Nokia 2780 Flip
Flip phones are back! Doing the basics well as ever is the Nokia 2780.
It was tough choosing whether to categorise the Nokia 2780 Flip as a phone for the seniors, or for the kids. In the end I went with the seniors for a few reasons which will become clear shortly. Though I should say off the bat, some teens may find this phone both acceptable and maybe even appealing.
Quick Summary
The 2780 Flip is another retro Nokia updated to appeal to a wide range of people—be it for nostalgia, simplicity or kitsch fashion. It can’t be forgotten how much of an impact Nokia had on the phone industry; it was dethroned by the likes of Apple but like anything else, phone fashion is cyclical, especially as the fallacies of over indulging in phone tech becomes more widely known.
Compatibility with Australia and New Zealand Carriers
The Nokia 2780 Flip is unlocked and universally compatible with carriers, so if you’re unable to connect then it might pay to contact your network or even look at alternative carriers if necessary.
Key Features at a Glance
Easy to use interface with essential features
Easy to see who is calling with the double screens
The side button can be programmed with relative ease to fast dial carers and loved ones in case of an emergency
Has the option to connect to so many of the online temptations younger mobile users find addictive or damaging, but they are rather clunky so for the mature user avoiding use of online apps like Instagram and TikTok can be a simple choice of ‘take it or leave it’
Depending on the age of the mature user, the style and usability may be more familiar to them; they possibly even had an original flip phone in the late 90s or early 2000s!
A good battery life if used sparingly; up to 18 days standby time from a single charge (according to HMD), about 12 hours with heavy use or 3.5 hours LTE talk time
Accessibility for older users; big buttons, hearing aid compatibility, VoLTE 4G with a loudspeaker and adjustable volume plus real-time-text (RTT)
Durable - as with most Nokia’s the 2780 Flip doesn’t need to be treated with extreme care, it can definitely take a knock (or a drop)
5MP rear camera; which serves its purpose of capturing a scene, but doesn’t indulge the selfie takers among us!
4G compatible
FM radio
Who It’s For
I mentioned in the earlier it was hard to classify this one, and I think that goes for quite a few retro Nokia’s and the like. That said, here goes:
Mature users with minimal technology chops but enough adaptability to learn their way around a relatively simple smartphone
Mature users who are more advanced in their mobile phone usage and may have even used earlier versions of Nokia phones before
Kids who consciously want to disengage from online noise
Kids who appreciate the retro feel of the phone and its features—some may even find it on trend!
Design & Build
The 2780 Flip is 4.34 inches high and 2.28 inches wide
2 screens: the main display is 2.7 inches while the secondary display is 1.77 inches
It weighs 0.29 pounds (about 130 grams)
Available in red, black and blue
The 2780 Flip has a removable (and replaceable) battery
A USB Type-C cable
User Feedback - Summary
Positive Feedback:
Improves mental focus and clarity from removing the temptation to get online and scroll mindlessly or waste hours on social media..
Has all the basics expected of a modern phone: good call quality, text messaging, Google Maps, FM radio
Really durable—less risk of breaking or even damaging the phone if you are prone to dropping it (tip—buy a case for it if you are prone to dropping your phones because the plastic shell can be a bit slippery).
Good battery life.
It’s cheap!
Common Criticisms:
The plastic materials used have a low cost, gimmicky feel to them and are prone to smudging so need to be wiped regularly to be kept clean.
As you might expect from a ‘dumbphone’ the additional features are far below those of higher end smartphones; the operating system is a bit clunky, texting can be a chore, the camera is well behind what a typical smartphone offers and the phone in general is quite slow.
Where to Buy
The 2780 Flip is widely available in both Australia and New Zealand, though it’s worth shopping around as there are notable price differences depending on where and when you buy. You may even find it worth importing from the U.S. or elsewhere overseas:
At the time of writing Tech Surgeon (New Zealand) has it on sale for NZD $129 + $6 shipping. Ubuy (Australia) is advertising it for AUD $189, imported from its store in the U.S.
HMD’s U.S. website also has links to a number of vendors here if you want to buy and import the phone from overseas yourself.
Our Take
We’re in one of those moments where technology has reached saturation point and for some, the pendulum has swung and is turning the other way. You no longer need to have the latest and greatest phone to be ‘cool’, in fact it’s quite the opposite for a lot of people. Most mature users won’t be at risk of suffering from FOMO and probably aren’t bothered about having the latest technology in their pocket, what’s interesting is that a small but notable section of Gen Z now has the same attitude making phones like the Nokia 2780 Flip appealing to both young and old users.
Bottom Line
For a phone which does the basics well, is durable and reliable you can’t go wrong with this little beauty. It may be too advanced for some senior users, but for others it will be just right. And it may be too low-fi for some teens, but just right for those consciously looking for more clarity and focus.