Keeping it simple: Nokia 2660 Flip review

Ever since the best smartphones are all flatscreen, tablet-like gadgets, the flip phone era was thought to have passed, but Nokia is here with its 2660 Flip to show that the classic design still has a place. If you've grown tired of too many apps and are in need of a tech detox or want an easy-to-understand device, the 2660 Flip night just be for you. It's not a smartphone; it's a dumbphone.

The "dumb" in its dumbphone name is because it does away with the advanced features that make smartphones smart – most notably, the limited ability to download huge numbers of apps. This naturally leaves it a bit more basic compared to a regular smartphone. The simplicity is intentional, too, as the 2660 is designed as a phone for seniors or those wanting to cut their tech back to basics. Fewer features mean a lower price tag, so you can easily classify it as a budget phone.

So that's who the 2660 Flip is designed for and roughly what you can expect from it, but how does it perform, what's it like to use, and is it worth your money? Well, we're here to answer that.

Resident tech expert Kyle Purves has been trialling out the Nokia 2660 Flip. They've brought it on outings and used it constantly for weeks. From audio quality on calls to the experience of texting the old-fashioned way, they've made sure to get an understanding of all of its strengths and weaknesses. Now that they're familiar with the full experience of using this phone. Read on to see their findings and learn if it can make it into our roundup of the best Nokia phones available.

Performance

You might assume that the audio quality would be middling at best for a phone of this price range, but I'm pleased to say that it was very solid in my experience. In my testing, I didn't hear any significant difference in sound quality from a phone call with the 2660 Flip compared to the Google Pixel 7 Pro I usually use. It's more than capable of keeping up with the pricier competition.

The sound quality is still consistently good for listening to music. While I did feel it was a little worse than on more expensive phones, I think it's great for the price. I'd compare it to listening to music with your car radio, so if you have no issue with that, then the 2660 Flip will serve you well.

Speaking of radio, that was one of my favourite aspects of this phone. An FM radio is one of the few apps on this phone, and it is reliable at picking up local stations you can switch between. Sure, I could download a radio app on my smartphone, but in practice, I rarely listen to any stations outside of a car, so this was a refreshing change of pace. Switching stations and adjusting the volume was easy, and I could leave it running in the background while working, making for some nice noise.

The selection of apps is pretty great overall. There's the usual selection of features you'd expect to see, with handy additions like a flashlight, internet access, and even Facebook pre-installed. There's also a handful of games like Tetris and Snake to help kill time if you get bored. The menu is easy to navigate, and each app is pretty much right where you expect it to be. Suffice it to say, you're not missing out on much convenience that a regular smartphone brings aside from an easy way to add more apps.

Now, let's talk about the camera. It's not great, but I can't help but like it. The picture quality pales compared to a smartphone's camera, but it hits the expectations of a flip phone perfectly. If you're like me and can get a bit nostalgic for nineties-era tech, the camera here actually comes off as quite charming. You won't be taking masterpiece photos and videos with the 2660 Flip, but it serves its job without issue. Plus, the settings are easy to tweak, so you can play around and get pictures to look how you want.

One final note on the performance of the 2660 Flip: the battery life is fantastic. A single charge lasts a very long time and, in my experience, exceeds the already impressive 19 hours advertised. Since there's less fancy tech and features, there is less pressure on power consumption, so even with frequent use you shouldn't see it dip too fast. It's also quick to charge; I brought it from flat to full in less than 90 minutes. Nokia has continued its near-mythical dedication to battery life through its latest phones, like the impressive Nokia XR21 we tested last year – seeing it on this older-style form factor is really fun.

Build

The 2660 Flip opens up as one would expect from a flip phone. This means it's very small and compact when closed, so it shouldn't take up much space in a pocket or bag. When opened, it ends up taller than even the largest of smartphones. That may sound like a downside initially, but it means it fits nicely in my hands. It also means the buttons and keys are large and easy to read, something you may appreciate if your eyesight or hand dexterity isn't the best.

The buttons are responsive and easy to understand at a glance. The "hangup" key is held to power up or turn off the phone, and the asterisk unlocks it. Texting isn't as easy as with a touchscreen, but that's to be expected with the territory of a keypad. Keep your messages brief, take time, and the buttons will be reliable and consistent.

I quite like the design of the navigation button. Older flip phones would often have it be quite small and sometimes leave you guessing whether you were pressing up, middle, right, and so on. There's a square silver border here, and so long as you press that side, you'll go in the direction you want.

It's exactly like the flip phones you remember from years ago, not like the ultra-modern takes you'll find with phones like the Samsung Galaxy Flip4.

Downsides

While this phone has a few weak spots, I want to stress that they're all fairly minor. The Nokia 2660 Flip is great at what it aims to be and only falls slightly short in refinement.

The included games are... fine. They serve their purpose of distracting you from boredom, but they're fairly underwhelming. Snake and Tetris feel sluggish and even more outdated than you remember, and each game feels a bit laggy. Again, they kill time, but I've seen many better versions of Tetris.

The volume settings are also odd. You can control the notification volume on the side, but doing so blocks your screen with a chunk of flat colour to roughly represent the level. It works, but it's jarring.

Verdict

The Nokia 2660 Flip may not be the most impressive phone, but it's not aiming to be. It's a simple step back from a smartphone, designed for older users or those looking to cut back on tech, and that's a purpose it fulfils excellently.

There are a few shortcomings here and there, but it's hard to pay them much mind when the phone is such good value. It has great audio quality, a seriously impressive battery life, and a nice selection of pre-installed apps to let you get started immediately.

If the benefits of the Nokia 2660 Flip match your wants and needs, then it has found its intended audience, and I can certainly recommend it for what it is.

What else to consider?

Who tested this?

Kyle Purves is one of our commercial content writers. While they're much more familiar with modern smartphones, they were keen to give a flip phone a shot once again. They always keep their phone nearby, so the Nokia 2660 Flip was never far from reach.

How was it tested?

I tested the Nokia 2660 Flip over the course of a few weeks, using it just about every day. I used a small pay-as-you-go sim to test phone calls and internet access with it. Over the course of my testing, I found myself using the radio most often, especially to have it on in the background of work. As such, I feel I've developed a very solid idea of the audio quality of the phone, and the weeks of use have familiarised me with the overall experience.

Kyle Purves is a Commercial Content Writer for What’s The Best, with an avid interest in all things gaming and tech.

They’re well-versed in reviewing a variety of tech products, with a soft spot for speakers and earphones. They’re also no stranger to hunting down the best savings, always wanting to get the best deal possible. Outside of work, they can often be found playing through an RPG, listening to Japanese noise rock, or trying to catch up with their ever-expanding list of shows and anime to watch. If possible, they try to play Dungeons and Dragons a couple of times a week, but getting six adults to be free at the same time is easier said than done.

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