Why It’s Still Cool to Have a Flip Phone

By Daphne Foreman

In the same way that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, coolness is also a matter of perspective. Sure, it can be nice to have a super-smart smartphone. But, sometimes, you just want to make and receive phone calls without a lot of drama. And occasionally take (and share) a photo.

Top Ten Things to Love About a Flip Phone

In keeping with our theme of making portable phones simpler, we’ll use the Jitterbug Flip2 as our primary point of reference. So, exactly what is there to love about a flip phone? With a tip of the hat to a certain late night talk show host, here are the top ten things:

#10: Things That Other Cool Phones Have

You’ll not be left behind when your flip phone includes features like GPS, Bluetooth v3.0, 1 GB of built-in storage, and a standard headset jack.

#9: That Bright Red 5Star Button

With the Jitterbug Flip2, the Urgent Response system gives you one-touch access in case of emergency. You’ll be connected with an agent who can confirm your location, help evaluate your situation, and get you the help you need.

#8: Long-Lasting Battery

You can stay connected longer, with a battery that stays charged throughout the day.

#7: Reading Magnifier With LED Flashlight

Just because it’s a simpler phone doesn’t mean you’re left in the dark. In dimly lit settings, be sure there’s a flashlight you can use—whether you need to see across the room or just inside your bag. And a reading magnifier can help you handle fine print on papers or menus.

#6: The Color

The Jitterbug Flip2, for example, comes in Graphite [for that sleek look] and Red [a show stopper].

#5: Built-In Camera With Flash

While it’s not a smartphone, it’s smart enough to provide a 2.0 megapixel camera with photo sharing, so you’ll never miss capturing the moment. And then sharing it with friends.

#4: Powerful Speaker

With a speakerphone function, you can talk hands-free. The Jitterbug Flip2 is very well suited for hearing-aid users (my dad could vouch for that). You’ll hear—and be heard—loud and clear.

#3: A Simple Menu

You’re not trying to build the Eiffel Tower from scratch; you just need to make and receive calls. The Jitterbug Flip2’s simple menu helps to make navigation effortless.

#2: Big Screen, Bright Numbers

Even if you don’t suffer from a vision condition, you may have struggled to read small numbers or tiny print on a friend’s phone. Look for a brightly lit display that presents large numbers you can see, and text messages you can read. On the keypad, large numbers make dialing a breeze, and a backlit keypad will shine brighter in low-light areas. …and the top thing to love about a flip phone….

#1: Whatever Becomes Your Favorite Thing

For my dad, whose Jitterbug flip phone for seniors was his first mobile phone—at age 84, thank you—the best feature was “fit.” For talking, it fit nicely in his hand (and didn’t challenge his arthritis). And, on the go, he could wear it in a case on his belt, slip it into a shirt pocket; it was really convenient. So convenient, in fact, that his [older model] flip phone even somewhat survived a trip through the washing machine at a skilled nursing facility. (Do not try this at home.) With so many features in such an easy-to-use package, who’s the cool one now? Obviously, you are, with a modern flip phone for seniors.

Tagged with: technology

36 thoughts on “Why It’s Still Cool to Have a Flip Phone

  1. HARRY
    April 26, 2017 at 8:03 pm

    Cost? …..

  2. GreatCall Staff
    April 27, 2017 at 2:34 pm

    Hi, Harry! Our Jitterbug Flip costs $99.99 regularly, but right now it’s on sale for Mother’s Day for 25% off. Shop here: https://www.greatcall.com/phones/jitterbug-flip-cell-phone-for-seniors

  3. Brose
    April 28, 2017 at 6:32 am

    Can you text with this phone ?

  4. Lola
    April 30, 2017 at 7:35 am

    Can you text with this phone??

  5. GreatCall Staff
    April 30, 2017 at 9:35 am

    @lola and @brose — You can text with this phone!

  6. Kit
    April 30, 2017 at 12:56 pm

    Does it store favorite numbers?

  7. judy
    April 30, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    Harry you can, but you have to go through all the letters on the key to get the one you want, sorta like an older wall phone. Texting is very time consuming!

  8. GreatCall Staff
    May 1, 2017 at 9:30 am

    @Kit, it sure does!

  9. John Weas
    May 5, 2017 at 6:26 am

    Im 83 and I love my flip phone . It has big buttons,excelent clarity and volume . All I need in a phone. I have my Ipad to play with.

  10. jill
    May 7, 2017 at 3:18 pm

    I don’t think you have to be an older person to buy one of these.

    i think they are great and I’m only 50.

  11. Philip K
    May 8, 2017 at 5:37 am

    I continue to use my flip phone, it will transmit and receive when the smart phone is out of service. My wife has a smart phone and standing beside me cannot get a signal. Same with nephews and in laws. Yes a bit slow to text but if I want to talk I call and can conduct business or leave a voice mail. LONG LIVE THE FLIP PHONE.

  12. GreatCall Staff
    May 8, 2017 at 9:30 am

    @ Philip and @Jill – we couldn’t agree more!

    1. Anonymous
      November 9, 2017 at 3:40 pm

      wait … the flip phone now has GPS?

      1. November 10, 2017 at 12:23 am

        That’s right! Check out this webpage to see the other features as well: https://www.greatcall.com/phones/jitterbug-flip-cell-phone-for-seniors.

  13. Mike
    May 10, 2017 at 8:53 am

    I do not text.

  14. Chuck
    May 12, 2017 at 11:35 am

    Another reason- They’re cheap. I had one phone for years- until the hinge broke. I bought another similar name-brand phone on ebay for $15.00. Swapped the sim card and back in business. I’ve had this current one for 4 yrs now. Like it because the battery generally lasts for a week.

  15. Montana Skydiver
    May 13, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    As always, the article’s logic is well-founded. However, there are 2 add’l reasons that must be added: 1) you don’t have to pay for unneeded data and other services / features that come with a smart phone and, most importantly, — really the ONLY reason flip phones are cool: 2) because Star Trek’s Captain Kirk had a flip communicator in the 23rd century.

  16. Beverly Monday
    May 25, 2017 at 9:07 am

    After I buy the jitterbug is their a monthly fee to use?

    Or, can I simply put minutes on it and forget until I need more minutes?

  17. GreatCall Staff
    May 25, 2017 at 9:33 am

    @Beverly, the Jitterbug Flip does require a monthly plan. We have a variety of plans to chose from starting at $14.99. You can learn more here: https://www.greatcall.com/packages-and-rate-plans

  18. Marianne Paskowski
    May 26, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    Always had a flip flop until I got a smart phone. I spent hours studying the new phone, and the hardest thing was to answer phone calls. So I dumped it and got another flip flop. Now a happy camper.

  19. LJS
    May 27, 2017 at 1:04 pm

    Flip phones are great and I also have an iPad, so it’s great for me. Oh!

    by the way Facebook should be called Fakebook because these friends

    are all phonies…no pun intended!

  20. ejs
    May 27, 2017 at 5:14 pm

    agree

  21. Priscilla
    May 29, 2017 at 11:07 pm

    I have an AT&T flip phone and my husband has a jitterbug. His battery runs down in hours and that has happened from the day that it arrived. Also, the volume button is placed where he has to hold it and he is constantly turning it down where he can’t hear it. I love my flip phone but the Jitterbug is a headache.

  22. allyson
    May 30, 2017 at 5:00 am

    I absolutely love my little flip phone. I have had it for years. Though my friends up-graded to a smart phone, I am the one who remained and will still remain with a flip phone. It does not accidentally send

    a call when sat on (or pressured from something too close), it sends and receives text, it takes a photo

    when I need it to, the calls are clear, I can receive alerts, and I can retrieve messages left. I am 72

    years old, so I do not have to rely on it for work related purposes. A flip phone also fits nicely into

    an evening purse. What’s not to love

  23. Jim Weldon
    May 30, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    Check around. You can get flip phones for free.

  24. June Bug
    May 31, 2017 at 2:11 pm

    Texting with a flip phone is for the birds. I am 75 and learned to use smart phone in one week. Camera is much better than flip phone. Love the calendar. Next one will have more storage for apps.

  25. YaValioCacaWates
    June 5, 2017 at 7:31 am

    The babes love a flip phone. Enough said.

  26. raymon h.
    June 25, 2017 at 9:01 am

    i love my flip – it was only seventeen dollars new – i don’t text or any of that other stuff – i need to stay in touch with my wife – i’m always fishing – she has her own things to do – we always stay in touch – in case i fall in the drink – what i would like is a phone with no buttons on the sides – put em on the screen – and a volume that the guy in the next house can hear – i bought one of those fancy phones one time – it kept dialing 911 by itself – threw it in the trash !

  27. bill
    July 6, 2017 at 11:19 am

    i don’t have a flips phone nor a smart phone. I just have a small palm sized phone. the battery lasts forever and its not like I am holding an encyclopedia to my face when I am trying to talk to someone. all I see is morons using their smart phones while driving. they really should ban all smart phones. they are just a distraction. plus there are people whom I know that have had their smart phones just quick working on them for no reason. my small pocket phone has been dropped and it still works without any problems. I can conceal the phone in case I need to bring it somewhere that prohibits them. I have the headset feature and it works fine.

  28. Wanda disch
    July 31, 2017 at 7:58 pm

    Can you call lyft from one of your flip phones are does it have to be the smart phone version?

  29. GreatCall Staff
    August 10, 2017 at 12:31 pm

    Wanda, our the Jitterbug Flip does offer access to our GreatCall Rides, driven by Lyft. Learn more here: http://www.greatcall.com/rides.

  30. Lynn
    August 15, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    Just got one for each of my parents and they love them but it doesn’t come with many features that their old flips had. There are no speed dials and this might be the deal breaker. On their old flips if they wanted me they could simply press the number 4 button, the number 5 button was my brother and the number 6 button was spouse. The number 7 button primary doctor, 8 was pharmacy and 9 was the dogs veterinarian. With this phone they would have to go through the phone book and locate the person- not easy. If they didn’t do that they would have to dial in all 10 numbers and that is not easy for them. The volume button is also not in a good spot. When they are holding the phone to talk their fingers are on the volume control and it constantly changes the volume. When they go to make a call they will see all the calls they missed because of the volume going down when they are on the phone. They couldn’t wait to get the phones and now they are disappointed. I am starting to look for an easy to use flip that comes with features you would assume all cell phones come with. This would be a super phone if it wasn’t so cheap on features.

  31. Don
    December 9, 2017 at 1:05 pm

    If you want all the features available on the monthly service plan, it will cost you a fortune. They nickel and dime you to death. The names and numbers in the phone book are very small and hard to read.

  32. Flip Phone or Smartphone?
    February 20, 2018 at 9:24 pm

    Flip phones have been around awhile and during those years, they have improved. They come with a camera, built in speakers and a full menu of options.

  33. Coots
    October 25, 2018 at 5:38 pm

    horrible

  34. Tammy
    December 5, 2019 at 10:02 pm

    Can you take selfies

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