Image credit: Commodore
Commodore, the brand known for the Commodore 64 PCs, has announced a new flip phone called the Callback 8020. The device, which is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter of this year, will be priced between $500 and $640 depending on the variant. The Callback 8020 marks Commodore’s latest hardware launch following the release of the Commodore 64 Ultimate and Commodore 64X PC after the brand’s revival under Simpson’s ownership.
This new phone is designed to limit access to social media and web browsing.
In a statement to Ars Technica, Simpson said, “We’ve also developed patent-pending technology that will prevent these apps—and only these apps—from being sideloaded on the device. … Users can sideload nearly anything else they want if it isn’t available on the Commostore, but we’ve drawn a firm line in the sand around any apps that drive doomscrolling. The phone features a secondary external display inspired by 1970s Commodore calculators and includes interchangeable covers and support for attaching phone charms.