Commodore resurrects iconic PC brand with new flip phone

When Christian Simpson, the retro gaming enthusiast known online as Peri Fractic, purchased the remnants of the pioneering PC company Commodore in 2025, he made a deliberate choice: to restart product development as if the 1990s had never ended. Rather than chasing modern trends, Simpson and his team focused on reviving the brand’s most iconic hardware. Their first major success was a faithful recreation of the Commodore 64, a machine that looks nearly identical to the 1982 original but now includes Wi-Fi connectivity, USB ports, and a few other subtle modern updates. It’s a pure nostalgia play, and it has clearly resonated: Commodore reports selling 30,000 units since its launch.

Now, the company is taking its retro strategy in a new direction. Commodore has unveiled a flip phone, a device that deliberately eschews the sleek, glass-slab design of today’s smartphones in favor of a chunky, mid-1990s aesthetic. The phone, called the Commodore Callback 8020 Founders Edition, is a deliberate throwback. It features a physical keypad, a small external display for notifications, and a hinge that clicks with satisfying heft. Inside, however, it runs a modern operating system capable of handling calls, texts, basic apps, and even a few classic games.

The design won’t appeal to everyone. The retro look is unapologetically bulky, and the device lacks the app ecosystem and high-resolution screen of a typical smartphone. But for those who remember the original Commodore era, or who simply crave a break from constant notifications and endless scrolling, the Callback offers something genuinely different. Simpson has described the phone as a “digital detox device” that still lets you stay connected on your own terms. It’s a niche product, but one that perfectly captures the spirit of a brand that has always marched to its own beat.