Announced a short time ago, the Callback 8020 is seen as a means of combating the addictive lure of the modern-day smartphone. While it supports Android apps via its SailfishOS, it disables features like web browsing and social media by default.
However, despite the noble quest for a ‘digital detox’, the phone met with a somewhat frosty reception online (no pun intended), with many comparing it to an elderly relative’s flip phone. In our poll, 70 percent of you said you wouldn’t be buying one.
Didn’t Nokia still make dumbphone and only cost double digits? With $400 i can just get a decent smartphone and then install app locker and lock all irrelevant app in it.
Or get something that run on non-bloatware OS and don’t download
So still $100 more than a LightPhone II, an already somewhat pricey ‘detox phone’, or about the same price as a used Moto RAZR if yoh just wanted a flippy phone made of pre-owned components
Atari should make a pager. It also runs on Android software. It will cost $800. It comes with belt clip.
When I first saw it I was thinking 249USD. But twice that? Nah.
jesus I buy older model phones so I don’t have to deal with the enormous price tag. Samsung Galaxy S10 with headphone jack and removable SD card, got it for $150. Who tf still buying new phones? even worse, who’s paying 3 times as much for a phone that does so much less? I’d love a digital detox thing, but I like having google maps on my phone
Old phones, if nothing else, lack software updates meaning also security ones. Also battery might need replacement.
It’s just a flip phone with Android running on it like every other flip phone with Android running on it that they’ve produced over the last 5 years. Commodore never even made phones historically, I don’t understand why I should care about this.
Its not running android.
I know people tend to open their mouth without having read the article, but you didnt even bother to read the thread text. Congratulations.
I heard it has Sailfish. Maybe its just an option but not default?
Sailfish is the only option provided
You can’t claim privacy first, promise you wont sell user data, then preinstall whatsapp.
These three things cannot all be true. At any price.Was $500 now $400 still lol.
It’s $400, there’s no choice of carrier, the battery won’t hold a charge, and the reception isn’t very-
Shut up and take my money!
Lol I forgot that $400 was considered excessive.
Now people buy $1200 phones yearly.
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I work in product management, this was not a marketing ploy.
Supplies are expensive now. They are cutting into their margin considerably and probably did find some slightly cheaper components. Maybe they cut a better deal with the suppliers.
Either way, they are playing smart by listening to the market on an untested product in a new product category of “semi-smart” phones. This could signal a comeback of this type of product but only if they pave the way with affordability and usability.
I hope this does succeed for them because we need more companies taking risks in today’s market. Everything is so bland right now.
You may be correct but that just makes them look dumb for trying to do this in the first place. Why? Make some mechanical keyboards, retro looking monitors or other peripherals, whatever might actually make sense for the Commodore brand and style. Not a phone.
I want one, but I don’t think they’re going to get the pricing near anywhere where it becomes a reality.
That said, I’m really happy that this product has at least started a conversation. I would 100% prefer a dumb flip phone than the advertising machine in my pocket. There is a suggestion of a market; we’ll see if the industry is too far up their own ass to respond.
Sadly I don’t think the revamped Commodore will have the clout to pull it off.
“We worked tirelessly to lower the price…and by subtracting 100 we managed it goddammit”
I’m still on the fence about it but the price drop does move the needle a little. I’m still going to wait to make a decision until it comes out then give it a couple of months.
I honestly like everything about this except the no browser and small screen choices. I get the idea, but I’m happy with my addiction, thanks, I just want the privacy and control. And SailfishOS looks interesting, but I cant find a way to try it, except as a VM.
Translation: We couldn’t really sell it for that price, now we try it with this price.
(Edit: This is no mockery, only of the marketing. The phone is nice)
I’m more concerned about the dictatorial-feeling attitudes in the marketing than I am about the price. I’m all for a privacy respecting phone, but an even higher priority than that is respecting me and my choices. Blocking me from social media doesn’t feel like it’s catering to me, it feels like its nannying me and dictating my choices to me. That’s not something I’m interested in at any price.
I realize that I will, in reality, be able to choose whether to leave those blocked, but having them blocked by default feels just as aggressively judgemental and disrespectful as preinstalling them and shoving them in my face like most existing brands do. It’s not your place to tell me what apps to use or not to use. Give me a fucking blank slate, and let me decide, thankyouverymuch.
That’s more like it!
And I completely disagree with the people saying it should be much cheaper.
It’s a LTE Linux computer. In 2026. With multiple screens, a 48MP camera, good DAC, enough power to run real Android apps and tons of bells and whistles; what do you expect?
Electronics are expensive, unless it’s cheap garbage, heavily subsidized, or both. That has a huge externalized cost, and avoiding that is the whole point of this phone. R&D, customer service, and continued software support for the translation layer and OS, must crazy expensive too.
I know wages haven’t gone up with inflation, which makes $400 hard to afford, but that’s not in Commodore’s control.
If one wants a cheaper AliExpress Android fliphone, that’s reasonable.
But it’s not the same product. And you’re going to pay for it in other ways.
Android fliphone
Not interested. Want SailfishOS.
The alternative would be a mid-range phone with SailfishOS on it. I have one, a Sony Xperia III which I chosed for the small size. I like it. BTW I had nearly every Linux phone by Nokia and Jolla since the N900.
But if you still want something that is more like a pocket computer and less like a distracting phone, you could look for handheld PCs / ultraportables, and put Linux on one. These can run Threema Web, and Waydroid if you still want apps. (I have a Gemini PDA, and I like it, but be careful - this is NOT a phone - but fine for answering mail).
1st-party supported SailfishOS, to be specific.
That’s huge, to me.
Yeah! I have a Sony Xperia 10 III, but the SailfishOS support is kinda… not officially supported in the US?
This, I think the price is decent. Most dumbphones are low cost but you notice it - terrible buttons, slow camera, lackluster audio. On top of that they have no coolness factor. This is a phone that ticks all boxes and is privacy friendly. On top of that, it is from a company I like to support.
the cheap flip phones are truly dollar-store build quality and cameras. mine has a crappy radio, it seems, too… nearly always roaming on another carrier’s nearby tower because it can’t pick up the vzn one just a couple miles outside of town.
the ‘rugged’ ones are built better and can take a literal beating and still work, but they cost as much as a recent model 128gb smart phone… and still have squat for storage and lousy cameras.
Saying “lte Linux that can run Android” means nothing. All Android phones run Linux and support LTE. It’s an Android phone with restrictions on what Android apps it will run. That’s it. The screen is tiny and two small screens are cheaper than a larger one.
You can buy all of that for $100 on Aliexpress.
This is trash dressed up in a fun skin to sell to Commodore fans who don’t know how to delete an app from their phone.
It’s not Android. It’s SailfishOS. With first party support.
And even that aside, I don’t see anything comparable on Aliexpress, hardware wise.
