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I love my smartphone as much as any modern 21st-century kid. But there’s something about whipping out a flip phone and then snapping it closed that is very gratifying and nostalgic. And while many phone manufacturers pump out high-tech handsets every season, it’s nice to see that once in a while, a simple clamshell device still makes it through the pipeline.
Not only do these handsets have superb call quality (and really, isn’t that what phones are made for?), but they’re also extremely simple to use. In addition, these devices surprisingly cater to several demographics, from the active to the elderly. Below, we’ve gathered our recent favorites.
Editors’ note: This post was originally published August 14, 2012, and was updated on November 19, 2013 with additional handsets.
James Martin/CNET
LG Exalt (Verizon Wireless), November 2013
Sporting an interesting LED light design that displays the time, your missed calls, and your text messages, the LG Exalt is a polished-looking handset with a generously sized 3-inch screen, expandable memory, and a 2-megapixel camera. Read the full review.
Josh Miller/CNET
LG Revere 2 (Verizon Wireless), April 2013
The Revere 2 keeps it simple: its interface is extremely user-friendly, and its alphanumeric keypad is comfortable to press. You can also easily adjust the size of the fonts onscreen via the volume buttons. Read the full review.
Josh Miller/CNET
Kyocera DuraPro (U.S. Cellular), February 2013
As the U.S. Cellular version of Sprint’s DuraXT, the DuraProretains the original’s extra-tough qualities. Not only is it waterproof, but it’s also resilient against dust and shock. Just don’t expect the same Direct Connect push-to-talk button on this one, since that’s a Sprint-specific feature. Read the full review.
Josh Miller/CNET
Doro PhoneEasy 618 (Consumer Cellular), December 2012
Designed specifically with seniors in mind, the PhoneEasy 618 has features like a built-in emergency call button, an ICE app to store pertinent medical information like your blood type and medications, and even an FM radio. Not to mention, its design is incredibly intuitive. Read the full review.
Josh Miller/CNET
Samsung t159 (T-Mobile), August 2012
It may not be the most stylish of handsets, but with its excellent call quality, generously sized buttons, and contract-free affordable pricing, the t159is a flip phone done right. Be warned, however, that it lacks a headset jack, so you won’t be able to plug any audio accessories into it. Read the full review.
