The Commodore Callback 8020 flip phone looks like it’s from decades ago but its price was definitely a sign of today’s times. That’s changed, with Commodore’s announcement today that it will drop the price $100 for most models before pre-orders start next week.

The phone caused a stir when it was announced a week ago. First, there was the thrill of 80s computing legend Commodore making a phone. Then the phone being retro in both look and function caught attention, with a flip-phone form factor combined with a focus on privacy. But one of the most unique features of the Callback 8020 is that it runs Android apps on Linux-based Sailfish OS instead of Android. Among all of the praise though, was criticism that a $500 starting price for the basic models was too high.

  • yeehaw@lemmy.caOP
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    2 days ago

    This is comical.

    Commodore said that three factors were the primary cause of what consumers felt was a high price for the phone. At the top of the list is the one plaguing the entire industry: RAM pricing.

    How much RAM could a phone like this use, anyway?

    Also, saying that they “listened” is bullshit. They just got worried they were priced too high so it wouldn’t sell. So they lowered it. If they listened they wouldn’t have it locked in with WhatsApp, a Meta/Facebook product as the only IM option other than SMS.

    • Scratch@sh.itjust.works
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      1 day ago

      The cynic in me is thinking this was an intentional marketing ploy.

      1. Price too high
      2. Outlets, outraged by the price talk about the features of the phone in detail, questioning how can this hardware cost cost so much
      3. Lower the price to your original (but secret) intent.
      4. Outlets now talk about how much more reasonable that is, how nice of the company to listen!

      You get 2 rounds of media attention for the price of one.

    • BCsven@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      Their info page says 4GB+64GB…so I assume that might be 4GB RAM and 64 internal storagr