Commodore, the 80s computer legend, has made a flip phone, and it's hugely exciting

A name from the beginning of the home computing revolution, Commodore, has recently been saved from obscurity and has announced a brand-new product.

However, it’s not a computer. It’s a phone. Not just any phone either, it’s a flip phone that will help rid you of the horrors of social media, endless work messages, and smartphone addiction in general.

Meet the Commodore Callback 8020

Settle down, because there’s a lot to digest about the Commodore Callback 8020.

Before we get to the design, you should know this is a Sailfish OS phone. Sailfish comes from Jolla, and long-time phone fans will remember it originated from engineers attached to the old Nokia MeeGo operating system.

Sailfish OS means the Callback 8020 will run Android apps, an essential for modern phones, but it’s “de-Googled,” and puts privacy first.

To cure smartphone addiction, the Callback 8020 will block browser and social media apps, the OS doesn’t monetize data or track cookies, and its functionality encourages people to “callback” later on.

This doesn’t mean the Callback 8020 will be entirely silent and a bit useless. Instead, it prioritizes helpful online tools, whether that’s a QR code or Google Maps, plus key apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Spotify, and OpenBubbles.

What does the Callback 8020 look like?

The Callback 8020 is a design throwback to original flip phones, such as the Nokia 2660 Flip, but with both a Commodore design aesthetic, and a host of customization options.

On the front is a 1.77-inch screen which only shows the time and date, not notifications, and when you flip it open, there’s a 3.25-inch screen with a 480 x 640 pixel resolution.

While it is a touchscreen, the touchscreen functionality is off by default, and the system will activate it only when certain apps require it. Otherwise, you use the keyboard and D-pad.

Commodore has gone to great lengths to make sure the phone is a pleasurable, tactile experience. The keyboard has been selected for its feel, and the flip section closes with just the right sound.

On the front of the closed phone are a series of LEDs which can alert you to notifications waiting on the phone. Each one can be associated to different apps, helping you understand what app genuinely needs your attention.

Inside the phone is a MediaTek Helio processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage space. There’s a MicroSD card slot with a 32GB card already in it, but it can take up to 256GB cards.

The battery is a 1,550mAh capacity cell, which should last around a week with modest use. On the back is a 48MP Sony camera, and there’s a video call camera on the inside of the flip.

On the customization side, Commodore sells different rear panels, called Snapbacks, and complete cases to make the phone your own. There’s a lanyard loop which can be used for "phone charms,” plus it has its own version of the controversial “iPhone sock” called the Backpack.

Commodore callbacks on the Callback

The Callback 8020 is more than just a de-Googled flip phone with a familiar retro brand name on the front.

It comes with a collection of Commodore 64 games already installed, a music player based on the C64’s SID audio chip, and ringtones that come from that SID audio chip too.

Interestingly, it taps into an audio trend too. The Callback 8020 has a 3.5mm headphone jack and comes with a pair of wired in-ear headphones, complete with an in-line remote, to listen to audio from the phone’s music player and DAC. There’s even an FM radio built-in, which uses the antenna on the device for reception.

The Callback 8020’s name is a continuation of an original Commodore modem line, which culminated in the Commodore 8010 modem released in the early 1980s.

Where has it come from?

Reading all this, you may be wondering who is behind Commodore’s return, and questioning whether this is a cash grab to capitalize on hype around retro devices, and the trend to step back from smartphones.

The good news is, this isn’t a cash grab. It's an incredible story that's worth your time exploring. Commodore went bankrupt in 1994, but it’s genuinely back after being bought by YouTuber, actor, musician, and Commodore fan Peri Fractic in 2025.

Subscribe to the newsletter for retro tech and privacy news

Discover why subscribing to our newsletter is the best way to read hands-on coverage, interviews, and deeper context about retro revivals like the Commodore Callback 8020, privacy-first phones, design choices, and the companies resurrecting classic brands.

Get Updates

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Fractic is now CEO, and documented the fascinating journey that led him to buy the company on his YouTube channel. Since then, Fractic's Commodore has released the Commodore 64 Ultimate, a beautifully crafted reboot of the C64, updated in the right ways for retro enthusiasts in 2026.

During his YouTube videos on purchasing Commodore, Fractic said the team (which includes people involved with the original C64) has a product roadmap for the next few years, and wants to “do two things really well each year.”

The Callback 8020 joins the C64 Ultimate for 2026, and Fractic has also discussed making Commodore calculators too.

There are interesting parallels between how Commodore has now returned with the help of a strong fanbase, and Jolla (makers of Sailfish) has recently emerged from difficult times, after the management and staff took control of the business again in 2023, with the aim of continuing development.

Commodore's revival, and entry into the mobile world, echoes how Pebble has been successfully brought back by original creator Eric Migicovsky too.

When can you get a Callback 8020?

We’re at the announcement stage for the Commodore Callback 8020 right now, and it’s coming later this year, with pre-orders opening on June 30. The company wants the Callback 8020 in people's hands before the end of the year.

It will come in five styles: BASIC Beige, ProtoPET White, and SX Silver, which will cost $500. These will join a translucent Starlight Edition for $550, and a Founders Edition with a 24k gold “C=“ button and some additional in-box goodies which will cost $640.