The Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone looks like it’s from decades ago but its price was definitely a sign of today’s times. That’s changed, with Commodore’s announcement today that it will drop the price $100 for most models before pre-orders start next week.

The phone caused a stir when it was announced a week ago. First, there was the thrill of 80s computing legend Commodore making a phone. Then the phone being retro in both look and function caught attention, with a flip-phone form factor combined with a focus on privacy. But one of the most unique features of the Callback 8020 is that it runs Android apps on Linux-based Sailfish OS instead of Android. Among all of the praise though, was criticism that a $500 starting price for the basic models was too high.

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[–] 1 point 4 months ago (12 children)

I don't get it. You literally have the choice of any dumb-phone out there, why buy a new one?

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  • [–] 4 points 4 months ago* (3 children)

    Point me towards a dumb phone that can run Signal properly and I'll cancel my 8020 order right now.

    (yes, it's still a bit of a guess whether the 8020 can actually run it properly, but that's what they're promising right now anyway)

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  • [+] 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (3 children)
  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

    Thanks! Interesting, I hadn't heard of that one.

    I wasn't able to find if the tt970 (or the newer t990) provably can run Signal, but seems like it's an Android 14 so I guess it should.

    Do you have one?

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  • [+] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)
  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 child)

    Oh, the TTFone OS core is a proprietary fork of AOSP, and developed in China. That is probably a nope for me.

    But I appreciate for letting me know of it. Might be good for the kids in the near future.

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  • [+] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 child)
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

    Where did you find the info that the TTFone uses a fork - XDA? Possibly it can take CFW?

    It's a de-googled Android hence AOSP and the source code is nowhere to be found, as far as I can tell. That said, I don't really know where they wrote the device-specific changes, just guessed.

    As for the 8020, it's obviously an unproven product at this stage so picking that at this stage is pretty much a gamble.

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  • [+] 4 points 4 months ago (7 children)
  • [–] -1 points 4 months ago (6 children)

    There exist new dumbphones, poor reply.

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  • [+] 4 points 4 months ago (5 children)
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago* (4 children)

    I believe they meant what's the point of yet another dumbphone model, not new vs. used. But let's say they did, it's not like dumbphones stopped being manufactured in 2007. There's plenty of newer used models (as recent as you want, including this year) that invalidate your weird statements.

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  • [+] 1 point 4 months ago (3 children)
  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

    It is weird to assume that. I can buy a dumbphone at most retailers, still. And certainly have enough options online. They specifically mentioned "buying any dumbphone out there". Your own assumption of what you would do aside, do you think that's what the market would offer, mainly 2000s Sony Ericssons?

    This also ties in to your struggling second assumption/flex tape seal attempt. Ebay is not an obscure site.

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