Flip Assistant

Supported phones

Flip Assistant is an Android app. It runs on keypad phones that use Android underneath and allow installing an APK, which covers a lot of current American flip and dumb phones.

If you have never installed an APK before, search for your phone model followed by "sideload APK" and you will find step-by-step instructions. The process varies by phone but usually takes under five minutes.

The app will install and run on compatible phones anywhere, but it is currently optimized for use in the United States. Weather comes from the National Weather Service (US only), zip code lookup is US-based, and directions default to US mapping. International support is something we are interested in if there is demand. Let us know where you are.

Three phone silhouettes: a flip phone flanked by two candybar phones

Known to work

  • Kyocera DuraXA Equip (E4831). Built and tested on this one. The soft keys under the screen are labeled by the app.
  • Kyocera DuraXE Epic (E4830). Rugged Android flip. Same platform as the DuraXA Equip, with soft key labels.
  • Kyocera DuraXV Extreme (E4810). Rugged Android flip with soft key labels.
  • Kyocera DuraXV Extreme+ (E4811). Rugged Android flip with soft key labels.

Expected to work

These phones run Android and allow APK installation. Everything should work, but the soft key labels may be blank on non-Kyocera models. In that case the app puts the same guidance at the bottom of the screen instead.

Flip phones

  • Sonim XP3plus. Rugged flip running SonimOS (AOSP-based). 2300mAh battery.
  • Sonim XP3plus 5G. 5G variant with 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, and a 3000mAh battery. Available on all three major US carriers.
  • Cat S22 Flip. Android 11 Go with the Play Store and a touchscreen. The most open of the flips. Built to military-grade ruggedness standards.

Candybar and minimalist phones

  • Qin F21 Pro. Full Android with a touchscreen and keypad. Easily opened up for APK installs.
  • Qin F22 Pro. Full Android with a touchscreen and keypad. Easily opened up for APK installs.
  • Sunbeam F1 / F1 Pro. Qin-based phone with a filtered Android build.
  • Wisephone II. Android-based minimalist phone by Techless.
  • Minimal Phone. Full Android 14 on E Ink with a QWERTY keyboard.

May work with modification

These phones run Android underneath but block APK installation by default. Getting the app onto them requires flashing custom software or using a developer kit, which is not something we can support directly.

Flip phones

  • TCL Flip 2. Runs AOSP but APK installation is blocked by default. Custom software is needed to enable it.
  • TCL Flip Pro. Restricted Android build. APK installation is not available without modification.
  • TCL Flip Go. Restricted Android build. APK installation is not available without modification.
  • Alcatel Go Flip 4. Android-based but locked down. APK installation is blocked.
  • Light Flip. Runs LightOS, which is AOSP-based. A developer kit was recently released but app installation is limited.

Candybar and minimalist phones

  • Light Phone III. AOSP-based LightOS on a monochrome OLED touchscreen. App installation is limited.
  • Mudita Kompakt. Runs MuditaOS K, which is AOSP-based with E Ink. App installation is limited.
  • Punkt MP02. Runs Apostrophy OS (AOSP 8.1). T9 keypad, 2" screen. Intentionally limits app installation.

Will not work

  • Nokia flip phones (KaiOS). KaiOS is not Android and cannot run this app. A KaiOS version is something we would build if there is enough interest.
  • Employer or carrier locked phones. Phones sold in a locked-down configuration where installing apps is blocked.

If you carry a KaiOS phone and want Flip Assistant on it, let us know. Enough requests and we will build it.

A note on touchscreen phones

Flip Assistant is built for phones with a D-pad and keypad, not a touchscreen. It will install on touchscreen Android phones like the Qin models, the Wisephone and the Minimal Phone, but the interface is not designed for touch and some things will be awkward.

The Light Phone III already offers many of the same features through its own toolbox. If enough people request it, we will build a touch-capable version optimized for the Mudita Kompakt. Let us know if that is the phone you carry.

Not sure?

Start the free trial and find out, or ask us with the model name. There is no card to put in first.