Clamshell phones with external antenna. The best clamshell smartphones or foldable smartphones

The new 2017 year of the "Fire Rooster" has come, and while some are lining up in huge queues for new Samsung or iPhone, others opt for the well-proven clamshell solution. Once this design was intended to emphasize the status of its owner, symbolizing both the triumph of the latest technologies and a subtle sense of style. Today, a clamshell phone is more about convenience, light weight and size with a durable battery.

These are mobile phones for those who write SMS and make calls and cannot afford to leave the device on charge every day. At the same time, as you will soon find out, the design decisions of the end of the last century do not mean at all that the device options will be far from modern. As a rule, it happens exactly the opposite. Manufacturing companies are sensitive to the needs of their customers, and many modern folding models hit the market every year. In this article, we will consider the main clamshell phones of the new 2016-2017 year.

TOP 15 clamshell phones you should look out for!

1st place - Samsung SM-G9198 - a clamshell phone with a large screen!

An incredibly light and stylish clamshell that combines the beloved case with the latest technological advances. The smartphone is equipped with a Super AMOLED screen with a diagonal of 3.9 inches, a resolution of 1280 by 768 pixels. In addition, the screen is reliably protected by special Gorilla Glass technology. And this, you see, is very good for an ordinary clamshell. 2 GB random access memory provide excellent performance for any application, and 16 GB of internal memory will be enough for the first time. Then you can easily supplement it with a microSD memory card with a maximum capacity of up to 128 GB.

So far, the smartphone is sold only in China, but it is possible that soon (for example, at the end of 2016) it will appear on the windows of domestic stores - manufacturers are aware of the stable demand in Russia for such form factors. True, the cost of the model may well scare off many buyers - buy mobile phone Samsung SM-G9198 is cheaper than for 40,000 rubles, it is unlikely to succeed. Perhaps such prices will seem overpriced to many, but true connoisseurs of the brand know what they are paying for.

In addition, you can look for a stylish novelty on trading platforms China and the USA - there she will appear very soon!

2nd place - LG Wine Smart H410 - classic of the genre

If you have missed clamshell mobile phones that are far from modern top smartphones, you will certainly like the LG Wine smart model. This is an extremely interesting novelty for 2016. In Russia, it will presumably appear only at the end of autumn, or at the beginning of winter. Regarding the price, alas, it is still unknown, although we can confidently speak about the availability of this clamshell for users with different incomes.

It is currently not entirely clear why the manufacturing company suddenly decided to install on Wine Smart latest version Android OS - 5.1.1, because the diagonal of the display is only 3.2 inches (resolution 480x320), and the RAM is 1 GB. Another 4 GB is available for long-term storage. Regarding the main and front cameras, the solutions here are very budgetary - 3 and 0.3 megapixels, respectively.

We are very pleased with the support of the fourth generation of data transmission networks, although it again brings us back to the idea that a technically simple mobile phone is unlikely to need state-of-the-art solutions. Nevertheless, LG Wine Smart captivates not at all with its characteristics and functions, but with its high reliability and a nice vintage design.

3rd place - Alcatel One Touch 2012D - hit of 2016! The best clamshell phone!

You should not pay attention to the numbers in the name of the model, since they have nothing to do with reality. Alcatel 2012D conquered the domestic market in 2016 due to a very low price (for example, the Svyaznoy device costs only 2690 rubles) and good design... This mobile phone has nothing to do with smartphones. It is worth buying it for the most simple tasks- SMS, calls, radio, music.

The 2.8-inch display is too small. With such a diagonal, it is not convenient to flip through pages on the Web or read books. Nevertheless, the phone copes with its direct duties perfectly. Due to the small display, the device consumes incredibly little power, so the 750 mAh battery is enough here for two to three days of normal use. The 3 megapixel camera turned out to be surprisingly good too.

Of course, there is no point in photographing her landscapes, but it is very possible to capture something important - the bus schedule, for example. Another undoubted advantage is the simultaneous use of two SIM cards.

4th place - LG Gentle G360 - style and simplicity

Another novelty of 2016, which is officially available in Svyaznoy stores for only 4490 rubles - you must admit that you will not find such prices for really good mobile phones so often today. This is a very simple clamshell in a stylish and practical design in black-gray or red colors.

The model looks great and lies both in a man's hand and in a woman's. The main advantages of the LG G360 include support for two SIM cards, as well as good sound in headphones, comparable to the playback quality of smartphones in the middle and budget segment.

Users note only one drawback - the battery is too weak. Contrary to the declared characteristics (485 hours in standby mode and 13 hours in talk mode), in fact, with active use, this phone still has to be charged every other day. It is possible that this is influenced by the high-quality 3-inch TFT display, on which you can enjoy watching a variety of videos and photos.

5th place - Samsung Galaxy Folder - in step with the times!

The most interesting novelties of the last summer include a very nice mobile phone. Samsung Galaxy Folder. The most impressive here is, of course, the screen - with a diagonal of 3.8 inches, its resolution is 800x480 pixels, which allows you to comfortably view photos and read books.

Samsung clamshell works on operating system Android Lollipop and with a 1200MHz quad-core processor and a whole gigabyte of RAM, everything works flawlessly. 8GB of internal memory makes it easy to download enough content of any type. But those who do not have enough space can use a memory card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. Separately, it should be noted the excellent 8-megapixel camera, which will give odds to the cameras of almost all mid-range smartphones. In 2016, probably no flip mobile phone compares to the Galaxy Folder in terms of the range of different functions.

Samsung originally planned to implement Galaxy smartphone Folder is only on the domestic market, but due to high demand, you can soon expect a premiere in the CIS countries - Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Russia. The cost is likely to be the same as in South Korea. It will be approximately $ 250. Even if the phone is not officially presented in Russia, it can always be ordered at various foreign trading platforms - from Ebay to AliExpress.

6th place - Sharp Aquos K SHF31 - a pleasant surprise!

Sharp loves to arrange pleasant surprises. Many people think that this company makes the best clamshells, or at least some of the best. Others argue that mobile phones are clearly not the firm's strong point. Let's figure it out. A qHD display, a quad-core Snapdragon processor, and a gigabyte of RAM ensure fast and smooth execution of a variety of tasks.

In addition, this mobile phone supports touch control, which makes it much easier to operate. Alas, the question of price remains unclear so far, however, in any case, the Sharp model is guaranteed to be one of the brightest new products of 2016. For now, it remains only to wait for the Aquos K SHF31 to go on sale. It will probably be very easy to find it in large foreign online stores and order it to Russia.

7th place - Philips E320

An excellent clamshell mobile phone with two SIM cards. At the time of release, it was quite expensive - about 4500 rubles. Judging by outward appearance, the model was created for a female audience. Philips has provided two colors - gold and red. The body is glossy and easily soiled, fingerprints are sure to remain on the surface. The device has an oval shape, all corners are smoothed. The buttons are plastic, large and slightly recessed into the body. There are two dedicated connectors - Micro-USB for charging and 3.5 for headphones.

The display is good, has a wide viewing angle, and deep, non-distorted colors. The resolution is only 240x320, but you don't need more for this phone. There is an optional OLED display on the lid. It has all the capabilities you need today: a 1000 mAh battery (enough for 72-96 hours with normal use), Bluetooth 2.1, GSM communication standard, microSD support up to 16 GB, a 2 megapixel camera with a good flash.

8th place - Samsung GT-E1272

A dual-SIM serial card phone that was created for the ultra-budget sector of the market. Outwardly, the device looks very nice - a compact oval body made of high quality plastic. The assembly is reliable. Three color variations of the case are available - red, white and black. There are two connectors - 3.5 for the headphone plug and Micro-USB for charging.

The keyboard buttons are large enough, pressing is well felt. Adjusting the volume is exclusively through the settings. Small display of low quality with a resolution of 160x168. Any multimedia functions are completely absent, as well as Bluetooth with a memory card. Own memory also very small - only 32 MB. However, there is FM radio. Available to switch cards for each option performed. The priority of each SIM card depends only on the switching in the software part. The model has an 800 mAh battery that can last up to 96 hours with normal use.

9th place - Samsung C3592

Mobile clamshell with two SIM cards. At the time of release, it was inexpensive. A very practical case design with rounded edges and corners. The model is released in three colors - red, silver and black. It has large, comfortable keys with normally readable text. There are two standard connectors on the case - Micro-USB for charging and 3.5 for headphones. Unfortunately, there are no buttons to switch the volume. The screen is not bad, with a resolution of 240x320. It is very bright and does not fade in the sun.

This mobile phone does not have enough memory of its own (only 40 MB), although you can use a memory card up to 32 GB. The model supports GPRS and EDGE, there is Bluetooth 3.0. The 2 megapixel camera does not have a flash. The 900 mAh battery can last up to four days if you only call the device, and up to two days if you use the multimedia functions.

10th place - Alcatel One-Touch 1035D

A clamshell mobile phone designed specifically for communication. The model supports two SIM cards in shifts. The device has a housing with rounded corners. The special color scheme is sure to attract attention. The outer panels are made in white, while the side edges and the inner surface are completely black, which creates an excellent contrast. The keyboard buttons are large enough and easy to move, the symbols on them are well distinguishable. On the edges of the device there is only a 3.5 jack for headphones, as well as a Micro-USB for a charger.

The screen with a resolution of 160x128 does an excellent job with the main functions. The phone has only 32 megabytes of its own memory, but there is a microSD slot that supports cards up to 8 GB. There is an FM radio and an MP3 player. The battery is rather weak, only 400 mAh, and can only work for 1.5 hours during a conversation.

11th place - VERTEX S103 Compact and bright!

The S103 is housed in a very small package. This mobile phone is easy to use and fits easily into your pocket. The clamshell case with a colored front cover is a stylish and convenient solution. Speed ​​dial keys for accessing important features and numbers.

Functional.

Compact camera phone - the best option for everyday use. Very small size: 43 x 91.6 x 16mm. Fits easily into a small purse or pocket. Color display for easy viewing of text and images. Keys quick access to use the most important functions.

Always in touch!

Simultaneous operation of two SIM cards allows you to combine work and personal numbers in one device.

12th place - Oysters Ulan-Ude

The Oysters Ulan-Ude mobile phone is perfect for the elderly and anyone with hearing or vision problems. It is for this purpose that the device is equipped with large buttons with voice confirmation, a very bright color screen, loud speaker and easy-to-read fonts. LED indication on the case will always inform about a missed or incoming call, new message, or low battery.

A dedicated SOS button will help in any difficult situation: when pressed, a siren sounds, loud enough to attract the attention of others. In addition, the telephone starts ringing the previously programmed numbers and, when dialing, will turn on the speakerphone. In addition, this mobile phone has an FM radio, a camera and a flashlight with a separate button.

13th place - BQ BQM-2001 Sofia

The classic and always appropriate mobile phone BQ BQM-2001 Sofia is a clamshell that does not take up much space. It will always be on hand and will be an excellent option for users who prefer to leave the phone functions to the phone. A pleasant-to-touch plastic casing will reliably protect the 2 ″ screen with a resolution of 176 * 220 from accidental damage and scratches, and special indicators located on the casing will always let you know exactly about a missed call or new message. There is not much built-in memory here - about 32 MB, but this will be quite enough for such a phone.

14th place - Alcatel One Touch 1035D

One Touch 1035D is a clamshell phone. Due to the support of two SIM cards, you can easily separate work and personal calls, as well as constantly save on mobile communications... This device is equipped with a 1.8-inch color screen, FM radio, and a 400 mAh battery. Built-in memory - 32 MB. It is easily expandable with microSD cards.

The One Touch 1035D hit the market at a fairly early date. When the popular clamshells rose in price, the new product from Alcatel with its democratic price of 1,500 rubles came to the court. It is quite understandable that the whole phone is saturated with economy, however, in our humble opinion, the engineers overdid it only once - by drastically cutting the battery capacity. You can put up with all other traces of budget cuts, especially if you keep in mind the price of the phone.

15th place - BQ BQM-2400 Taipei

Clamshell mobile phone with a nice pattern on the body. Many color options: red, white, black, silver, gold. A classic option for girls. There is no need to talk about the richness of the device's functionality: there is both a radio and a player.

There is even a camera - the truth is absolutely frivolous. The battery is also frivolous here - only 600 mAh, although, of course, such a thing doesn't need much. 2.4-inch color display. One SIM card slot. 3G, alas, is not supported.

Chinese clamshell phones on Android OS

Always staying in touch, and at the same time using an old-fashioned telephone that was miraculously found in a drawer, but a modern, stylish one is a problem. And there is a solution to this problem.

The advantages of smartphones are undeniable. Huge opportunities, access to world databases, modern high-speed communications and your presence in social networks around the clock. Films, games, books - everything is always with you.

But only when you are in the city.

In the race for these advantages, the main properties of the phone began to be lost - to dial a number, take a call, exchange SMS, be in touch for several days without recharging.

And if you are going for a picnic, or at a remote camp site, or digging potatoes at your mother-in-law's dacha, your smartphone can unexpectedly let you down.

And if you decide to buy a phone - a clamshell with big screen for your loved ones, or a clamshell phone for Android for yourself, then this review is for you

A line of modern clamshell phones has been released that meet these needs.

They are small, easily fit in a pocket, there is no risk of accidentally crushing the screen, they have an energy-intensive battery, stylish design, and they ideally serve their purpose - to keep in touch for a long time in conditions of unclear signal reception.

New models of clamshell phones are produced simultaneously by several companies.

Almost all of them are clamshell phones with an external display. Although they are designed for different buyers and for different requests.

In our hit parade best phones- clamshells are involved:

Mosthink TransFormers

The phone is a clamshell with a large screen.

A brutal style with the Transformers logo on the outside, made in two colors - black and khaki, two full-color screens, a small external one, and the main one with a size of 2.8 ”320x240px.

A powerful 4800 mAh battery allows you to stay in touch for a long time and recharge other devices thanks to the built-in function Power bank... Dual SIM cards, support for flash memory, radio, LED flashlight and MP-3 player.

An ideal gift for a supporter of outdoor activities, leaving civilization for a long time.

Mosthink Newmind F15

Designed for a younger age. The flip-top car phone is available in seven colors, from blue to pink.

Flash memory up to 8 Gb, radio and MP3 player will not let you get bored.

The 1500 mAh battery supports the phone in standby mode up to 200 hours.

An excellent option for the case when you need to send a child to his grandmother in the village or to a summer camp.

Mosthink rover x9

Another phone in the brutal adventurer style. Aggressive black and orange color scheme, in standby mode the clock is on external screen executed in the Sceleton style

Large main screen 3.5 ”480 × 320 px, flash memory up to 8 Gb. 1500 mAh battery supports standby up to 120 hours

Large buttons, the ability to answer with one touch without opening the phone, flashlight, radio, MP3 player.

TKEXUN G10 3.0

Stylish, rich, in a golden color scheme, this phone is designed for older people.

Both displays are large, bright and well-readable. Internal display 3 "touchscreen, resistive type.

Dial and call buttons are large, with contrasting fonts.

The 2800mAh battery allows you to talk continuously for up to 3 hours.

FORME C3520

An original women's phone, in bright blue or bright burgundy colors, decorated with plant prints on the body. Supports 32 Gb flash memory, MP3 MP4, 2 ”display and extended battery make it ideal for serious office work. It will not discharge unexpectedly in the middle of the day and will not get lost among the rest.

Newmind V518

A telephone designed for use by the elderly.

Austere and stylish black and gold color scheme, two displays, a loud bell and a strong vibration alert.

Large 2.4 ”main screen with contrasting images and large contrast buttons make this model suitable for visually impaired people.

A powerful 2600mAh battery makes it possible to talk continuously for 3 hours, or go for several days without recharging in standby mode.

Such a phone can be presented to a grandmother for a holiday, or just like that - out of love and respect.

VKworld T2

Outwardly, it is an ordinary clamshell phone.

But only outwardly.

This is a full-fledged smartphone - a clamshell of 2017, on Android 5.1, equipped with a keyboard and two screens 4.0 ”854 × 480 px, a capacitive design traditional for a smartphone.

The 2050 mAh battery guarantees 6.5 hours of talk time, and the 13 MP camera takes excellent pictures and videos in 720P quality

Clamshell smartphone works in 2G and 3G communication standards, supports WiFi, GPS + AGPS

The body is dark, dustproof.

Ideal for those who are indifferent to huge displays, and who need a smartphone with a long battery life.

Lenovo A588T

Austere, stylish, clamshell smartphone from Lenovo running Android will satisfy any request both as a phone and as a smartphone.

Screen 4 "800x480px 16M color shades. 2250 mAh battery provides 5 hours of talk time or 150 hours of standby, WiFi, GPS, built-in support for MP3, MP4, e-book.

This device combines the traditional design of a phone with all the capabilities of a modern smartphone.

An additional plus is a very attractive price.

A great gift to yourself to raise your spirits.

The best clamshell phones: new items 2016-2017

3.8 (76.92%) 39 votes

The days when clamshell phones were popular have already begun to be forgotten. Now in stores you can still find simple folding models that are in little demand. Manufacturers combine touch controls with buttons, which is not very practical. But this approach finds its customers among users who are nostalgic for such a design. We decided to pick up several models of clamshell smartphones in 2016 and show how they have evolved.

Company Samsung at one time she was one of the leaders in "clamshell" and still from time to time produces interesting clamshell smartphones. latest model, which became known more recently - this (codename SM-W2017). The phone is not cheap and has very tasty characteristics. The emerging benchmark of the gadget showed that it is equipped with a top-end processor and double screen... That is, the displays are located on both sides of the top cover that covers the buttons. This allows it to be used as a simple touchscreen phone or as a classic "book".

According to some information that has surfaced, it has become known that it will be possible to buy a clamshell smartphone for 1500$ , which is due to the flagship characteristics and special design. Most likely it will be released in limited edition and will not go beyond the Asian market. According to the photos, the model is somewhat reminiscent of another flagship - Samsung Galaxy S7. Performance will also be at the level of the latter. The central chip is the famous Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, which is equipped with 4 cores on the Kryo architecture with a frequency of each individual core 2.4 GHz. This includes the equally powerful Adreno 530 video processor.

The rest of the specs include a decent 4GB RAM and at least 64GB of storage. Both screens have a diagonal of 4.2 inches with a resolution of each 1920 × 1080 pixels. It is also known that the smartphone will be equipped with a 4000 mAh battery, universal connection USB Type-C and 4G communication.

The next clamshell smartphone was presented this summer. The mobile phone is interesting not only for its folding design, but also protective functions Water, dust and drop resistant with IPX5-IPX7 and US military MIL-STD-810G certification. At the same time, the model has a very attractive design with different body colors. The device will definitely attract the attention of many users. Moreover, the company Sharp known as a manufacturer of high-quality displays. PureLED technology has been used here, which guarantees a bright and clear image.

The display received a small size of 3.4 inches and a decent, albeit outdated, resolution of 960 × 540 pixels. On the cover there is a mini-screen for displaying the time and other information about calls and SMS. Other hardware features include a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 4-core processor and a very modest 1GB RAM. Although, if you think objectively, then more is not needed for such a gadget - the user receives an excellent dialer with very impressive protective functions.

The device has a storage capacity of 8 GB and can be expanded with a microSD memory card. The device also boasts a pretty decent 13 megapixel camera with HDR function and NightCatch night shooting. There is Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n and Bluetooth 4.0 along with one SIM card and 4G LTE connection. The battery is 1500 mAh, and the OS is Android 5.1. According to preliminary data, the price will be approximately 200$ .

Companies Phillips although it does not specialize in mobile phones, it also has a good selection of devices. Sometimes she presents quite interesting specimens, like, for example, a clamshell smartphone on an Android. The device appeared in the Chinese certification center TEENA at the beginning of the year, but is not yet available in Russia. Judging by the images, the device has a nice design. Its dimensions are 117 × 60 × 19 mm, and its weight is 206 grams. Quite an ordinary "clamshell" for making calls and some entertainment on the touch screen.

The processor is known to have 4x 1.5GHz cores, 2GB of RAM and a shared 16GB flash drive. It is quite a standard indicators of a state employee today. The display has a diagonal of 3.7 inches and a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels, which is quite high for its size. There are two cameras - the rear main camera is 13 megapixels and the front one is 5 megapixels.

Works V800 in the operating room Android system revision 5.1 and supports next generation LTE communications. In general, the smartphone is quite decent and should be of interest to many users. Only when it will be available on the Russian market is not yet clear. The price is also in question.

Another clamshell smartphone got into our review Samsung entitled Galaxy Folder 2... This is the second generation of the device with improved characteristics. The first one was very popular last year, so they decided to improve the mobile phone and release it in new version... The device belongs to the budget series and is equipped with its standard characteristics. It is worth highlighting the pleasant design, which is presented in gray and black.

The internal filling consists of a 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 central chip with a frequency of 1.5 GHz each. There is a perfectly acceptable 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage space with the ability to increase this figure by another 64 GB using a microSD card. As for the display, it has a modest 3.8 inches and the same small resolution of 800 x 480 pixels on a WVGA matrix.

The rest of the specifications are one single camera with 5 megapixels and a 1950 mAh battery, which is quite enough for the model to work for 3 days in normal mode. Installed OS Android 6.0.1. The gadget will go on sale very soon, but at what price it is still unknown. At first, it will be available only in China, and then perhaps it will reach Russia. In any case, no one bothers to order the device from one of the Asian resellers.

Chinese manufacturer Gionee widely known in the Asian market and probably familiar to our user. The company has several interesting mobile phones, among which the latest premium clamshell smartphone is especially noticeable. The device has beautiful design and is equipped with a dual display, like the first model in this review - an internal and an external one. You can use it like a normal touchscreen phone without unfolding or talking when unfolded.

The diagonal of both displays is 4.2 inches with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, which may seem small, because the price of a smartphone is $615 ... This is one of the most expensive price tags in general in the Chinese market for a smartphone, although it is really cheaper than it costs. Samsung model Veyron. These configurations are new and have good prospects, so the prices can be justified. In addition, the gadget has a premium design and powerful features. This is a decent MediaTek Helio P10 processor with an 8-core architecture with a frequency of 1.8 GHz. Pleases a large amount of 4 GB of RAM, which will allow you to install the most powerful applications for Android 6.0, which is installed here.

The total memory is also a decent size of 64 GB and is expanded by a memory card by another 128 GB. The presence of a fingerprint scanner and two cameras with good sensors - the main one with 16 megapixels with an F1.8 aperture and phase detection autofocus, and the front more modest sensor with 5 megapixels, definitely makes you want to buy a Gionee W909 clamshell smartphone. The configuration also includes a universal port USB connection Type-C and a mediocre 2530 mAh battery.

At the beginning of this year in Japan there was a surge in the popularity of phones made in the clamshell form factor, already forgotten by many. Many are already fed up with monoblocks of the same type with a touch screen of 4 - 6 inches, and this was the reason for the renewed interest in one of the once classic formats.

Against this background, we decided to consider the state of the market for such devices in 2015 and get acquainted with the current models of clamshells.

Just a couple of weeks ago, it went on sale in South Korea new smartphone from LG, which was named Wine Smart, announced at the end of last year. It combines the traditional functionality of a smartphone with a touchscreen and the convenience of a folding case.

The touch screen of the device with a resolution of 320 × 480 pixels received a small diagonal of 3.2 inches. At the bottom of the novelty there is a block number keys, round joystick with navigation keys and three buttons traditional for Android OS under the screen.

The filling of the smartphone is quite modern, a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1.1 GHz is installed on board, 1 GB of RAM, 4 gigabytes of built-in storage and support for microSD flash drives. The novelty works under the control of the fifth version of the Android OS.

Not without the support of all modern communication standards. In addition to working in second and third generation networks, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, LG Wine Smart is capable of working in LTE networks.

In addition to devices of the same type Galaxy line, Samsung decided to release a smartphone in the already forgotten clamshell format. It was the Samsung Galaxy Folder.

The novelty, which arrived in stores almost simultaneously with the LG product, also runs Android Lolipop, but is equipped with a better screen. It has a diagonal of 3.8 inches and a resolution of 800 × 480 pixels. The functionality of the smartphone is also more impressive. On board is a processor equipped with a quartet of cores operating at 1200 MHz, 1 GB of RAM, an 8 GB built-in storage, and an 8 megapixel camera.

The design of the inner part of the smartphone resembles the once mega-popular RAZR from Motorola, but the rounded edges clearly refer the Galaxy Folder to Samsung's "galactic" series. The cost of the device was about $ 250.

The smartphone released in July this year is functionally similar to the Wine model. Installed here is the same touchscreen with a diagonal of 3.2 inches, a dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM, a 3 megapixel camera, support for all major communication standards.

The clamshell body has received a leather finish and is available in burgundy and blue colors. The price of the smartphone was about $ 170.

Samsung SM-G9198

The novelty from the South Korean corporation, which does not yet have its own name (only the model number), appeared on Chinese resources in early July. According to the TENAA equipment certification authority, new apparatus will have two identical touch screens with HD resolution and a diagonal of 3.9 inches.

At the heart of the new smartphone will be the Quallcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset equipped with six cores. The amount of RAM will be 2 GB, and the built-in storage will have a capacity of 16 GB. Samsung did not forget about support for memory cards, the SM-G9198 will work with modules up to 128 GB in capacity.

The smartphone is equipped with Android OS version 5.1 and supports most modern communication standards (including LTE).

Renowned manufacturer components for mobile technology (in particular displays) from time to time produces its own devices. One of these smartphones was Sharp aquos K SHF31, made in clamshell format. The device was announced earlier this year.

A feature of the Sharp Aquos K SHF31 is a hardware keyboard equipped with support for touch control... In order not to pull your finger to the display, swipes can be made directly over the hardware buttons.

The functionality of the smartphone, against the background of competitors, looks pretty decent. Sharp Aquos K SHF31 operates on the basis of a quad-core "snapdragon", is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, a qHD display with a diagonal of 3.5 inches and 8 GB of internal storage.

At the beginning of the year, an interesting smartphone made in the clamshell form factor, LG Ice Cream Smart, appeared on sale in Japan and South Korea. Outwardly, the device resembles the device of the same name, released back in 2008, but its functionality is quite modern.

Built by LG Ice Cream Smart based on Quallcomm quad-core 1.2GHz CPU. RAM in the device is 1 gigabyte, built-in - 8 GB. The diagonal of the display is 3.5 inches, and its resolution is 320 × 480 pixels, which looks quite modest in 2015.

The smartphone operates on the basis of the Android 4.4 OS. The device communicates in GSM networks, UMTS and LTE. The price of LG Ice Cream Smart at the start of sales was $ 280.

At the beginning of this year in Japan there was a surge in the popularity of phones made in the clamshell form factor, already forgotten by many. Many are already fed up with monoblocks of the same type with a touch screen of 4 - 6 inches, and this was the reason for the renewed interest in one of the once classic formats.

Against this background, we decided to consider the state of the market for such devices in 2015 and.

Just a couple of weeks ago, a new smartphone from LG appeared on sale in South Korea, called Wine Smart, announced at the end of last year. It combines the traditional functionality of a smartphone with a touchscreen and the convenience of a folding case.

The touch screen of the device with a resolution of 320 × 480 pixels received a small diagonal of 3.2 inches. At the bottom of the novelty there is a block of numeric keys, a round joystick with navigation keys and three buttons traditional for Android OS under the screen.

The filling of the smartphone is quite modern, a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1.1 GHz is installed on board, 1 GB of RAM, 4 gigabytes of built-in storage and support for microSD flash drives. The novelty works under the control of the fifth version of the Android OS.

Not without the support of all modern communication standards. In addition to working in second and third generation networks, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, LG Wine Smart is capable of working in LTE networks.

In addition to the devices of the Galaxy line of the same type in many ways, Samsung decided to release a smartphone in the already forgotten clamshell format. It was the Samsung Galaxy Folder.

The novelty, which arrived in stores almost simultaneously with the LG product, also runs Android Lolipop, but is equipped with a better screen. It has a diagonal of 3.8 inches and a resolution of 800 × 480 pixels. The functionality of the smartphone is also more impressive. On board is a processor equipped with a quartet of cores operating at 1200 MHz, 1 GB of RAM, an 8 GB built-in storage, and an 8 megapixel camera.

The design of the inner part of the smartphone resembles the once mega-popular RAZR from Motorola, but the rounded edges clearly refer the Galaxy Folder to Samsung's "galactic" series. The cost of the device was about $ 250.

The smartphone released in July this year is functionally similar to the Wine model. It has the same 3.2-inch touchscreen display, a dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM, a 3-megapixel camera, and support for all major communication standards.

The clamshell body has received a leather finish and is available in burgundy and blue colors. The price of the smartphone was about $ 170.

Samsung SM-G9198

The novelty from the South Korean corporation, which does not yet have its own name (only the model number), appeared on Chinese resources in early July. According to the TENAA equipment certification authority, the new device will have two identical 3.9-inch HD touchscreens.

At the heart of the new smartphone will be the Quallcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset equipped with six cores. The amount of RAM will be 2 GB, and the built-in storage will have a capacity of 16 GB. Samsung did not forget about support for memory cards, the SM-G9198 will work with modules up to 128 GB in capacity.

The smartphone is equipped with Android OS version 5.1 and supports most modern communication standards (including LTE).

A well-known manufacturer of components for mobile technology (in particular displays) from time to time produces its own devices. One of these smartphones is the Sharp Aquos K SHF31, made in a clamshell format. The device was announced earlier this year.

The Sharp Aquos K SHF31 features a hardware keyboard equipped with touch control support. In order not to pull your finger to the display, swipes can be made directly over the hardware buttons.

The functionality of the smartphone, against the background of competitors, looks pretty decent. Sharp Aquos K SHF31 operates on the basis of a quad-core "snapdragon", is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, a qHD display with a diagonal of 3.5 inches and 8 GB of internal storage.

At the beginning of the year, an interesting smartphone made in the clamshell form factor, LG Ice Cream Smart, appeared on sale in Japan and South Korea. Outwardly, the device resembles the device of the same name, released back in 2008, but its functionality is quite modern.

Built by LG Ice Cream Smart based on Quallcomm quad-core 1.2GHz CPU. RAM in the device is 1 gigabyte, built-in - 8 GB. The diagonal of the display is 3.5 inches, and its resolution is 320 × 480 pixels, which looks quite modest in 2015.

The smartphone operates on the basis of the Android 4.4 OS. The device supports communication in GSM, UMTS and LTE networks. The price of LG Ice Cream Smart at the start of sales was $ 280.

While some line up for new iPhones or Samsung, others opt for the well-proven clamshell phone.
Once such a design was intended to emphasize the status of the owner, symbolizing both a subtle sense of style and the triumph of the latest technologies. Today a clamshell is more about convenience, small size and weight with a good, durable battery. These are phones for those who call and write SMS and cannot afford to leave the device on charge every day. Moreover, as you will soon find out, the design decisions of the end of the last century do not mean at all that the functions of the device will be far from modern. Quite the opposite often happens.
Manufacturers are sensitive to customer needs, and many new folding models hit the market every year. In this article, we will look at the novelties of 2018-2019.

1st place - Samsung SM-G9198 - when old and new are inseparable

An incredibly stylish and lightweight clamshell that combines the beloved case with the latest technological advances. The phone is equipped with a Super AMOLED display with a diagonal of 3.9 inches and a resolution of 1280 by 768 pixels. In addition, the display is reliably protected by Gorilla Glass technology, which, you see, is very, very good for a clamshell.
Two gigabytes of RAM ensure maximum performance of absolutely any application, and sixteen gigabytes of internal memory will be enough for the first time - then you can supplement it with a microSD memory card with a maximum capacity of up to 128 gigabytes.
So far, the phone is sold only in China, but it is possible that in the very near future (for example, at the end of 2016) it will appear on the windows of Russian stores - manufacturers are aware of the stable demand in our country for such form factors. True, the price may well scare away many potential buyers- it is unlikely that it will be possible to purchase Samsung SM-G9198 for less than 40 thousand rubles. Perhaps such prices will seem overpriced to someone, but true connoisseurs of the brand know what they are paying for. In addition, you can look for a novelty on the trading floors of the USA and China - there it will definitely appear very soon!

2nd place - LG Wine Smart H410 - classic of the genre

If you have missed the good old clamshells far from the current top smartphones, LG Wine smart will suit your taste. This is a very interesting novelty for 2016, and in Russia it will presumably appear in late autumn or early winter. As for the price, unfortunately, it is still unknown, but we can already speak with confidence about the availability of this clamshell for users with very different incomes.
It's not entirely clear why the manufacturer suddenly decided to install the latest on Wine Smart Android version- 5.1.1, because the diagonal of the screen is only 3.2 inches (resolution 480x320), and the RAM is 1 gigabyte. An additional 4 gigabytes are available for long-term storage. As for the front and main cameras, the solutions here are quite budget - 0.3 and 3 megapixels, respectively.
Support for the fourth generation of data transmission networks is unspeakably pleasing, although it again brings us back to the idea that a phone, which is quite simple from a technical point of view, hardly needs cutting edge solutions. However, LG Wine Smart captivates not by its functions and characteristics, but by its beautiful vintage design and high reliability.

3rd place - Alcatel One Touch 2012D - hit of 2016

Do not pay attention to the numbers in the title, because they have very little in common with reality. Alcatel 2012D won Russian market in 2016 due to the extremely low price (for example, the Svyaznoy device costs only 2690 rubles) and good design.
To smartphones this phone has nothing to do, and it is worth purchasing it for simple tasks - calls, SMS, radio, music. The 2.8-inch screen is frankly small, with such a diagonal it is not very convenient to browse the Internet or read books. But Alcatel 2012D copes with its direct duties just fine. Thanks to the small display, the device consumes little power, and therefore the 750 mAh battery is enough for two to three days of quiet use.
The 3-megapixel camera is also surprisingly good. Of course, it makes no sense to photograph landscapes with its help, but it is very possible to capture something important - the same bus schedule, for example. And finally, another undoubted advantage is the ability to use two SIM cards at the same time.

4th place - LG Gentle G360 - style and simplicity

Another hot novelty of the summer of 2016, officially available in Svyaznoy stores for only 4490 rubles - agree, such prices are really good phones you rarely meet today. This is an extremely simple clamshell in a practical and stylish body in red or black and gray colors. The model looks great and lies in both female and male hands.
The main advantages of LG G360 include full support for two SIM cards, as well as unexpectedly good sound in headphones, comparable to the playback quality of smartphones in the budget and middle segment. Users note only one drawback - a relatively weak battery. Contrary to the declared parameters (13 hours of talk time and 485 hours of standby time), in fact, with active use, the phone has to be charged every other day. It is possible that this is influenced by the very high-quality 3-inch TFT-screen, on which it is quite possible to enjoy viewing photos and videos.

Video review LG G360

5th place - Samsung Galaxy Folder - in step with the times

The most interesting novelties of the past summer include a very cute Samsung phone Galaxy Folder. The most impressive here is, of course, the screen - with a diagonal of 3.8 inches, its resolution is 800x480 pixels, which allows you to comfortably read books and view photos.
The clamshell smartphone runs on Android Lollipop, and thanks to a 1200 MHz 4-core processor and a gigabyte of RAM, everything functions flawlessly. Eight gigabytes of internal memory will allow you to download enough content itself different types and those who do not have enough space can use a memory card with a capacity of up to 128 gigabytes.
The remarkable 8-megapixel camera is also worth noting - it will give odds to the cameras of almost all smartphones in the middle price segment. In 2016, perhaps no clamshell smartphone compares to the Galaxy Folder in terms of feature set.
Samsung originally planned to implement Galaxy phone Folder is only on the domestic market, but due to high demand in the near future, we can expect a premiere in the CIS countries - Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. The price is likely to be similar to that in South Korea at around $ 250. Even if the device is not officially presented in Russia, it will always be possible to order it on large trading platforms - for example, on Ebay or AliExpress.

6th place - Sharp Aquos K SHF31 - a pleasant surprise

Sharp likes to arrange pleasant surprises from time to time, many are even inclined to think that Sharp makes the best clamshells, or at least some of the best. Others argue that phones are clearly not the Japanese firm's strong point. Well, let's figure it out.
The quad-core Snapdragon processor, qHD display and gigabyte of RAM ensure smooth, fast execution of tasks. In addition, the phone has support for touch control, which greatly simplifies the work with it. Unfortunately, the question of price remains unclear, but, in any case, the device from Sharp is guaranteed to be among the brightest new products of 2016. In the meantime, it remains only to wait for the Aquos K SHF31 to go on sale - it will probably be easy to find in large foreign online stores and order in Russia.

teXet TM-404

Released in May, a clamshell mobile with two SIM cards. At the time of release, it cost 1990 rubles.
Judging by its appearance, the device was created for both female and male audiences, as it comes in three colors: red, gold and gray. The body is semi-matte, there are no fingerprints on the surface. It has an oval shape, all sharp corners are smoothed. The buttons are large, plastic and slightly recessed into the body. There are two jacks - 3.5 for headphones and Micro-USB for charging.
The screen is good, has a wide viewing angle and deep, non-distorted colors. The resolution is only 240x320, but you don't need more for such a phone.
Has everything you need in Everyday life opportunities:

• 800mAh battery, which lasts 72-96 hours with standard use;
• Bluetooth;
• Communication standard - GSM;
• MicroSD support up to 32 gigabytes;
• Camera.

BQ Mobile BQM-1801 Bangkok

This is a dual-SIM sequential clamshell mobile phone designed for the ultra-budget sector of the market.
Externally, the phone looks very nice - an oval compact body made of high-quality plastic. The assembly is very reliable. There are five color options for the body - white, black, orange, yellow, blue. There are two connectors - Micro-USB for charging and 3.5 for the headphone jack. The keyboard buttons are large, pressing is well felt. Volume control - only through settings.
Small screen of low quality with a resolution of 128x160. Multimedia functions are present in this "dialer", as well as Bluetooth with a memory card. Own memory is also small - only 32 megabytes. However, there is a decent FM radio.
Switching maps is available for each function performed. The priority of each SIM card depends only on the switching in the software part. 650mAh battery that can last up to 76 hours with standard use.

BQ Mobile BQM-1801 Bangkok

Samsung C3592

A standard clamshell phone with two SIM cards. At the time of release, it was quite inexpensive.
Practical case design with rounded corners and edges. The models are released in three colors - silver, black and red. It has large, comfortable keys with clearly visible text. There are two standard connectors on the case - 3.5 for headphones and Micro-USB for charging. There are no volume control buttons.
The display of this phone is not bad, it has a resolution of 240x320. It is very bright and does not fade much in the sun, which makes it very comfortable. The phone lacks its own memory (40 megabytes), but you can use a memory card up to 32 gigabytes. The model supports EDGE and GPRS, there is Bluetooth 3.0. The 2 megapixel camera has no flash. The 900 mAh battery can last up to 4 days if you only call on the phone, and up to 2 days if you use multimedia functions.

10th place - Alcatel One-Touch 1035D

A clamshell mobile phone designed specifically for communication. Supports two SIM cards in shifts.
The model has a smooth body with rounded corners. The non-standard color scheme attracts the eye. The outer panels of the phone are made in white, while the inner surface and sides are completely black, which creates a pleasant contrast. The keyboard buttons are very large and with a clear stroke, the symbols on them are well distinguishable. On the edges there is only a 3.5 jack for headphones and Micro-USB for a charger.
The display with a resolution of 160x128 copes satisfactorily with the basic functions. It has only 32 megabytes of its own memory, but there is a microSD slot that supports cards up to 8 gigabytes. There is an MP3 player and FM radio. The battery is weak, only 400 mAh, it can only work for an hour and a half during a conversation.

Alcatel One-Touch 1035D

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