Retro Makes a Comeback: A Brief History of Flip Phones (1996-2020)

Introduction

In the 1990s, Motorola released the Startac, the first flip phone. It was a clamshell design with a small display on the front and a keyboard on the back. At a time when most people were still using landlines, this new type of phone was a major innovation.
 
Over the next two decades, flip phones became increasingly popular, thanks to their convenient design and durability. With the advent of the iPhone in 2007, many people predicted that the flip phone would become obsolete.
 
However, in recent years there has been a resurgence in the popularity of these retro devices. So how did we get here - and what is the future of flip phones?
 
Let's take a walk through time to see how flip phones have evolved over the years.

Motorola StarTAC (1996)

Released in 1996, the Motorola StarTAC was the first flip phone. It was a clamshell design with a small display on the front and a keyboard on the back. This new type of phone was a significant innovation at a time when most people were still using landlines.
 
This innovative design shocked the world, and Motorola quickly became the leading manufacturer of mobile phones. The Startac was followed by a number of other successful models, such as the Razr and the V3.
 

Nokia 9000 Communicator (1996)

In an attempt to beat competitor Motorola, Nokia released the 9000 Communicator in 1996. This was one of the first phones to feature a color screen, and it also had a full QWERTY keyboard. The phone was bulky and expensive, but it was very popular among business users.

Ericsson R380 (2000)

The Ericsson R380 was released in 2000, and it was one of the first phones to feature a black-and-white touchscreen. This phone was also notable for its unique game Snake, which could be played on the phone's small screen. The R380 paved the way for Blackberry's later success in the business market.

Sanyo SCP-5300 (2002)

 
Today's smartphones are ubiquitous with photography, but in 2002 the Sanyo SCP-5300 was one of the first to offer a camera. Suddenly, the ability to take pictures on your phone was a must-have feature.
 
The SCP-5300 built on the success of the SCP-5000's color display, and this new version enabled users to connect phone numbers to images that showed up when the phone rang.

Motorola Razr V3 (2004)

In 2004, flip phones experienced their moment in the mainstream with the release of the Motorola Razr V3. This phone was extremely thin and featured a sleek metal design. It also had a color screen and a built-in camera.
 
The Razr quickly became one of the most popular phones on the market - in part due to it's thin size, 3G connectivity, and a 2-megapixel camera. Many consider the Razr V3 to be the peak of flip phone design.

Panasonic P001 (2007)

The Panasonic P001 was released in 2007, and it was one of the first phones to feature a large, 3.1-inch touchscreen display. This phone was noted for its ability to be used globally and paved the way for globe-trotting travelers and their GPS-powered devices. The one-push open also made it ergonomic and easy to use.

Samsung Z Flip (2020-2022)

After 2007's Panasonic P001, the flip phone design all but disappeared from the market. Reason - iPhone. Apple's device innovation led to the smartphone market explosion and the flip phone's demise.
 
But in recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of these retro devices. In 2020, Samsung released the Z Flip - a new take on the classic flip phone. This phone features a large display that folds in half, similar to the Razr V3. But unlike its predecessors, the Z Flip has a much larger display and a modern design expected in a smartphone.
 
2022 has seen the release of the Samsung Z Flip 4 - taking the flip phone's resurrection further with a 6.7-inch screen that can be folded in half. It's the best of both worlds - the style of a classic flip phone with the functionality of a modern smartphone.

Are Flip Phones Back?

The future looks bright for the flip phone. Even with the release of new smartphones every year, the retro design and appeal of the flip phone have led to a resurgence in popularity. People seem nostalgic for these devices' simplicity, and manufacturers are happy to oblige. Only time will tell if the flip phone is here to stay - but for now, it looks like retro is making a comeback.
 
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