[cf100clunk]

> maybe because it's not about the 'flip', but the lack of 'smart'?

I think that also applies to parts of the world in which the ''candy bar'' form factor like the Nokia 3310 is still quite popular.

North Americans have seemed to have a need for the flip form factor for decades. In the early 1990s Nokia sold an AMPS model called the 139 into the North American market, which was just a candy bar phone fitted with a flip cover for the keypad and a genuine imitation dummy placebo extendable antenna. Focus groups told them that they needed to scratch those consumer itches. Today there is potentially a modern Nokia 139DL model that may soon fill a similar niche.

[throwaheyy]

I think those “consumer itches” probably stemmed from 1990s American action movies in which the original of this style of phone (Motorola MicroTac I think?) seems to be almost universally used.

[cf100clunk]

Agreed, those Motorolas set the pace in North America. It is quaint to watch TV shows or movies in which a character goes through the motions:

1. pull buzzing phone from pocket, purse, etc.

2. extend antenna

3. flip cover open (the really cool ones had a spring loaded cover opener activated by a side button)

4. optional: look at the display before answering

[082349872349872]

I'd blame Star Trek (1966-1969)

https://intl.startrek.com/sites/default/files/styles/content...

[piaste]

It is because Americans are notoriously rude and violent. They need a device that they can physically slam in the other person's face when ending an angry and stressful phone call - also known, in their language, as "a phone call".

/s but with a grain of truth I think: the physical action of closing a flip phone is satisfying, and the sharp noise made when closing it down one-handed comes across a little rude in more reserved cultures, but perfectly acceptable to the more boisterous Americans.