The Best Unlocked Flip Phones

What to Look For

To bring you this list of the top flip phones on the market, we conducted thorough research. Primarily, we looked at the following aspects: size, price, and functionality. For a great barebones option that’s highly affordable, Alcatel’s Go Flip definitely wins out. It has advanced yet user-friendly features, which is surprising given the super low price. But if you’re looking for the ultimate folding smartphone, the Motorola Razr 5 might be for you. It has a beautiful 6.2-inch touchscreen, a powerful chipset, and a long battery life to rival its non-folding competitors. Scroll on below for our detailed reviews.

Alcatel Go Flip 4044 4G LTE Flip Phone

When basic is better

This flip phone is perfect for making calls, and it can send text messages or take pictures in a pinch.

Best Overall

Find on Amazon

If you’re tired of social media apps and mindless browsing, this is the phone for you. Those who aren’t technology-inclined will find this phone to be refreshingly simple to use. It’s the perfect phone for seniors and those with limited dexterity. The buttons are large and easy to press, while the text is large and legible. It also has audio accessibility options for those with vision impairment.

Pros:

• It has a clear speaker. The audio can be turned up loud for those who are hard of hearing.
• The 4G LTE reception works well, even enough for basic emails or Web browsing. You won’t get dropped calls or a poor audio transmission.

Cons:

• Texting can be cumbersome because this phone doesn’t have a keyboard.

ZTE Cymbal Z-320 Unlocked Flip Phone

The bare necessities

The large buttons on this phone make it easy for anyone to dial a number or send a text message.

Runner Up

Find on Amazon

Are you looking to replace an old flip phone that’s worn out? This unlocked phone can take old SIM cards and give them new life. This phone was designed for simplicity, but it still retains many modern features like a camera and Bluetooth. Those with weaker vision or dexterity issues will find the large buttons comforting. If your vision is up to it, the OLED screen on the outside displays the time as well.

Pros:

• You can use a wired headset with the standard 3.5mm audio jack. Mono Bluetooth headphones also work, so single-ear devices will work best.
• This phone can connect to computers to transfer media. It’s relatively intuitive to set up and store pictures and videos recorded on the phone.

Cons:

• The battery life could be better, lasting around a day with standby.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G Unlocked Android Smartphone

Immaculate images

This folding flip phone has all the features you could want in a widescreen smartphone, but it's much more portable.

Best Screen

Find on Amazon

What if you could have the screen size of modern smartphones with the portability of a flip phone? Enter the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, a clamshell-design phone with an HD touchscreen and powerful processor. When closed, it’s just over half an inch thick. It’s thus easily pocketable, even in skinny jeans. Better yet, it’s available in 128GB or 256GB options with a variety of colors to choose from. This phone has most of the standard features one might expect in a smartphone: water resistance, Bluetooth, WiFi, streaming apps like Netflix, and videogame compatibility.

Pros:

• There is a fingerprint pad on the side button that makes unlocking your phone very speedy.
• It can accept 15W fast chargers for quick charging times. It also works with wireless chargers.

Cons:

• The interface is less streamlined than Android or iPhones.

Motorola Razr 5G Unlocked

Classic look, modern design

This familiar phone has been updated with an expansive touchscreen and new-age smartphone features.

Best Flip Smartphone

Find on Amazon

Life moves in cycles, and here we are with another iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr. This time, though, it’s a full-sized smartphone that folds in half. If you love a smartphone with a large screen but hate how bulky it feels in your pocket, this is the phone for you. Its external screen on the outside outperforms its competitors in size and functionality. The polymer-based OLED screen looks stunning with rich color contrast and deep blacks.

Pros:

• The external screen is a touch screen that can control anything from music, notifications, texts, and even video chats. It’s highly responsive and has different swipe gestures.
• This phone includes a GPU, making it great for mobile gaming. The Snapdragon CPU provides a hefty amount of processing power.

Cons:

• The WiFi reception can be a bit spotty.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install a SIM card into an unlocked phone?

If you’re transferring from an older phone, first remove the SIM card. This usually involves a small slot that might need a pin or other slim poking device to open. For non-smartphone flip phones, you’ll likely have to remove the battery to insert the SIM card.

How long does the battery last in a flip phone?

Battery life depends on each device. In general, non-smartphones will generally have longer battery life. Most flip phones will last at least a day or two on standby. To get better battery life, we suggest turning off WiFi or Bluetooth, since these can drain batteries quickly.

About the Author

Dave is a proud self-proclaimed computer geek and enjoys modding video game consoles. When he's not voiding warranties, he plays piano and video games on stream. In fact, he built his own home studio, so his expertise spans a wide range of areas. If you're looking for a tech-head for advice, Dave is your guy.

Why Trust Us

With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.