Technology

I work in product management, this was not a marketing ploy.

Supplies are expensive now. They are cutting into their margin considerably and probably did find some slightly cheaper components. Maybe they cut a better deal with the suppliers.

Either way, they are playing smart by listening to the market on an untested product in a new product category of “semi-smart” phones. This could signal a comeback of this type of product but only if they pave the way with affordability and usability.

I hope this does succeed for them because we need more companies taking risks in today’s market. Everything is so bland right now.

$500 USD -> $400 USD for those of you that don't want to click.

Translation: We couldn't really sell it for that price, now we try it with this price.

(Edit: This is no mockery, only of the marketing. The phone is nice)

Come on Commodore, I want a retro computer with new Herdware in it. Not some crippled linux phone.

lol, it’s worth $100

That’s more like it!

And I completely disagree with the people saying it should be much cheaper.

It’s a LTE Linux computer. In 2026. With multiple screens, a 48MP camera, good DAC, enough power to run real Android apps and tons of bells and whistles; what do you expect?

Electronics are expensive, unless it’s cheap garbage, heavily subsidized, or both. That has a huge externalized cost, and avoiding that is the whole point of this phone. R&D, customer service, and continued software support for the translation layer and OS, must crazy expensive too.

I know wages haven’t gone up with inflation, which makes $400 hard to afford, but that’s not in Commodore’s control.

If one wants a cheaper AliExpress Android fliphone, that’s reasonable.

But it’s not the same product. And you’re going to pay for it in other ways.

How about a phone for people who aren't addicted to them, but want the basics without being spied on?

Things I want in a phone:

• GPS with maps and directions.
• A browser for the rare occasions I want to look something up when I'm away from home. The last time I used it was to find which aisle something was on at Lowe's.
• Texting.
• Phone calls.
• Notes.
• A decent camera.
• No bigger than an iPhone 12 mini, which is what I have now, and it's plenty big enough.

I don't do anything else. Mostly my phone sits on my desk, ignored unless it makes a noise at me. I take it with me sometimes when I leave the house, but sometimes I don't bother--not addicted.

The ~~CAT~~ S22 is $150. It doesn't have the same hardware, but I don't see $250 worth of upgrades between that one and this.

Definitely closer than asking $350 more, though. And it's not like Sailfish functionality is worth nothing.

You can also sign up for the waitlist for an additional $50 off the price at preorder, which begins June 30. Not sure if they'll be checking that your email address is on the waitlist to use the code, but it's a generic code.

Done! You can use the code CHICKENLIPS at checkout on June 30th for a total of $100 off!

translation: fuck no one buy it! but we cant make a discount..... HEY! i got a idea! let fake we listened to them!

I would be interested if I knew which networks it works on….