Are flip phones making a comeback? The old tech piques Gen Z's interest. - USA TODAY

But flip phones weren't ideal for texting as you had to press a key up to three times to land on the letter you want, not to mention super-small screens.

While sales data isn't yet available, Google tells USA TODAY searches for"flip phone" increased by more than 140 percent over the past five years.

"It started with Samsung's flip phone and has been a big hit in South Korea," says Tim Bajarin, a veteran technology analyst and Chairman of the San Jose, California-based market research firm Creative Strategies, in an interview with USA TODAY.

Like Sammy K, you can spend between $20 and $50 for a new flip phone, with some the higher-end models featuring "modern" conveniences like Bluetooth connectivity and a better camera with flash.

When closed, this 5G-enabled flip phone is small enough to slip into your jeans or clutch purse, and with a 1.9-inch Cover Screen to view notifications and messages on the outside, and integrated Samsung Pay to buy something at retail by waving the device over a contactless terminal.

When you want more real estate, however perhaps to view a TikTok video, play a game, read an ebook, or browse the web – the Z Flip4 opens to reveal a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display, with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate.