Now we know that flip phones are trending again, are we also expecting Android sliding phones to make a comeback? Touch screen phones have only graced us in the last decade or so. In between that transition from keypad phones to touchpad mobile devices, we have slider phones. We can consider slider phones as the transition feature between these two different technologies. Or, maybe, the “missing link” connecting the past and futures of mobile devices.
What are sliding phones?
The basic idea of a slider phone is to conceal the device’s keypads when they are not needed. Usually, keypads are concealed for answering calls, playing music, checking the time, and even browsing old-school mobile internet.
3 Best Android Sliding Phones of All Time
Blackberry Torch 9810
Considered the creme de la creme of its time, Blackberry was the go-to business phone back in the day. And, the Blackberry Torch slider phone surely brought its A-game into the industry. Its features were to beat and who can compete with the iconic Blackberry trackpad, right?
Nokia E7
Released in 2011, this phone was one of the first of its kind. Its main selling point – is “touch or type”. Nokia E7 was among the pioneers of the mobile phone that we know today – a device capable of functioning fully from its touch features. It was pretty much as good as a computer back in the day.
Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
At the time when this was released the concept of a Qwerty keypad for a mobile phone was just new. The main selling point of this slider phone is to allow for “fast messaging”. With a widescreen, the Qwerty keypad, and a dedicated internet browser button – it was the best business phone at the time. Answering your emails via a mobile phone was not a thing and giving users such an opportunity was marvelous!
4 Best Android Sliding Phones You Can Still Buy Today
Blackberry Priv 2 (released 2015)
Lots of Blackberry’s new phone releases still have its signature Qwerty keypads. And Blackberry Priv 2, released in 2015, was among the last of the tech giant’s mobile slider fleet. It has an AMOLED display with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 4. This mobile device supports an Android Lollipop OS and is upgradeable to Android Marshmallow. The Priv 2 is a mobile phone with a sliding physical QWERTY keyboard. It may be one of the best android sliding phones you can still buy.
LG Wing 5G (released 2020)
The slider feature is not for a concealed keyboard. Instead, the phone is made up of multiple screens that swivel upon an axis to provide a larger screen size for the user. It is 5G capable, with an Android 10 OS. It has a rotating P-OLED screen with Gorilla Glass 5 protection. This phone was released in 2020. However, even with its unique concept, it was not well received.
Fxtec Pro1 (released 2019)
If you are looking for a modern slider phone, this can be your best bet yet. It features a full-sized screen with a physical sliding keyboard. It can be set up on any tabletop, like a mini-computer. The Fxtec Pro1 has a 6GB ram and future phones from the startup are expected to perform better. Its display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, pretty decent for its make and model. It is also the only sliding phone that has a fingerprint reader on the right edge.
Astro Slide 5G Transformer
There is much debate if this device is a mini-computer or a slider phone. The device is pretty impressive. It has a full mechanical keyboard external screen slider like a mini-computer. But, it is nano-SIM and eSIM capable. It also has a scratch-resistant gorilla glass (FHD + AMOLED) screen display. It has an 8GB ram and expandable microSD memory.
Android Sliding Concept Phones
We have to admit slider phones have lost their market when the demand for keypad phones has declined. But, we also do have to admit that sliding phones give us some sense of nostalgia. In the same way that flip phones are nostalgically being brought back to life, we’re pretty sure there are sliding concept phones out there. Here are some rumored sliding concept phones: