Talk about a blast from the past! Commodore unveils a Y2K-inspired flip phone with texting, maps and music – but NO social media

Fans of retro tech are in for a treat as the classic computer brand Commodore unveils a Y2K-inspired flip phone.

Named the Callback 8020, this surprisingly smart dumb phone promises to keep everything you need from a phone while ditching all the modern distractions.

That means you can still text, use WhatsApp, listen to music, check Google Maps, or call yourself an Uber.

However, all social media and browser apps are completely blocked, so you can live out your nostalgic fantasy without any pesky notifications.

With its plastic shell, folding design, and simple outer display, from the outside, the Callback 8020 looks like it could have been made back in the early 90s.

Inside the device is equally retro, with a 3.25-inch internal display and a physical keypad.

While it does have a touchscreen, you’ll need to brush up on your T9 typing skills as this is turned off by default for a ‘more mindful, nostalgic’ experience.

And, for the complete throwback experience, this £340 retro revival even comes with Snake pre-installed.

While the Callback 8020’s styling is pure 90s nostalgia, on the inside, this is an undeniably modern device.

Commodore has packed the device with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, microSD expansion, dual-SIM 4G support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, hotspot, and GPS.

In another distinctly modern move, the flip phone even comes with a Sony 48-megapixel camera that should take some decent photos.

However, retro die-hards will be pleased to know that there is a ‘retro camcorder mode’ that adds procedurally generated filters for footage so your photos look suitably old school.

Music fans won’t be let down either, since there is a headphone jack with an ‘audiophile grade’ digital to analogue converter, support for lossless audio, and an FM radio receiver.

And, in a nod to a simpler time in mobile tech, the Callback 8020 will feature swappable batteries and cases – making it repairable and customisable.

None of its hardware would look particularly impressive on a modern phone, and the Callback 8020 looks practically outdated compared to most smartphones.

However, the real selling point isn’t what this phone can do, but rather what it can’t do.

This vintage device can still use WhatsApp, Google Maps, Spotify, and Uber, but automatically blocks social media and browser apps 

Commodore stresses that this is a phone which has been designed to be used as little as possible.

Instead of receiving buzzing notifications, for example, the Callback only has soft LED lights on its outer case that let you know when a message comes through.

But the biggest selling point is that you can’t use this phone to dive into a social media rabbit hole, no matter how hard you try.  

The phone does have its own app store, which includes ’99 per cent of Android apps’, but Commodore is tightly restricting access to social media and work-related apps.

Everyday essentials like WhatsApp and Uber will be allowed, but anything likely to lead to doomscrolling is banned.

That means there is no Instagram, no Facebook, and definitely no TikTok.

The Callback 8020 runs on a custom Sailfish OS operating system, a Linux-based system developed by the Finnish company Jolla.

This allows Commodore to block social media and browser apps at the system level, which means you can’t even get around the app store restriction by ‘side-loading’ new software.

The Callback 8020 even includes a 48-megapixel camera and a headphone jack with ‘audiophile quality’ connection 

The phone is available in five colours: White, gold, ‘Starlight’, beige, and black 

The company says that it plans to slowly grow the number of allowed apps based on what users actually need.

Customers will be able to submit a request for an Android app to be added to the Callback’s store.

These requests will then be assessed by a combination of AI and human reviewers to check they don’t go against the Callback’s ethos.

The Callback 8020 is available in three basic colours – white, silver, or beige – priced at £303.10 ($399).

There is also a stunning translucent ‘Starlight’ edition at £303.10 ($399) and a gold ‘Founders Edition’ for £530.48 ($698.42).

However, you can currently join the pre-order waitlist for a $100 (£75.78) saving.

Pre-orders open at 09:00 BST on June 30, with the first models expected to ship in winter this year.