
The candy bar is the most popular design among mobile phone manufacturers and users. Slide out phones will probably never disappear altogether, although new models do seem to be few and far between. While little out of fashion these days, it has a totally dedicated user base who will defend them to the death. There’s something special about having all the keys you need under your fingertips, with a definite and physical ‘click’ when you press a key. The quality of the hardware keyboard is invariably high. Slide out phones are massively useful for those who need to do a lot of typing when out of the home or office. There is the odd smartphone-based device around, but most are proprietary in the operating system they use and the apps they provide.
#CANDYBAR PHONE FULL#
Yet the term does generally refer to a device with a full hardware keyboard. As the small screen slides up to reveal a more usual numeric phone keypad. Some slide-out phones more resembled a flip-top phone. The “slide out” in the name usually refers to the fact that these devices had a full QWERTY keyboard tucked away under a smartphone-like display. Or whether you think they are the best thing since sliced bread. You could argue all day about whether slide out phones are too niche to ever make a real difference. New models do come to market fairly regularly. The pair of them took flip-top from being a little bit chunky to sleek and sexy.įlip-top phones are still a popular alternative to smartphones for many, including older users. Yet the undoubted kings were Motorola and Sony Ericsson. Most manufacturers have produced flip-top phone designs over the years, and some continue to do so. No app stores, although some did provide a handful of bespoke apps including some games. Lastly, the flip-top design meant that it took up a lot less room in your pocket or purse than other devices.įlip-top phones were primarily very manufacturer-specific. Notifications were usually provided by a reduced-function secondary display on the top of the phone when it was closed. The display itself is usually (for the time) a reasonable size.


Another big upside of flip-top phones is that you got a decent size keyboard. They have multiple advantages including offer significant extra protection against screen damage. The design was popular for several years despite never quite reaching the heights of the original candy bar phones. Flip phones were a huge innovation when they first appeared.
