortunately, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon customers will have to look elsewhere for their nostalgia trips.

The phone has some features that make it a great buy in 2019. From mobile hotspot to apps like Maps and Search, you can use the Nokia 8110 in your real life instead of as a novelty phone. While it might not be a flip phone in the traditional sense, the slider feature is great if you’re willing to dumb the flip phone format for a different type of device.

Most people probably aren’t going to want to drop the $350 required to pick up a Light Phone 2, but for users who are in their twenties or thirties and trying to get away from the smartphone revolution, it might be the perfect device. Unlike the majority of flip phones (and let’s be clear: this phone doesn’t flip, though it does fall into the same “basic” product range that most users looking for flip phones would be interested in), the Light Phone 2 isn’t marketed towards older audiences. Instead, this is a product for millennials looking to get away from constantly being connected to the web, while still being able to place phone calls, send texts, and even use ride-sharing apps to get around.

The first Light Phone was overly minimalistic, often to a fault. It could place phone calls and not much else, which made the device fairly useless for a lot of people, even those looking to disconnect. So while the original device was a gorgeous piece of engineering, as a modern phone, it couldn’t even compete with the basic phones on this list. The Light Phone 2 aims to change all that when it starts shipping in October. With a 2.84″ e-ink touchscreen, the phone is now capable of much more than the original device, while still holding true to the minimalist approach the company is aiming for. You can still place phone calls, sure, but now you can text your friends and set alarms each morning. After launch, you’ll be able to use ride-sharing apps (presumably Lyft, since their co-founder and president is one of the Light investors; it’s unclear whether Uber will also be included), load directions, and listen to music with the built-in player.

The Light Phone 2 comes unlocked and works with T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, or you can choose to use Light’s own carrier option for $30 per month. That carrier nets you unlimited domestic calls and texting, along with a gigabyte of data for the various apps that will be included on your device. It’s not the best deal we’ve seen, but it’s competitive with most prepaid carriers and saves you the time and hassle of switching your account. Obviously there are plenty of unanswered questions about the Light Phone 2. Will it actually ship in October? When will the post-launch apps be added? Still, if you’re not in a rush to get a new phone and you want a hybrid device between a smartphone and a flip phone, keeping an eye on the Light Phone 2 is ideal.