Commodore returns with a retro clamshell phone that blocks social media

Commodore is re-entering the mobile market with an unusual new handset called the Callback 8020, a clamshell-style phone designed in a 1990s spirit and aimed at people who want a deliberately limited device rather than a rival to Apple or Samsung. The company describes it as an escape from “black mirror technology,” and says the phone has built-in blocking that prevents installation or access to social networks, browsers and email apps.

The device runs on Sailfish OS, which avoids Google services but can still run most Android apps. That means users will still be able to use navigation, music and basic communication apps such as WhatsApp, Signal and Spotify, but they will not be able to bypass the social-media block, which Commodore says is enforced at the server level through DNS. The company also says it will not collect, monitor or monetize user data.

On the hardware side, the Callback 8020 has a 3.25-inch main display and a small external screen styled after the brand’s retro 1970s calculators. Its specifications include a MediaTek processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage with expansion support, and a 48-megapixel rear camera. The 1,550mAh battery can be replaced manually by the user, and the phone will come with interchangeable colored covers.

Nostalgia is also part of the product’s software package, with built-in Commodore 64 games, including the classic Snake. CEO Perry Pracket said the phone grew out of his own desire to disconnect from smartphones after becoming a father, and called it “a dumb phone, but not too dumb.” The handset is expected to go on sale later this year for $500 in the base version, while a special gold edition will cost $640.