Opel Mobile Smart Flip (2019)

2023 - Narrow market segment. Not great really – I'll write this in Jan 2023 as Aldi is now listing them as a Special Buy (AU$99). This review is a frank assessment from a middle aged person working in the tech industry. I am using the Opel as a second phone. The phone runs Android Oreo 8.1.0 (2017). Patch level is 2018. If you are younger than 60 you will know what this means and it will be… Read more

alarming. Recommend using this as a phone only. No browsing Internet/Email, using public wifi, Bluetooth off etc etc. Size is OK, but it's heavy. It's as heavy as any average 5" smart phone, which is annoying. In my opinion a flip phone must be light weight or you may as well buy a full smart phone. The cameras are ok for taking photos of price tags in the shops. Nothing more. It's bad. The charging cradle is nice, charging with the cable otherwise is cumbersome. Hinge mechanism is strong. Buttons are not great to push but do the job and are fairly big. SMS/MMS with the numeric keypad is slow and obviously more challenging than a smart phone with a full virtual keyboard. The user interface (Launcher App) is custom Opel and for making phone calls is OK. Frankly though, if you are fine to be limited to the custom interface they give you then I really suggest something NOT Android based and likely cheaper. Regarding one of the most of important aspects of a feature/flip phone - battery life. It comes with a small display and a 1550mAh battery (smart phones these days are ~5000mAh) I have removed/disabled virtually all user apps. Replaced the Opel Launcher with OLauncher, using Android AOSP messaging, alternative Contacts and Notes Apps. Not something most people can do. EDIT 2024: Fdroid, OLauncher CF, Emerald Dialer, Messaging, QR Scanner, Via Web Browser, Traditional T9 keyboard (must do!). Despite all that it reduces charge by 20-30% a day making no phone calls. Compared to a smart phone that's pretty good. Compared to a "dumb phone" like a ZTE T126 it's ... not great. If you are buying for someone else who you might think would like it - don't. EDIT 2025: Battery replaced. Moved to installing "BaldPhone" from Fdroid. A much better replacement Launcher, Contacts and Dialer interface. All in one. Highly recommend this as the first software change on receiving one of these phones.

Simple Easy Phone Limited To The Price – Purchased for my wife who needed a mobile that easily made and received calls, and would pick up short text messages. We have no wish to use "apps "and don't have the browser connected to the internet. It's easy to use, the flip on/off is sensible, and the camera is OK. It is value for money and won't operate like an expensive smart phone. If… Read more ·  1

you are looking for the latter it won't work like one! Build quality is good and after 14 months it still works well The original battery has days of standby time!

disappointed – Large buttons and small phone were main attractions. Used by hubby who is not tech savvy and just makes calls. Bought from a store after we had said he could not use his phone to get the Covid safe app. However when trying to download the Covid safe app have now found out from support that this phone does not support third party apps so is… Read more

useless for this. This was the only reason he needed a new phone. Was rather rudely told by support we should have viewed the website for more information before he bought the phone. He does not use a computer nor knows how to view a website. They have refused to accept a return and we consider the description of the phone as a SmartFlip to be misleading and the phone is not fit for purpose described to sales person so off to consumer affairs we go.

Good points and bad points – Bought this at the Post Office but they wouldn't open a box to let me see the phone due to COVID restrictions. Had to go the JB HI FI to actually see (but not use) one in the flesh Bought this for my 90 year old mother as she wanted to keep going with a flip phone with buttons (similar to her previous phone). The concept of a semi smart phone… Read more

appealed as my mother is basically competent with an ipad and I thought the touch screen functionality might be a little easier to navigate than a button only phone. Pro's: compact, light weight, good price, large buttons easily managed by arthritic fingers, battery life so far seems good, good volume on ring tone and when speaking with person on a call. Screen bright and large enough to display major phone functions such as phone book and messages. Easy to make phone calls and send SMS via working through phonebook icon only. The smart phone functionality reduces the tedious need to work through various menus that you have to use when using a button only phone. Font size for SMS can be adjusted through small, medium and large. Medium was quite adequate for my mother. Texting can either be done the old fashioned way using the buttons (only), as well as through the buttons and touch screen. (No touch screen only option). Customer support when contacted via email was prompt (and mostly helpful). Con's: 1. the instruction manual is VERY limited and does not cover many basic phone functions e.g how to delete messages and call logs. It assumes prior knowledge in the use of smart phones and where you might find various functions. The manual is incorrect (which I only found out by contacting customer support) in displaying a menu item called Font Size, under Common Settings. The phone does not have this menu item. The font size (of SMS only) can only be altered through the Messages icon. How to alter font size is actually mentioned in the instruction book on another page. I still have not found any functionality for the Options button. Got no idea what it does and it is not mentioned in the instruction manual! I found out answers to many of my questions by reading reviews of this phone than I got out of using the manual. 2. When entering a new Contact into the Phonebook, you cannot enter the "+" sign for international numbers. After struggling with this I contacted customer support who advised "sorry can't be done", with no help as to how I was supposed to store Contacts with international phone numbers. After much searching the internet I worked out that you can use the country exit code number instead of the + sign (as you would if dialling from a landline) e.g 0011 if dialling a number out of Australia. You can of course use the + sign if entering a phone number directly and not going through a presaved Contact 3. Some functions can only be performed using the touch screen. Several menus are located in a very small area at the very top of the screen. My mother's arthritic fingers were no match for the tiny symbols and menu lists that appear. I plan to give her a touch screen pen to use instead. 4. The volume control button is located on the side of the phone and is easily accidently pressed altering your preferred volume setting. Overall my mother has had a hard time getting her head around the "Smart" phone aspects of this phone. With lots of repeat instruction and practice she is finally getting the knack of using the basic functions of phone calls and SMS and admits these functions are now easy to use. She has no need of data, internet connectivity, Facebook, WhatsApp etc so can't comment on these aspects.

P.S the number of times the phone rings is adjusted through your provider.

Great little phone – Had some initial hiccups but with the fabulous help I have received from the help line, this phone suits me to the ground. As phones are getting bigger.....and soon will be carrying around phones the size of laptops, this phone suits me to the ground. Its small and I can carry around effortless. It tucks away out of site when I need it to. I dont need all the fancy stuff the smart phones provide. I just LOVE it..... Show details

It does 3 things well – OK, the 3 good things out of the way: 1. 4G...yessssss! 2. Place and receive calls. 3. send and receive SMS with pics. Aaaaand, the bad news. Like most bad news, this is a lot of spaghetti. It's got a browser (good). The browser is (Google) Chrome, AND it wants total access to all your privacy (Camera, Contacts, Location, Microphone, Storage). … Read more

Access to my Contacts list? You have to be kidding, right? Nope. There's your privacy right down the drain. The browser won't work if ANY of those permissions is offed.

Still on the browser... It CHEWS the battery, so you'd like to turn it off, as on a desktop or lappy? You can, deep in the system settings.

I need to set this up on a secure WiFi, so I need to import a complex PSK for WAP2 networking. USB to the rescue, buuuut... There's no text reader supplied. I' afraid to ask what I need to do to get an App in there and make it work.

Oh yes. I does (go figure) have Facebook and WhatsApp. But if the browser won't work with privacy permissions?

I give this phone 2 stars, because it has basic functionality and empty promises.

A good, simple dumb smart phone – I have had this phone for 2 weeks now. It took some getting used to after having a smart phone for so long, but after using it for a while, it is nice to have a phone for calls and messages only. Although it has internet connection, it is still simple to use. The good points about this phone are it has big buttons, it is reasonably easy to… Read more

navigate it's functions, it's small and sits in your pocket without getting in the way and it is very inexpensive to buy and it has a desk too charging cradle so you don't have to fumble with connecting your charging cable and it has a good long battery life between charging if you don't use it much doing the day, good mobile and WiFi reception in the areas that my smart phone didn't have it, the letters and numbers on the screen are a good size, the key pad is very large making it ideal for anyone with a big thumb. The bad points are you can't readily buy accessories for it like cases and spare charger cables, the internet is horribly slow, you can't assign different ring tones to different callers, the red and green LED charge lights are blindingly bright at night. Overall it's a good easy phone to use if all you want is to make calls and send texts. Not sure if it needed a smart screen, but it's handy at times to make it easier to navigate the phone. I'm very happy with it and recommend it.

Break Smart Phone Addiction - OPEL SMART FLIP PHONE – The flip phones are sold as a great senior's phone and they are. I love them. It stops you being a phone zombie. With the SMART touch screen variation at around $130, I can still stream YouTube because of 4G. I'm still connected everywhere, but just enough. The phone is not practical to feed the demon of endless internet and social media because… Read more

of the button keyboard. I decommissioned my smart phone to a tablet plan, and turn it on and off when needed for banking etc. The phone addiction issue, when treated, gives you your life back. Cradle charger is great. Still can charge it without. Build quality is solid. Battery life is acceptable and charges fast. Android 8.1. Camera pretty good at 2 mega pixels. Volume good. Screen is good and easy to read. Size is just right for the pocket. Touch screen. 4G. Stream YouTube & podcasts from the browser, quickly with saved favorites and history. I often leave the USB charger in to save battery. Should be an everybody phone, not just seniors.

If you can accept the drawbacks, it's OK. But decide carefully – I bought this phone as I found my smartphone too distracting overall. I wanted something that would only give me calls and messaging. The phone fits the bill, mostly, minus a few annoying points. I am keeping it, but you should consider if you can live with the drawbacks. I've had it about a month. Strengths: - It is 4G, i.e. we can use it in… Read more

Australia (2G has been switched off, 3G is going). - It comes with a stripped-down stock Android. You can sideload applications, but beware the screen is really small. - It has data tethering, which works well for me

Neutral (for me): - This is a classic phone, designed for people who don't want a smartphone. Yes, entering longer texts takes time, but that's not the intended use case. - Camera is just 2MP. That's OK - I don't use it.

Weaknesses: - Worst one first: there either is no sensor to detect the proximity of a face, or it doesn't work well enough. The screen stays on during calls and you are VERY likely to hit the mute button. You'll know when the other side suddenly says "Hello hello?". This happens frequently. I can live with it as I don't use it much. - Signal quality is poor. I tested this on different phones, same SIM, on Telstra. There are areas even in Sydney where your coverage will suffer, to the point that calls may be dropped, especially if you are moving (e.g. in a train near Burwood/Strathfield). It works well enough for me in most places, however. - It does not feature Google Services, which means you cannot easily synchronise your contacts. That was annoying - it only saves to SIM. An app to work around this would be nice. - It does not have the advertised battery life. It manages to get through the day, but that's about it.

Easy to use – I have just purchased this phone, Model OMSFP18B, mainly because I wanted a phone that was easy to use, with large buttons and without too many bells and whistles. I found the instruction manual easy to follow and large enough print for me to read. I was able to set it up in no time at all and making calls or sending text messages was so easy… Read more

with clear reception which was something my previous phone lacked. The camera isn't bad either - 2MP and it also takes video. The screen is 2.8 inches with a lovely bright display which is also a touch screen. It has an emergency "SOS" button on the back on the outside and you can set it to call numbers you choose yourself should the need arise, which could be handy for elderly folk. It charges on it's own cradle. So far, I like this phone. It looks very neat when folded and to see the date/time without opening the phone, you just press the button on the side and the window on the front lights up.