# Commodore Flip Phone

31 Hacker News commenters recommended Commodore Flip Phone and 16 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People like its distinctive retro design and its limits on distractions, with a basic set of smartphone features kept. Critics say the $500 price is too high and that it looks cheap.

## Why people recommend it

- Distinctive retro design, not a black slab (4 comments): "They would love the design 1000x more than what biggest players bring on the market these days." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48553586)) "It was fun, quirky and a bit different to the general black rounded rectangle." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49279196)) "It isn't yet another iOS/Android clone, and I'm here for it!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48553209))
- Limits distractions with no browser (3 comments): "I want to have access to whatsapp/browser but with constraints of T9 so that I am not tempted to jump from website to website" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48553689)) "I love that it doesn't even have a browser that I'd need to try to disable via ADB or some other hack." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48555224)) "it ticks all the boxes in what a dumb phone should and shouldn't have in terms of functionality" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48554203))
- Feels like a good middle ground (3 comments): "I can really see the appeal of such a product." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48555153)) "This seems like exactly what I wanted." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48553771)) "This is an excellent middle ground." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48553310))
- Keeps essentials, drops the rest (2 comments): "Being reachable and able to reach is good, and you'll still get all the other benefits." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45872397)) "It has all of the good parts of a smart phone, none of the bad ones." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48553206))

## What people warn about

- Price too high for features (6 comments): "At $500 this one definitely isn't, not when an ultra-cheap Android smartphone capable of running WhatsApp costs $90." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48554645)) "it's the bonkers $500 price tag when you can go get a 5G military grade waterproof flip phone" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48558744)) "$500 USD (so $700(!!!) Canadian) is pretty bizarre for what it is" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48553606))
- Looks cheap, lacks premium feel (4 comments): "it looks exactly like the kind of junk you'd have found for $10 in the Shenzhen knock off markets" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48554286)) "I was hoping it would look like an Amiga not a CRT candy iMac" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48553411)) "doesn't even have a premium look - not even a metallic body" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48562081))
- Missing group MMS and NFC (2 comments): "one of the things you'll likely miss if you're in the US is group MMS support." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48554339)) "more concerned about nfc payment and public transport apps not working" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48567998))
- Too many restrictions for some (2 comments): "I really like the concept, but I think the restrictions are a double-edged sword." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48554292)) "You shouldn’t have to pay a premium just to have features removed." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48856919))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Minimal Phone 2](https://hackerapproved.com/p/minimal-phone-2.md): 34 recommend
- [Nokia phones](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nokia-phones.md): 29 recommend
- [Commodore Digital Detox Phone](https://hackerapproved.com/p/commodore-digital-detox-phone.md): 14 recommend
- [Mudita Kompakt](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mudita-kompakt.md): 8 recommend
- [HMD Touch 4G](https://hackerapproved.com/p/hmd-touch-4g.md): 8 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Commodore+8020+smart+flip+phone&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Commodore Flip Phone", https://hackerapproved.com/p/commodore-flip-phone/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).