World’s cheapest flip phone that (hopefully) won’t flop: ~$420 for ZTE’s Libero Flip

"What’s that thing that costs as much as a flagship (or more), yet it doesn’t pack the latest and greatest?"

To which we can say: “Yeah, but it sure feels nice to rock a foldable phone!”

Here’s a phone that folds in two, yet after buying it your wallet will stay full enough not to fold in two as well: the ZTE Libero Flip, a brand-new clamshell.

It’s now in Japan (apparently, it’s been launched in the land of the rising sun first and China will follow soon) and it’s sold for approximately $420. Nice number, although $399 would be even nicer. Pre-orders are already on, and the Libero Flip is set to hit the shelves on February 29.

Is it the cheapest out there?

Until five minutes ago, the most affordable phone that could do Flip(s) was the Moto Razr 2023. Launched at $699, initially it was up for grabs for $599 thanks to a $100 discount at various retailers. Eventually, Motorola did discount the Razr 2023 (seemingly permanently) at $499.

This makes the ZTE Libero Flip even cheaper at ~$420 in Japan, but it remains to be seen if the price tag should stick when (rather – if) it’s launched in the US.

What can $420 get me?

Chinese devices and flagships often prove to be a bang for the buck (not you, Xiaomi 14 Ultra – the rumor is that this one could arrive in the EU at over $1600!), packing some ridiculous specs for several hundred $$$ less than phones with Samsung, Apple or Google inscriptions on them.

Four hundred dollars for a phone that folds can’t get you anything magical in 2024, but there’s no need to: some folks just want to give a foldable a try without breaking the bank.

Gizmochina reports that the Libero Flip is ZTE’s first vertical folding 5G phone. Under the hood, there’s the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset – again, don’t expect anything crazy in terms of raw power, but this should be enough for handling various everyday tasks. The storage configuration is only one, apparently: 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

The inner display is a 6.9-incher with a resolution of 2790×1188 px; the outer screen is a 1.43-inch circular funny-looking hatch. This external display supports a range of functionalities, including camera usage for selfies, step tracking, weather updates, and music playback control.

As far as the cameras go, the Libero Flip comes with a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 2-megapixel depth-of-field lens. On the front, it offers a 16-megapixel shooter for selfies. The device is said to be able to rest between 60-110 degrees enabling you to use the camera placing it on a table for smoother selfies.

There are three color options to choose from: Gold, White, and Blue. It’s 76mm in width and with a slim profile of 7.3mm when unfolded (15.5mm when folded). It weighs 214g and features an IP42 dust and water resistance rating.

In terms of battery life, the Libero Flip packs a robust 4310mAh capacity and supports 33W QC4+/PD3.0 fast charging. The device can be fully charged in 73 minutes.

On a side note: ZTE’s once-subsidiary brand, Nubia, could possibly launch a phone dubbed Nubia Flip 5G, which was spotted on the IMEI database some months ago. Could the Nubia Flip 5G be the rebranded ZTE Libero Flip that’s set for a global release? Will have to wait and see, but let’s hope that the price is not above $399. Or $420.