AGM M8 Flip launches as new rugged clamshell phone with extra-loud speaker

AGM Mobile has now come clean about the misleading hype around its newest device, conceding that the M8 Flip is a folding phone rather than a foldable. Combining a flexible display with a rugged build might indeed be beyond it; nevertheless, the device is still rated for IP69K- and MIL-STD-810H- as well as IP68-standard ingress protection despite its hinge.

Accordingly, AGM now hypes the M8 Flip as a particularly eco-friendly phone, in that it is projected to evade the landfill for as long as possible due to its robust and "high-quality" construction. Despite those properties, it seems the OEM is pitching the 4G/LTE-capable M8 Flip at those in need of a simplified phone experience with an "easy to use large keypad" opposite a "large font"-capable (albeit 2.8-inch) display.

That potential appeal is compounded with a dedicated SOS side-key and "no one left behind" T3/M3 hearing aid compatibility. It has a 1,500mAh battery - however, its RTOS-based UI might let it stay on for up to 2 weeks on standby.

Nevertheless, the feature phone also stands out with a carbon fiber-rich backdrop for a round, raised cover status display - which also houses a nearly H5-grade 104 decibel (dB) speaker. The M8 Flip is also potentially attractive in its affordability, at US$89 through AGM Mobile - although it is also US$79 on Amazon right now.