The best flip phones

The advent of smartphones pushed monoblocks and flips out, but due to the cheapness, convenience, and practicality, there are still people who want to choose the best clamshell phone for themselves. There are not many such proposals on the market, and even fewer worthy candidates. We reviewed all the available models and prepared this review, which describes the pros and cons of good mobile devices from the category of inexpensive, large, powerful and with a double screen. They will be useful for both young and old people.

Clamshell phones which company is better to buy

This TOP of the best clamshell phones includes models from not the most famous, but reliable manufacturers. Among them there are both Russian and Chinese companies.
Here are whose products are popular among fans of folding mobile devices:

• TeXet Is a Russian trade mark of inexpensive electronics and telephony, which appeared in 2004. The brand belongs to the Alkotel Electronic Systems Company, whose head office is located in St. Petersburg. She specializes in creating both smartphones and clamshells.
• Onext Is a Chinese company that was originally set up to manufacture phone accessories. Over time, she began to produce mobile devices themselves, including folding ones. They are distinguished by loud speakers, crisp fonts, bright displays.
• Vertex - a manufacturer of mobile equipment, electronic devices and accessories with headquarters in St. Petersburg. He has more than 7 foldable mobile phones on his account. They have a comfortable body, large keys, speakerphone, flashlight. Their use is designed for both young people and the elderly, including those with vision problems.
• Alcatel - the company was abolished in 2016, it was acquired by another giant of the mobile market - Nokia. The renewed firm was named Nokia Corporation. On the market, models are still sold under the old name.
• ZTE Is a large Chinese supplier of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, operating in the Russian market since 2000. In the Celestial Empire, it is the second largest in terms of production. There are only a few clamshell phones in its catalog with an average battery and screen sizes from 1.7 to 2.4.
• Irbis - 2014 marked a new stage in the history of this brand of tablets, laptops, smartphones and phones, as it was bought out by another company. The choice of clamshells is quite good, the assortment includes the best models both with a minimum diagonal and larger ones - up to 2.4 inches.
• TkexunIs a Chinese manufacturer of stylish, original design mobile phones, some of which are foldable. Most of them are equipped with a single camera and a sufficiently powerful battery with a capacity of up to 3000 mAh.
• Mаfam - this firm shows that cheap phones are not obligatoryare of poor quality. She has options for both male and female. She usually produces devices in several colors, most often gold, black and white.

Rating of the best clamshell phones

The basis for compiling this TOP was user reviews of such devices. Studying their opinions, we paid attention to the attitude of buyers to the following points:

• Build quality;
• Battery capacity;
• Working time without recharging in talk and standby mode;
• Functionality - speakerphone and speed dialing;
• Screen sizes;
• Additional options - number of pix. cameras, radio, MP3 player, bluetooth, GPRS;
• Number of SIM cards;
• Key size;
• Color execution;
• Convenience of opening the lid;
• Simplicity of the menu and navigation through it;
• Sound quality through headphones and speaker;
• Body material;
• The amount of built-in and RAM;
• The presence of a slot for a memory card and its volume.

We also took into account the possibility of repairing the device in the event of a breakdown, value for money, availability for sale.

The best clamshell phones with a powerful battery

Mobile phones with powerful batteries must last for at least a few days of use. Good choices here are the two models suggested in this ranking.

TeXet TM-400

The mobile phone is presented by not the most famous company, its release did not make a fuss, but found numerous fans among lovers of small, convenient and inexpensive clamshell phones. It is compact and lightweight, it weighs only 106 g, fits well in the hand and no problem opens with it alone. For little money, two SIM card slots were placed here at once, but you will have to work with them in turn. It has a 1000 mAh battery, but it is more than enough for 2-3 days.

The manufacturer pleased with the "filling", offering not only radio, but also MP3, for which the device receives an additional point from music lovers. The presence of Bluetooth in such a budget copy is even more impressive, thanks to it you can exchange files remotely. This is very handy, because you can insert a card with as much as 32 GB here. The speakers here are strong, the interlocutor is heard well and the connection is clear.

Advantages

• A good flashlight that turns on from the button;
• Large display;
• Wide range of colors;
• The lid does not come loose;
• Excellent build quality
• Convenient menu;
• Loud alarm clock.

disadvantages

• Phone numbers from two cards are displayed in the phone book;
• No internal memory.

TeXet TM-400 looks solid for its price, but it is still most often used as a dialer or second phone.

average price: 1328 rub.

Onext Care-Phone 6

Initially, this phone was positioned as a mobile phone for the elderly, but after successful tests and reviews of young people, it began to be bought by them. Such popularity was promoted by large numbers, which is good for visually impaired people, their reproduction aloud when pressed, the presence of 3 hardware buttons "favorite number". Due to this, even grandmothers and grandfathers who are far from technology will be able to understand it.

The Onext Care-Phone 6 model has a bright enough flashlight, from which the battery almost does not drain. The speakerphone allows you to communicate while going about your business. The device fits in a pocket without any problems. But its most important advantage is its long-term retention of charge, even during long conversations. On average, it lasts for 7 days, and often you do not need to plug in the device.

Advantages

• Easy to use;
• The call is loud;
• Reliable keys;
• Decent feature set;
• Large font on the screen;
• Rear camera, albeit at 0.1 MP;
• Built-in radio antenna.

disadvantages

• When you press the SOS button, other keys stop working;
• The settings are not the best, not simple.

average price: 2180 rub.

The best cheap clamshell phones

The cost of such mobile phones today fluctuates around 900-2000 rubles, everything that is more expensive should be classified as above average. The functionality of such devices is not the highest, they are mainly taken for calls. We present to you the four leaders in this category.

Vertex S106

This push-button mobile device outwardly looks very impressive, as for its price category. It is made of durable plastic that, according to customer reviews, can withstand drops. Its body is thin, the cell phone weighs a little, it is comfortable in the hand. There are no complaints about the internal stuffing - there are two slots for SIM cards, Bluetooth and built-in 35 MB internal memory.

It is a rather large clamshell phone with a good-sized screen, large letters and a clear image. There is a speakerphone that works clearly and without interference. The camera is also provided here, but it is not very powerful, at 0.3 MP. The menu of the Vertex S106 is quite simple, not confusing, even an elderly person can easily understand it. MP3 is a bonus, which is not found in all budget push-button mobile phones.

Advantages

• Nice buttons;
• No need to block the keyboard;
• Answering a call by opening the cover;
• There is a quick dial;
• The lid opens with a click;
• Supports memory card.

disadvantages

• No external indicator for alerting incoming calls;
• Not the most sophisticated firmware.

With regular calls, the 800 mAh battery is enough for 3-4 days of work, while the phone charges quickly.

average price: 1590 rub.

Alcatel 2051D

This is an old model of a practical and comfortable clamshell grandmother for calls and more. It is often bought by elementary school students who enjoy the presence of games, an FM radio and an MP3 player. Music can be downloaded to a 32 GB memory card for which a slot is provided in the case. It may also be needed for storing photos, since the device is sold with a good camera (2 MP), as for an inexpensive clamshell phone. True, the manufacturer was not puzzled by the flash.

Alcatel 2051D has Internet access via WAP and GPRS, you won't be able to use it to the fullest, but sometimes it can help out. The presence of three desktops is convenient, the labels are located freely, do not "blur" the eyes. The buttons are large and reliable, do not sink, the inscriptions on them are not erased, the letters are white on a black background. The battery capacity is 750 mAh, which is enough for 3-4 days in intensive use mode.

Advantages

• Acceptable screen resolution;
• Easy one-handed opening, even with gloves;
• Powerful speaker, both main and additional;
• Good screen and phone dimensions;
• The ringtone volume is excellent;
• Speed ​​dialing;
• Turns on quickly;
• Bright screen;
• Adjust the sound of the buttons "on" and "off".

disadvantages

• Not a very convenient dialing method;
• Almost every tool in the menu is a separate button;
• Menu scrolling in one direction only;
• When the cover is opened, the call is not accepted;
• Not the most convenient visualization, in the telephone directory everything goes in one font.

Alcatel 2051D comes with good headphones that can be used for listening to music.

average price: 1690 rub.

ZTE R341

This cheap fold-out mobile is so light it doesn't feel at all in your pocket (55g). But the same fact led to a small screen diagonal - 1.7 inches. Everything is fine with the battery capacity here - 800 mAh, on such a resource the device works without recharging for 7-10 days. Users appreciated the simple and convenient menu, clear font, loud sound from the speakers, which can be very important for the elderly.

In the review of the ZTE R341 clamshell phone, it is worth mentioning the FM radio, which is very easy to set up. You can listen to music with or without headphones, its sound is equally loud and of high quality. Just in case, a 0.1 MP rear camera is built in here, the photos are not the clearest, but this option may come in handy someday. Ringtones here are standard, polyphonic, as there is no MP3.

Advantages

• Neat shape;
• Convenient sizes;
• Practical black color;
• Light weight;
• Two SIM cards;
• Durable plastic.

disadvantages

• No MP3;
• The screen could be brighter;

Users write in reviews that ZTE R341 is bought mainly as a dialer.

average price: 1110 rub.

Alcatel One Touch 1035D

It is ideal for both male and female clamshell phones, it is small (45x93x16.5 mm), weighs 75 g and can hold two SIM cards. Thanks to the loud speaker, the call will not be missed, and the presence of a vibration alert allows, if necessary, not to be distracted by sound... The ability to install MP3 melodies will delight young people, as you can choose your own music for different contacts.

The functionality of the Alcatel One Touch 1035D is confirmed by the presence of a voice recorder, the latest version of Bluetooth and a place for a USB cable. System performance is good, nothing freezes, since the amount of RAM is 24 MB. The device works up to two hours in continuous talk mode, and up to 200 hours in standby mode. It charges quickly, in a few tens of minutes.

Advantages

• Convenient navigation through the menu thanks to the navigation key;
• MMS support;
• Large notebook for 300 numbers;
• Convenient calculator;
• Headphones included;
• Informational LED-signal on the phone case;
• There is a light indicator for calls and messages.

disadvantages

• Holds only 30 sms;
• Open with one hand him not very comfortable.

If desired, you can insert an 8 GB memory card into the Alcatel One Touch 1035D; there is a separate slot for it.

average price: 982 rub.

The best flip phones with large screens and buttons

In most cases the screen size of clamshell phones is small, up to 1.7 inches, but we have selected two models with good dimensions.

LG G360

This foldable mobile phone can already be classified to categories of executive. It supports two SIM cards, so you don't have to carry multiple devices with you. The screen has a large diagonal - 3 inches, and everything is clearly visible on it. The device fits comfortably in the hand, opens with one movement, the lid is held securely.

The LG G360 has a good battery capacity - 950 mAh, due to which the mobile can withstand up to 13 hours of talk time, and up to 500 hours on "rest". The call can be made both through the speakerphone and without it. The sound quality is high here. For music lovers, there is an MP3 player and FM radio. Optionally, you can set both standard polyphonic and MP3 melodies. The Bluetooth interface is fast, the device does not hang when exchanging files.

Advantages

• Good screen size;
• Large and clear numbers on the keys;
• Nice backlighting;
• Smoothed corners near the body;
• Does not slip in the hand;
• Modern design, not like grandma phones.

disadvantages

• Absence of a signal about a missed call and received SMS;
• There is no place for a surname in contacts;
• Multiple files cannot be selected in the manager;
• The headphone jack could have been made stronger.

The LG G360 does not have a very convenient import of contacts via bluetooth, sometimes data is backed up from the phone. Because of this, it may be necessary to usenie for these purposes a laptop.

average price: 3875 rub.

Irbis SF15

This is the cheapest of the best clamshell phones. Externally and in terms of content, it differs little from competitors. Its body is made of plastic, which lasts long enough and reliably. There is a place here for two SIM cards, they are inserted and taken out without problems. The weight of the device is small - 69 g, and does not burden the owner. The image is not blurry, the standard splash screen can be easily changed. A separate plus is a convenient keyboard layout, clear, bright numbers written on the keys, not pasted on.

Irbis SF15 has a rather thin body, the cover tightly closes the phone. There are color options for both women and men - pink and black. Of the audio, only FM radio is available, but it works stably and loudly. This is one of the few clamshell phones that has a photo flash, which, in combination with a 0.1-megapixel camera, helps to take more or less adequate photos.

Advantages

• The amount of built-in memory is more than that of many competitors - 32 MB;
• Reliable charger connector;
• Does not slip in the hand;
• Convenient shape;
• Not heavy.

disadvantages

• No MP3 player;
• There are only polyphonic melodies;
• Does not inform in advance about low battery.

With a 600 mAh battery Irbis SF15 in case of regular phone calls it works for more than 3-4 days.

average price: 710 rub.

The best dual screen clamshell phones

It is rather difficult to meet folding mobiles with multiple screens in domestic stores. Most often, they are offered by Chinese manufacturers, and you can buy devices, for example, on Aliexpress. Of all these options, two models can be called the best.

Tkexun G10 3.0 ″

This clamshell phone model wins our ranking due to its design and practicality. It has two screens instead of one, and they are all working. It is sold in two colors - bright gold and black with elements of gold. Display size - three, just not small and not large. Touch control makes the device even more convenient, but the most impressive thing here is the battery life of 2800 mAh and the RAM of 129 MB, which allows it to work actively without freezing in the talk mode for more than three hours.

There is only one camera, the main one, 1 MP, it can also shoot video with a resolution of 360p. Gamblers are out of luck, they won't be able to play, and there is no Internet. The clamshell supports MP3 format, you can listen to music, for storing which you can insert a memory card. This can be said to be a novelty, since it was released in 2016.

Advantages

• Support for working in different languages, including on Russian;
• Reliable Bluetooth;
• Small body thickness;
• Beautiful colors;
• Loud;

disadvantages

• Nowhere to insert headphones;
• Folded is not thin.

Literature aficionados will be delighted with the purchase of the Tkexun G10 3.0 ″ dual flip screen, as it has an integrated e-book into which many works can be uploaded.

average price: 2400 rub.

Mafam Land Rover Flip Cell X9

This is a stylish clamshell mobile phone that is more suitable for men, but also chosen by women. Its trick lies in the location of the additional screen on the outside of the case. It is touch-sensitive, scratch-resistant and supersensitive to touch, it works in cold weather. The display is larger than its counterpart in this category at 3.5 inches. It fits all menu sections without problems.

The Land Rover gadget is simply fantastic, as for clamshells, the battery capacity is 2500 mAh. With this indicator, you can listen to music in MP3 / MP4 format or radio for almost the whole day without recharging, but for this you need a headphone plug. The phone looks expensive, and to prevent it from being "taken away", an alarm was made here. Nice little things also attract attention - an e-book, a calculator, an alarm clock - all of this is here.

Advantages

• Powerful speaker;
• Good headphones included;
• The font on the screen is large;
• Large numbers and letters;
• Great build.

disadvantages

• Not powerful rear camera 0.3 megapixels;
• Don't just work with a notebook.

average price: 3100 rub.

Which flip phone is better to choose

For people who communicate a lot and want to save money on calls, models with 2 or 3 SIM cards are needed. The minimum battery capacity for clamshells is 700 mAh, which is enough to act as a dialer without having to charge the device every day.

If you plan to listen to music, then make sure that the phone has a radio and an MP3 player, the ability to connect headphones and the amount of internal memory of at least 20 MB, as well as space for a removable storage card. You need Bluetooth to transfer files between phones and a computer. The camera will, to some extent, justify itself only in the presence of 2-3 MP, therefore this is not the most important parameter in such devices.

When looking for a suitable option, consider the following tips:

• People with poor eyesight should pay attention to the large clamshell phones LG G360 and Irbis SF15.
• For those with a hearing impairment, you can buy the TeXet TM-400, where the sound from the speakers is very loud.
• The Onext Care-Phone 6 can be used as a second mobile or fallback option.
• Elderly people can choose the device Vertex S106.
• If you want to not only talk on the phone, but also listen to music, the Alcatel 2051D will do.
• It is convenient to take ZTE R341 or Alcatel One Touch 1035D on the road because of their small size.
• For those who want to look presentable with a mobile phone, the Tkexun G10 3.0 ″ with a bright design is ideal.
• Men can buy a Land Rover flip from Mаfam with a double screen.

Smartphones are certainly an order of magnitude better than clamshell phones in terms of functionality and other parameters, but as a dialer, it is flips that outperform mobile phones with a touch screen.They are easy to use, hold a charge for a long time and are practically indestructible.