TCL Flip 3 Review || Not An Upgrade 😞

Рет қаралды 14,505

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 92

@retrogaminggenesis6102 4 ай бұрын

I work at Verizon, and I just today learned this came out thanks to poking around our software. I gotta say, switching the hinge back to interior is a massive upgrade/return from a comfort point of view. I've owned both prior generations and this is just a better design. Definitely wish they improved the build quality more, maybe add some new features, but the hinge alone is a massive win in my eyes.

@papermario3982 4 ай бұрын

I used the TCL Flip 2 for over a year, and it was only possible due to the Android OS that allowed me to root and sideload essential software like speech to text and button mapper. Shame that the followup to such a great phone went with KaiOS. Those great upgrades would tempt me but no sideload and no speech to text means they don't even matter. I'll just continue to hope the Light Phone 3 will be everything I want lol.

@ricvilla3919 4 ай бұрын

How did you mod your flip 2 I've been trying to follow the tutorials on reddit but thing is too complicated for me 😭😭

@STR82DVD 4 ай бұрын

The crazy thing is the CAT S22 is damn near three years old and has better specs than this phone for less.

@unclegamer3092 4 ай бұрын

I was literally gonna post the same thing

@STR82DVD 4 ай бұрын

@@unclegamer3092 Right?

@CrossStix 4 ай бұрын

This is a just released, brand new, full price postpaid phone, with that in mind, $100 is kind of cheap. CAT S22 Flip was originally $234, more than twice the price. The prepaid TracFone variant will probably be something like $20, much more competitive. I think the typical American dumbphone consumer (excluding those who want rugged dumbphones, and people in minimalist/digital detox communities) expect them to be dirt cheap. The result is subpar phones (and OSes/software) from these Chinese phone makers. So in the end we still have much older (and now cheaper) phones, that despite their age, are better. Finally, I think the CAT S22 Flip is a bit of an exception. It flopped at T-Mobile, T-Mobile offloaded them in bulk to re-commerce/wholesalers, at probably fire sale prices, and consequently they became dirt cheap to buy from re-commerce/wholesalers.

@STR82DVD 4 ай бұрын

@@CrossStix Notwithstanding your valid points consumers can actually buy the S22 for less whether from wholesalers or other third party vendors, constructively that's a win for the consumers. The Cat S22 has a following as a minimalist cult favourite. It's manifestly difficult to argue with success no matter it's form.

@CrossStix 4 ай бұрын

@@STR82DVD I agree, I just wanted to add some context and put things into perspective.

@CrossStix 4 ай бұрын

I just realized, the original TCL Flip was KaiOS 3.0, TCL Flip 2 was AOSP (Android Open Source), and now back to KaiOS (3.1) here. Make up your mind TCL, way to confuse consumers 🙄.

@CrossStix 4 ай бұрын

I think it's worth noting that a TracFone variant is coming out soon (model T435D). Price should be $20 or $30, much more reasonable. That being said, while the hardware should be identical, on the software side I wouldn't be surprised if they remove some "premium" features, namely KaiVA.

@sazure2 20 күн бұрын

You are correct - chatted with tech today, after Z233VL connector charging port broke (Lately I make calls and it switches to "Straight Talk" and I can't call out. So chatted on Tracfone to fix - but putting the connector in and out broke it. NOW unfortunately since the connector device is broken NO phone.

@SPACERzed1337 4 ай бұрын

Hey Jose, I am wondering if you plan to review either the Blu Flex or the Mode1 Retro II? I am curious about both, but I cannot find anything decent on them.

@JoseBriones 4 ай бұрын

Blu Flex review coming soon. Mode1 Retro II is a good phone, but hard to get. I am hoping to get one, but don't expect it soon.

@SPACERzed1337 4 ай бұрын

@@JoseBriones The Mode1 Retro II on paper is as close to my dream phone can get on paper. I think a lot of your viewers would feel the same way I do. Good luck getting your hands on one. Looking forward to your Blu Flex review.

@EnriqueMcQuade 4 ай бұрын

I got a BLU Flex for $21 from Walmart yesterday, sadly this phone does not have KaiVA.

@CrossStix 4 ай бұрын

@@EnriqueMcQuadeI was wondering if the BLU Flex had KaiVA, that's unfortunate. Lack of a voice assistant is a deal breaker for some people I know. It's the only way they can text (at any sort of reasonable speed), on a dumbphone.

@thedude777OP Ай бұрын

Jose, could you find a flip phone that is of the same size as the ones from the 2007-2015 timeline, before they weren't 8-9 inches long when flipped open, they were far smaller. Also why would it be impossible for a phone manufacturer to produce a phone of this past size (6 inches) with a camera that can record in 1080p and take HD pics? Seeing that cameras have come a long way. Maybe you could bounce these ideas off some companies you are talking to, if any? Or see if such a thing exists?

@JoseBriones Ай бұрын

Nothing like this exists because the phones coming from Chinese factories are not small. It won't happen again because it would require a lot of money for research and development with the new VoLTE and 5G bands. It's a tough situation sadly and I don't think it'll get better anytime soon.

@Mustafa777. 19 сағат бұрын

Honestly not a bad phone to give to a child or an older person

@luvjdean1579 12 күн бұрын

Can you block numbers on this phone?

@bax9 4 ай бұрын

Shame that this is the only dumbphone that works with my plan outside the Orbic Journey V which is considered a QC nightmare.

@retrogaminggenesis6102 4 ай бұрын

There's some Nokia devices as well (assume you're Verizon?)

@bax9 4 ай бұрын

@@retrogaminggenesis6102 I'm under Spectrum which is MVNO under Verizon and has an even more limited amount of phones you can use. Nokia does not work from what I know.

@sazure2 20 күн бұрын

Walmart has it for $19.88 not sure of all the specs. My ZTE Z233VL charging port bent (tracfone) and now NO phone. so searching. Tracfone chat recommended this as ONE of two in my price range (just walk simple talk/text) The other was the Tracfone Blue Flex. Any thoughts MUCH appreciated. Housebound so NEED my phone. Thanks.

@JoseBriones 20 күн бұрын

Either should be good for $20. I prefer the build quality of the TCL Flip 3 over the Blu Flex

@sazure2 20 күн бұрын

@@JoseBriones Thank you much (what does "build quality mean") - I am old enough to remember the reliable "old fashioned phones". Thanks.

@sazure2 20 күн бұрын

I looked it up. Any others you might recommend. Can pay more.

@brockbaby Ай бұрын

How easy is it to swap the battery out? Is it built into the phone?

@JoseBriones Ай бұрын

It's removable. So you can swap it easily.

@XGempler 3 ай бұрын

It is not a $99 phone. Sells direct from Tracfone for $19.99, shipped free.

@JoseBriones 3 ай бұрын

It is $99 on Verizon. Tracfone just locks the device and sells it at a discount.

@XGempler 2 ай бұрын

@@JoseBriones only “locked” to tracfone for 60 days from activation, and pD can activate with as little as a $9.99 plan for one month and wait out the full 60 days from activation. The price was such a big part of your negative review but that price is only a phony “retail” price that most products have today. It is a $20 phone in the real world. Only an uneducated fool would actually pay $99 for it.

@XGempler 2 ай бұрын

@@JoseBriones It's $19.99, shipped free from tracfone, or from Dollar General or walmart. Heck, Walmart has the Flip 2 for $9.99. You can activate for as little as $9.99 no tracfone for a 30 day unlimited talk/text plan. You don't need to renew for an additional month and it still unlocks 60 days after being activated making it a $29.98 phone if you wanted to move it to a more expensive monthly service provider. Calling it a $99 phone is absurd. Anyone looking at this price point is not spending $99 on this and signing up for an expensive Verizon plan when there are plenty of places that sell it for much much less and with cheaper service plans. The premise of your video is all wrong making it pointless.

@yourbffnat3602 4 ай бұрын

Bought this for my husband. His brother texted, but when he went to check it didn't show anything. Also, what does the emergency button do???

@JoseBriones 4 ай бұрын

If he moved from an iPhone, the text may be "stuck" on the iPhone. The emergency button can be configured to call people or 911

@JoshQ-mc4bb 3 ай бұрын

This phone is terrible I used it for a month there’s a glitch with the outer screen where it randomly turns on and sometimes never turns off until you open and close it. It’s heavy and the screen is very low resolution

@ompte196 4 ай бұрын

When there will be the review of Nokia 235 that I saw the box on your table 😊?

@JoseBriones 4 ай бұрын

Coming soon. It will be very similar to the 3210 4G Review

@annfrazier7275 Ай бұрын

How do I turn off the GD flashlight?

@loganweaver5868 16 күн бұрын

I just bough a flip 3, I cannot seem to figure out how to get the voice to text function in text messages, did they remove it?

@JoseBriones 16 күн бұрын

If your TCL Flip 3 is not the Verizon version, it won't have voice to text. If it is the Verizon version, contact support because it should be there.

@alext4250 2 ай бұрын

Hi, I toggled on predictive text and it's still not showing up, do you know why that might be? Thanks!

@JoseBriones 2 ай бұрын

You need to reactivate it everytime.

@charles1606 Ай бұрын

I only paid $19.99 plus tax at tracfone for TCL Flip 3

@sazure2 20 күн бұрын

Any thoughts on how you like it. My phone from trackfone now has a damaged port (older flip top Z233VL) so need something quick. Thanks if you see this.

@charles1606 20 күн бұрын

@@sazure2 Works perfect

@zig-f5n 4 ай бұрын

why the palm mini smartphone is not available on Amazon can you plz send me the link

@JoseBriones 4 ай бұрын

They are out of stock for a while.

@TheBitStick Ай бұрын

KaiVA doesn't seem to be present on my unit from Tracfone for some reason.

@JoseBriones Ай бұрын

Only available on "premium" carriers.

@kpeeDC 3 күн бұрын

How do I adjust screen time

@JoseBriones 3 күн бұрын

Settings>Date and Time

@sebastianmontenegro7094 4 ай бұрын

A very good phone and really complete it is the TIQ Mini M3... Have everything.

@kurda164 4 ай бұрын

KAIOS is a PAIN to use!

@JoseBriones 4 ай бұрын

Agreed

@STR82DVD 4 ай бұрын

Agreed 👍

@retrogaminggenesis6102 4 ай бұрын

I bought the TCL Flip Pro to try and replace my Acatel Go Flip V, and I bought it for KaiOS since the Verizon model has an oversimplified and locked-down version of Android. Needless to say I returned it like 2 days later, I hated KaiOS and I hated the baked in advertisements everywhere. The typing experience was abhorrent.

@TLM860 4 ай бұрын

I like Kai OS, though I wish it had copy and paste

@goodnota 4 ай бұрын

PainOS

@thegall7437 2 ай бұрын

I think really the only truly good and uncompromising smart phone flip phone has been the Galaxy Folder 2 and it was well priced to boot. Wish there was something newer but alas we suffer.

@gloriaowolabi5055 2 ай бұрын

I’ll have the disagree! The phone is extremely slow and too smart to be a “ dumb phone” it’s just a old Samsung smartphone with a keypad

@infotalk12 3 ай бұрын

Does it have parental controls if I want to make this a device for a 10 year old ?

@JoseBriones 3 ай бұрын

It doesn’t. Try something like the CAT S22 for that

@EnriqueMcQuade 4 ай бұрын

Evan Blass leaked that phone earlier on Twitter/X in early 2024

@JoseBriones 4 ай бұрын

Cool. Maybe he can tell us what the upcoming Flip phones look like!

@ereh171 4 ай бұрын

They need switch on Android go already

@retrogaminggenesis6102 4 ай бұрын

Android Go supports dumb phones?

@ereh171 4 ай бұрын

@@retrogaminggenesis6102 cat s22 flip is on Android go 11

@Murillos1 4 ай бұрын

@@retrogaminggenesis6102*Dumb phones need to start supporting Android Go

@CrossStix 4 ай бұрын

I'm waiting for some sort of cross between Android and KaiOS. Like a custom AOSP based OS for dumbphones without a touch screen, but with an app store that has apps specifically optimized for dumb phones. A la Fire OS, but for dumbphones, and open to any manufacturer. I imagine it will never happen due to lack of market demand, but one can dream. At least phones like the TCL Flip 2 exist, while not stock. It's easy enough to side load.

@kcflat8320 3 ай бұрын

Yeah I can get with that idea@@CrossStix

@lecanius 4 ай бұрын

Hello Sir, I saw your video on the 903kc. I also saw that you had whatsapp on it! Are you able to do voice messages on whatsapp? Since on thr 601sh it doesnt work

@JoseBriones 4 ай бұрын

Not easily sadly. While it is possible, it is not easy at all on the 903KC

@lecanius 4 ай бұрын

@@JoseBriones on the 601 i need to hold the touch panel so zhat i go into scrolling mode, and then swipe up in order to pull the button. the issue is that i get an error message. if it would work it'd be fine for me.. is the handling similar on the 903kc, just without the error message?