Is it hip to be flip? The flip phone, an icon of the late '90s and early 2000s, appears to be making a comeback among celebrities, hipsters and millennials. Here's a look at the piece of throwback mobile tech during its heyday.
Flip phones through the years —
Is it hip to be flip? The flip phone, an icon of the late '90s and early 2000s, appears to be making a comeback among celebrities, hipsters and millennials. Here's a look at the piece of throwback mobile tech during its heyday.
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NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace talks on a cellular phone during practice for the Daytona 500 in February 1996.
Flip phones through the years —
NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace talks on a cellular phone during practice for the Daytona 500 in February 1996.
David Taylor/Getty Images
The Motorola MicroTAC Classic was released in 1991 and modeled after the MicroTAC 9800x, which came out in 1989. It was a precursor of the flip phones that would come later.
Flip phones through the years —
The Motorola MicroTAC Classic was released in 1991 and modeled after the MicroTAC 9800x, which came out in 1989. It was a precursor of the flip phones that would come later.
Getty Images
In this 1995 image, a shepherd chats on a flip phone while looking after his flock.
Flip phones through the years —
In this 1995 image, a shepherd chats on a flip phone while looking after his flock.
Luis Davilla/Getty Images
Actress Hilary Swank uses a flip phone in 2000.
Flip phones through the years —
Actress Hilary Swank uses a flip phone in 2000.
Hulton Archive/getty
Aside from flip phones, few things say "early 2000s" like the XFL. In this 2001 image, football legend Dick Butkus, the short-lived league's Director of Football Competition, growls (we're guessing) into his flip phone.
Flip phones through the years —
Aside from flip phones, few things say "early 2000s" like the XFL. In this 2001 image, football legend Dick Butkus, the short-lived league's Director of Football Competition, growls (we're guessing) into his flip phone.
Tom Hauk/Getty Images
OK, never mind. "Friends" says "early 2000s" better than just about anything. Here's star Matthew Perry in 2002 flipping.
Flip phones through the years —
OK, never mind. "Friends" says "early 2000s" better than just about anything. Here's star Matthew Perry in 2002 flipping.
Mark Mainz/getty
Japanese mobile operator DoCoMo introduced a new mobile phone named Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access (FOMA) in October, 2001.
Flip phones through the years —
Japanese mobile operator DoCoMo introduced a new mobile phone named Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access (FOMA) in October, 2001.
Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images
"The Tonight Show" host Jay Leno shows, in 2005, that photos don't require a touch screen. Here, he takes a snap of actor Tom Hanks.
Flip phones through the years —
"The Tonight Show" host Jay Leno shows, in 2005, that photos don't require a touch screen. Here, he takes a snap of actor Tom Hanks.
Kevin Winter/getty
Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, was spotted recently with an old school flip phone. Cork Gaines, a writer for Business Insider, posted this screen grab on Twitter.
Flip phones through the years —
Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, was spotted recently with an old school flip phone. Cork Gaines, a writer for Business Insider, posted this screen grab on Twitter.
Cork Gaine/Twitter