Slap-slap! How suddenly flip phones took off these days and turned into smartphones with a flexible earpiece

Folding phones are not just retro gadgets, they are an entire era of mobile communications. Their appearance in the 90s was a revolution, because initially the phone could be compact, convenient and protected from accidental clicks.

Legendary models such as the Motorola StarTAC have become symbols of the cutting-edge technology of their time. Flip phones have come a long way since then, and today, although they have been overshadowed by smartphones, many brands continue to release modern versions of these iconic devices to deliver the nostalgia and unique aesthetic of yesteryear.

Today I propose to plunge into nostalgia and remember the most iconic models that changed the landscape of mobile phones. And look at what they have come to now.

1. Motorola StarTAS

Year of issue: 1996

This is the world’s first flip phone, which was released on January 3, 1996. She was not an experiment of its kind, and had already launched another creation of the device.

At the top and bottom there is a speaker and the company logo, at the bottom there is an LED (any LED indicator), and below it there is a block of digital keyboards with a microphone. The antenna extends to improve the signal.

The gadget worked for no more than 2 hours in talk mode from the built-in 500 mAh battery. It is secured to the outside of the case.

The surprising thing is that despite the phone being withdrawn from sale, it can still be found on radio markets in working condition.

2. Motorola B100

Year of issue: 2000

The company continued to experiment in the clamshell form factor and introduced an unusual communicator for young people. That is why it was designed with a bright body of acidic colors.

It was impossible to install anything on it, despite all the necessary and built-in software. It included WAP Internet, voice commands, a clock, a schedule, two game talk timers and three games.

A truly legendary device that raises many questions. Yes, there were analogues from Nokia, but it was this model that users remembered more.

3. Motorola MPx200

Year of issue: 2003

Motorola MPx200 is one of the first smartphones based on the Windows Mobile system module. The gadget ran on Windows Mobile 2002 Smartphone Edition, making it one of the first Motorola phones based on this system. This gives users access to various applications including Microsoft Outlook, Pocket Internet Explorer and other programs.

The MPx200 had an SD/MMC memory card slot, allowing users to expand the storage capacity to store files, music and videos – an important feature of the relatively small built-in memory capacity (32 MB).

In addition, the phone is equipped with a color display with a resolution of 176×220 pixels. One of the strengths of the device was the removable 860mAh battery, which allowed users to replace the battery themselves, extending the battery life.

While the MPx200 wasn’t a massive hit among casual users, it found its niche among business users, allowing the smartphone to handle mail, calendar, and documents thanks to Windows Mobile.

4. Motorola RAZR V3

Year of issue: 2004

At the moment, a cult phone that is still remembered today. He managed to capture the audience with his unusual stylish design and clever advertising campaign.

The RAZR V3 favored an ultra-thin aluminum body (just 13.9 mm), which was revolutionary for its time. The telephone became a symbolic consequence.

Motorola RAZR V3 was equipped with two screens at once. The appearance served to display the time, call and message buttons, the main, internal one, was color and had a screen resolution of 176×220 pixels.

The phone had a 0.3 MP camera that could take pictures and record short videos.

The RAZR V3 has become one of the best-selling phones in history. From its release until 2006, more than 50 million units were sold, making it one of the most successful models in the Motorola lineup.

Despite the thin body, the gadget turned out to be very durable. The body is made of anodized material and high-quality materials for its manufacture are made.

Motorola RAZR V3 became not just a phone, but a real icon of style and technology of its time.

5. Nokia H90

Year of issue: 2005

This is one of the most innovative phones of its time. It had a rotating module camera developed in the country by Carl Zeiss. It could rotate 270 degrees, which soon made it possible to shoot from different angles, both for selfies and regular photos. At that time it was accepted.

The phone had two color displays. The main screen was quite large (2.1 inches) and had a resolution of 352×416 pixels. The external screen is used to quickly view alarms, clocks and camera status.

It ran on Symbian OS Series 60. It could store applications and use them as a full-fledged smartphone. Well, it couldn’t have happened without the support of the Internet, of course.

Unlike many phones of that time, the N90 supported a 3G network, which made it possible to use high-speed Internet and also provide video calls.

6. Motorola Backflip

Year of issue: 2010

It was part of a series of Android phones. The phone had a keyboard that opened and closed “backwards”, unlike standard sliders or clamshells. The screen keyboard behind the device when folded opened and rotated on a vertical axis, creating a “flip” effect.

Additionally, it had a trackpad located on the back of the display. This is to rotate screens, navigate menus and control the phone without covering the screen with your fingers. Well, we couldn’t do without a high-quality physical QWERTY keyboard.

The phone has a 3.1-inch capacitive touch screen with a resolution of 320×480 pixels. It also had a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash.

The Motorola Backflip wasn’t a massive hit, but it did gain a following among users who liked its unique design and GUI keyboard.

7. Samsung Galaxy Gold

Year of issue: 2013

This is a unique clamshell that combines retro design with the modern capabilities of an Android smartphone.

One of the key points of the smartphone was its design: it had two 3.7-inch Super AMOLED displays with a resolution of 800×480 pixels. One screen is outside and the other is inside. Inside was a T9 graphic keyboard, which, in combination with touch screens, offered the user two outputs for interacting with an external device.

It ran on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (remember this one? One of the most memorable versions of the OS, by the way). Performance tested by Snapdragon with 1.7 GHz frequency and 1.5 GB of RAM. It had an 8 MP main camera with autofocus and flash. There was also a 1.9MP front camera for video calls and selfies.

8. Motorola RAZR

Year of issue: 2019

And now we are back to basics. This was the most anticipated smartphone of 2019, because we predicted the return of the iconic clamshell, but with a flexible display.

The Motorola RAZR 2019 was inspired by the vintage RAZR V3 discussed above. The new RAZR is the same thin and fiery clamshell, in general, one hundred percent hit the nostalgic audience.

The device is equipped with a 6.2-inch flexible OLED display with a resolution of 2142×876 pixels. It consists of halves that allow the device to be compact when closed.

On the outside of the gadget there is a small 2.7-inch quick view display with a resolution of 800×600 pixels.

Motorola RAZR 2019 has a 48 MP camera with autofocus and 4K video recording. For selfies and video calls, a 20-megapixel front camera is used, which is located on the external display.

Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor and has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory.

9. Infinix ZERO Flip

Year of issue: 2024

And here we are, in 2024. Just recently, Infinix announced its ZERO Flip, the most affordable foldable smartphone in the market.

It is equipped with two video cards:

• Full-time AMOLED with a diagonal of 3.64 inches and a refresh range of 120 Hz (1056×1066 pixels, 1100 nits, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2)
• 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED area with 120Hz refresh range (1080×2640 pixels, 1400 nits)

The screens fold perfectly, leaving no gaps between them. And the explanation on the main display is practically invisible.

Powered by a 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 8020 processor, 8 GB of RAM (can be increased to 16 GB) and 512 GB of internal memory. Charges up to 48% in 15 minutes, has a built-in 4720 mAh battery.

Photo capabilities are provided by a 50 MP main camera (OIS+EIS), as well as a 50 MP ultra-wide-angle camera. There is also a 50 MP front camera. Everything can be shot in 4K.

Infinix ZERO Flip costs 79,999 rubles in Russia.