From chunky handsets with physical keypads to slim smartphones with seamless displays, flip phones have come a long way.   

Before smartphones became the norm, flip phones were known for their iconic design: open it up to send a call, text or play a quick game of snake, then snap it shut and carry on with your day.  

Foldable phones 

A modern twist, foldable phones are a little like a mini tablet that can fit nicely in your pocket. 

Instead of simply folding a phone in half, foldables open out to reveal a mighty display, with some as big as 7.6-inches. It makes them super useful in every aspect, from watching videos and gaming, to multitasking and getting work done. 

There are two main styles to look out for. Flip phones fold vertically, making a regular-sized smartphone more compact. Book-style foldables open horizontally, transforming the display into something closer to a tablet. 

Now you know what a flip phone is, let’s take a trip down memory lane and have a look at the phone that started it all.  

The first flip phone 

The flip phone design really took off in the late 1990s and 2000s, as manufacturers looked for ways to make mobile phones smaller, more portable and easier to carry. The clamshell design was simple but effective. And who could forget that satisfying click as you closed the phone? 

The first ever flip phone was the Motorola StarTAC, released in January 1996. Weighing just 88g, it popularised the iconic clamshell design that would go on to define a generation of mobile phones. It was a huge hit, with more than 60 million units sold worldwide. 

For many, the flip phone became an iconic part of mobile culture before touchscreen smartphones arrived and changed the way we use our phones forever. 

What could you do on a flip phone? 

Classic flip phones were all about keeping things simple. They gave you everything you needed to stay connected to your friends and family without all the extras we expect from our phones today. 

You could make and receive calls, send texts, save your contacts and, on some models, snap a few basic photos. And we can’t forget about the iconic games like Snake and Tetris. As the technology evolved, features like Bluetooth, music players and internet connection started to make an appearance. 

But compared with the smartphones we know today, flip phones were kept to the essentials. No collection of apps, high-resolution cameras or big touchscreen displays. Just the basics, all in a compact handset you could flip open and shut. 

How did they work? 

A hinge connected the two halves of the handset, letting you flip it open when you wanted to use it and snap it shut when you were done. 

The screen sat in the top half, while the keypad, battery and other components were housed below. When closed, the two halves folded neatly together, making the phone small and easy to slip into your pocket.

Today’s foldable phones take the familiar flip concept and give it a major smartphone upgrade. You get the compactness of a phone that folds without missing the features you’d expect from a modern handset. From 5G and advanced cameras to big, bright displays with built-in AI.

The icon meets a smartphone 

Modern flip phones might bring back the look and feel of the classics, but what’s inside is a whole different story. 

Take the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8. It’s Samsung’s thinnest and lightest Flip yet, weighing 180g and measuring just 6.1mm when unfolded. Fold it shut and the 4.1-inch FlexWindow gives you quick access to apps, widgets and notifications without needing to open your phone. Open it up and you get a 6.9-inch main display for everything from scrolling and streaming to gaming. 

Then there are book-style foldables, like the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Its 6.5-inch outer display opens up to an impressive 8-inch Super Actua Flex display, giving you more space to stream, multitask and get things done. Combined with Google's Tensor G6 chip and Gemini Intelligence built in, there's plenty of power behind that bigger screen too. 

So, while the idea of folding your phone in half might take you on a trip back to the 2000s, the tech inside is firmly future facing. 

How do they work now? 

Modern foldables use flexible displays and specially designed hinges that let the phone bend and fold without compromising how it works.

Flip-style phones fold down to become more compact, then open up to give you a full-size smartphone display. The software adapts too, making the most of different screen sizes and positions – whether you’re checking messages, streaming or multitasking.

Now, a lot of major phone brands have flip and foldable phones, including Samsung, Google and now Apple with iPhone Duo.

At O2, we have a great range of the latest flip and foldable phones. From the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 and Google Pixel Pro Fold 11, to classic designs like the HMD 2660 Flip. There’s something for everyone.

Check out our flip and foldable phone deals