Purchasing a flip phone in 2026
Can I purchase a flip phone and switch to using it without sacrificing everything I can do with a smartphone? Find out here.
2026-01-17
In 2018, I was revoked access to a smartphone by my parents and forced to switch to the 2017 version of the Nokia 3310. There was a solid year where the only things I could do on a phone were make calls and send texts. Mid-way through that time, I wanted to experiment a little bit, so I switched to the Alcatel 2051X - a flip phone released in (I think) 2012?In the summer of that year, I then broke the flip phone because I dived into a pool with it in my pocket on holiday. Whoops. But ever since then, the flip phone form factor has been calling to me like the Green Goblin's mask - the unique novelty of owning a phone that you need to flip up to use is something I've desired for a very long time.
And only recently has that thought became so intrusive that I've finally decided to give in, and start doing some investigating.
My requirements
I want to be able to use one of these phones without sacrificing the uses of a modern smartphone. At the beginning, I believed that smart phones in a flip phone form factor (not including those folding phones) were such a specific niche that I'd basically be searching for the Loch Ness, and even if I found one, I certainly wasn't expecting it to be targeted towards an audience who want a phone like this for the form factor solely - to be de-toxed from the internet or something. I've had enough detoxing in 2018.But then, during my extensive search (which occupied several days) I came across a website called y2kphones.com.
This website was owned by a small business who specifically sold phones that were reminiscent of the 2000s era - Blackberrys, flip phones, Nokias, Keitais (Japanese flip phones), the whole lot. This greatly reduced the amount of time I would find searching.
So now that I've found a solid listing of the phones I could find, I had to narrow down my search a bit more based on cell connectivity. It was an absolute requirement that my new purchase supported 4G - especially with the fact that 2G and 3G are being phased out in the UK.
So, I present to you all a complete list of my requirements:
- Flip phone form factor
- 4G (LTE) connectivity
- Modern smartphone capabilities
And once my options were narrowed down, there was one phone on the website that stood out to me.
ALT Mive Style Folder
It had everything I'd ever want in a phone of this kind. A modern version of Android, it's a flip phone, a not-terrible camera, 4G connectivity, the whole deal. There's even an official charging dock and clear case! It was obviously the perfect choice.And then I found out there's an even newer version running Android 14, not listed on this website.
So my decision was made. I'd be buying the ALT Mive Style Folder 2.
Now only one question remains...
How am I getting it here?
This phone I want is sold in South Korea almost exclusively. There's almost no way for me to buy it retail in the UK, so what are my options?Proxy
I came across an insanely well-produced video by a YouTuber called Systematic (check it out). Not only did I have to watch the video three times because the production value was just that good (and not only did it upset me that it's their only video) but he went into detail on how he got it here - something that reviewers rarely talk about.He used a proxy where you have a product delivered to a virtual address in the country a product is sold, and then it gets sent from that virtual address to you anywhere in the world.
This seemed like a viable option, but then I realized that the video was made at the time of the product's release, so there's probably other, quicker options I can choose. Even if I get it second-hand, I'll be happy to own it as long as it's in good condition.
eBay
On eBay, there were a few options to choose from, especially now that the market was populated with these and they've been around for a bit. The price varied from £150 - £220, depending on if you bought it with the cradle or not.There was one listing that piqued my interest, because it came included with the phone itself, a clear case and even some stickers for customization.
This seller offered to sell it with a cradle, but at the time they were out of stock, so I went for the black version. The seller seems to be based in South Korea and verious reviews on their listing for this support its legitimacy, so I went and bought it.
In the future, I'll probably buy the charging dock on its own. After all, if I'm going to go the full mile with a flip phone, I might as well appreciate every benefit, right? See you all later, when it arrives!
I've had it for a week, here are my thoughts
I haven't used Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, etc. for a whole week. And honestly, I feel replenished. Whole.My sleep schedule is decent again! I really can't complain. I do think the phone is helping me, and I think I have insane aura when I pull it out in public.
I don't have anything to say now actually, I kinda lost the drive to continue writing. Here's a picture of a burger I took with the phone.
10/10 would recommend
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