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Commodore Returns With the Callback 8020 Flip Phone

The nostalgia-styled device runs Sailfish OS with an Android runtime and uses system-level blocks on browsers and social apps to encourage mindful, limited use.

Overview

  • Commodore International Corporation unveiled the Callback 8020 as a flip phone that the company positions between a basic feature phone and a full smartphone.
  • The phone ships with Jolla’s Sailfish OS and an Android compatibility layer that the company says can run most Android apps while excluding most Google services.
  • Key hardware details include a 3.25-inch internal screen, MediaTek Helio G81 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB expandable storage with a 32GB microSD card included, a 48MP Sony rear camera, and a removable 1,550 mAh battery.
  • System-level restrictions disable the touchscreen by default, block browsers and major social apps, use T9-style texting to add ‘mindful friction’, and include retro extras such as curated Commodore 64 games and swappable covers.
  • Preorders open June 30 at 10 a.m. CEST with prices from $499.99 to $640 and shipping targeted for Q4, while journalists flag risks from the new company’s short track record, an unnamed Shenzhen OEM, uncertain real-world limits on blocked apps, and unclear long-term software support.