Technology

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

Atari should make a pager. It also runs on Android software. It will cost $800. It comes with belt clip.

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

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.

When I first saw it I was thinking 249USD. But twice that? Nah.

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.

$500 USD -> $400 USD for those of you that don't want to click.

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.

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.

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'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.

"We worked tirelessly to lower the price...and by subtracting 100 we managed it goddammit"

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)

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.

How about a phone for people who aren't addicted to them, but want the basics without being spied on?

Things I want in a phone:

• GPS with maps and directions.
• A browser for the rare occasions I want to look something up when I'm away from home. The last time I used it was to find which aisle something was on at Lowe's.
• Texting.
• Phone calls.
• Notes.
• A decent camera.
• No bigger than an iPhone 12 mini, which is what I have now, and it's plenty big enough.

I don't do anything else. Mostly my phone sits on my desk, ignored unless it makes a noise at me. I take it with me sometimes when I leave the house, but sometimes I don't bother--not addicted.

its not smart phone, but not dumb, so what, is it an average joe phone?

lol, it’s worth $100