The $79.99 TCL Flip 3 is a simple feature phone with crisp call quality and a large keypad. We like that it has Wi-Fi support, email access, and an FM radio, though battery life could be better and the operating system could be more intuitive. Overall, the older TCL Flip 2 (also $79.99) remains our Editors’ Choice winner for basic voice phones since it offers similar functionality and longer battery life for the same price. It doesn’t let you download third-party apps like the Flip 3, but we don’t think that’s a deal breaker for this type of phone.Design: A Flat Plastic ExteriorLike the Flip 2, the Flip 3 comes in just one color. Its Stone Gray finish looks closer to black than gray, so the phone has a business-like appearance. If you want a flip phone with more color options, the $89.99 Nokia 2780 Flip is available in several bright hues.The Flip 3 is slightly flatter than the Flip 2, taking design cues from the original Motorola Razr (no, not the high-end foldable). The plastic exterior has a matte finish that makes it easy to grip.
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
The phone measures 4.22 by 2.34 by 0.78 inches (HWD) when closed and weighs 5.06 ounces. The Flip 2 (4.22 by 2.19 by 0.78 inches, 4.93 ounces) is ever so slightly smaller and lighter. The Nokia 2780 Flip (4.33 by 2.28 by 0.77 inches, 4.62 ounces) is similar in size and weight to both.
I found the Flip 3 easy to operate and carry. The tight gap between the two halves made it slightly difficult to slip my thumb into position to flip open the cover compared with the Flip 2, but I got used to it. The outer screen readily acquired smudges and fingerprints in use, but the rest of the phone’s body stayed clean.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
A low-resolution, 1.77-inch color screen on the front of the phone displays the date, time, battery life, and cell network. It also shows message notifications, caller ID information, and real-time call and message indicators. Unlike the 1.4-inch front screen on the Flip 2, the Flip 3’s outer display opts for a plain black background rather than carrying over the wallpaper from the main screen.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
The camera and the flash are on the front of the phone, meaning you have to flip open it to take pictures. Just below the camera, there is a programmable quick dial button that you can link to a specific number (Settings > Device > Assistance). A volume rocker on the right side is the only other button on the phone’s exterior; it makes a soft click when you press it. A 3.5mm headphone jack is positioned on the left side, while a USB-C charging port sits at the base.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
Flipping the phone open reveals the 3.2-inch color LCD, which has a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. The screen was easy to see under indoor lighting, but almost impossible to make out under direct summer sunlight. For comparison, the Flip 2 and Nokia 2780 Flip, respectively, have 2.8- and 2.7-inch panels with the same resolution as the Flip 3.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
The navigation panel below the hinge consists of two shortcut buttons, a directional pad with a central OK button, and Send and End buttons. The directional pad is slightly indented compared with the rest of the panel to make it easier to find by touch. Favorite, Mail, and Back buttons are underneath the navigation panel, while a large number pad for dialing and typing takes up the rest of the space. The raised number keys are larger than the other buttons and easy to read; they also light up when you press them.You have to remove the back cover to insert the battery upon first use. The SIM and microSD card slots are located underneath the battery cavity. It takes some dexterity to insert or remove cards from those small slots. A nano SIM is preinstalled. The Flip 3 accepts microSD cards of up to 512GB in capacity. The phone doesn’t have an IP rating for protection against dust and water, so you should avoid exposing it to the elements. Neither the Flip 2 nor the Nokia 2780 Flip have an IP rating either, though the $299.99, IP68-rated Kyocera DuraXA Equip is fully waterproof.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
The phone uses a Qualcomm QM215 processor, comes with 1GB of RAM, and offers 16GB of storage (around 13GB is usable). The Flip 2 uses a MediaTek 6739-CH processor and comes with the same amount of RAM but provides just 4GB of built-in storage. The Nokia 2780 Flip uses the same processor as the Flip 3, comes with 4GB of storage like the Flip 2, and has just 512MB of RAM. Despite their paltry specs, all three phones run smoothly and have plenty of power to handle their respective features.Connectivity and Calls: Clear CommunicationThe Flip 3 doesn’t support 5G, but its VoLTE capabilities allow it to perform well on Verizon’s network and Verizon MVNOs like Spectrum. US Cellular also sells the phone.I made and received multiple calls with the phone from a variety of places on Verizon’s LTE network during testing. The phone occasionally dropped calls in places with particularly poor coverage (Verizon has weak service in my area), but calls otherwise sounded clear and static-free for the most part. One person did say that my voice had a slight echo and that I sounded as if I was in a large room with no furniture.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
I had no trouble hearing the person on the other end of the line, even outdoors. The phone’s loud speakers and earpiece are to thank for this; respectively, they reach 80.2 and 90.9 decibels during calls, which are higher levels than those for the Flip 2 (75.6dB and 87.6dB) and the Nokia 2780 Flip (70.5dB and 76.6dB).
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
Battery life for the Flip 3 is disappointing, especially considering that it was a strength of the Flip 2. Both phones use a 1,850mAh cell, though TCL claims that the Flip 3 can provide just 10.5 hours of talk time per charge, down from 14 hours for the Flip 2. The decrease in battery life is likely due to the larger screens. In any case, the Flip 3 still lasts longer than the Nokia 2780, which gets just 3 hours and 20 minutes of talk time. In testing, the Flip 3’s battery life dropped down to 43% from a full charge after four hours of calling, texting, and using the included web browser. It took 2 hours and 28 minutes to recharge from empty via the included 5W charging brick. That’s 41 minutes longer than the Flip 2 took in the same scenario.An on-screen banner displays all the letters and numbers for a given key and makes texting easier by saving you the trouble of looking down at the number pad. Text exchanges with single recipients worked well, even those that involved photos. However, group messages were slow to go through.Like the Flip 2, the Flip 3 uses the older Wi-Fi 4 standard to connect you to the internet and to enable Wi-Fi calling at home. I found the latter capability particularly helpful since I don’t have strong Verizon service in my area.You can connect headphones wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.2 or use wired headphones via the 3.5mm headphone jack. You can’t access any music streaming services from the phone, though it does have an FM radio for listening to local stations. Alternatively, you can play local music through the phone’s music player app.Camera Quality: Straight Out of the 2000sThe Flip 3 has a 5MP camera and flash, but it struggles to take decent shots even in bright sunlight. Details appear soft, the highlights are too bright, and the colors look dull. The phone can also record 720p video at 30fps, but the quality is just as bad.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
If photography is important to you, get a cheap smartphone like the $199.99 Samsung Galaxy A15 5—or even a separate camera. Software: KaiOS Feels Like a DowngradeWhereas the Flip 2 uses a simple (but effective) operating system based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), the Flip 3 goes with KaiOS. The interface offers larger icons and a more colorful look compared with AOSP, but it isn’t as intuitive. The included app store offers only generic apps with limited utility (such as a unit converter) and basic games (such as chess and solitaire).Speaking of games, KiaOS comes with a folder of five titles: 2048, Birdy, Guardians (a sliding space shooter), Gems, and Whack a Mole. The games are free to play but come with ads that you must dismiss before you begin.
(Credit: Sarah Lord)
Otherwise, you get apps for Calendar, Clock, Email, File Manager, FM Radio, Gallery, Maps, Music, Note, Settings, Voice Assistant, Web Browser, and YouTube. There’s also a utilities folder with a Calculator, a To-Do List, and a Voice Recorder.The Settings app has all the expected options. An Account section lets you create a KaiOS account and enable anti-theft features such as the ability remote lock your phone or erase data. The accessibility features are slightly hidden (Settings > Device > Accessibility), but, among other things, you can enable larger text, turn on captions, set up a hearing aid, and activate RTT mode.Verdict: Stick With the Flip 2The Flip 3 brings strong voice calling features to a classic flip design, offers Wi-Fi for better in-home connectivity, and features a large number pad for easy dialing. But its middling battery life and clunky KaiOS operating system mean it loses out to the previous version, the TCL Flip 2, which is still available for sale and remains our Editors’ Choice. Its simpler OS and longer talk time easily outweigh the larger screens and downloadable apps of the Flip 3.
Like What You’re Reading?
Sign up for Fully Mobilized newsletter to get our top mobile tech stories delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
