How about an Android flip phone with high-end specs?

Flip phones are nowhere near as popular nowadays as they used to be a few years ago, but they are much more interesting as manufacturers introduce new models that try to keep up with the times. A great example is Samsung's new G9198, which comes with high-end internals and runs Android.

Basically, it is the flip phone for people who love the form factor but not its typical shortcomings. And, yes, in case you are wondering, there are still lots of consumers interested in buying a flip phone in 2015. Understandably, they are just not your typical smartphone buyers.

A high-end flip phone running Android is not going to appeal to everyone, obviously, but it is an interesting proposition for consumers who want to have a flip phone, but also want to be able to, for instance, use Facebook, read an email now and then, take some good photos, and chat with their family on WhatsApp. For them, the smartphone features are extras, bonuses if you will, while the flip phone functionality serves as the foundation.

But, back to G9198. Here are the main specs: two 3.9-inch Super AMOLED displays with a resolution of 768 by 1280, hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 2,020 mAh battery, 16 MP main camera with f/1.9 aperture, 5 MP camera on the front, 16 GB of internal storage, and a microSD card slot. It even offers Wi-Fi 802.11ac and 4G LTE connectivity, the latter of which is now standard on plenty of smartphones.

Basically, we are looking at a flip phone that can keep up with the latest crop of high-end Android devices, in terms of sheer performance and camera quality -- Galaxy S6 also has a 16 MP shooter on the back with an f/1.9 aperture lens and it is very good. It, however, does not compromise on size, which is a trait of the flip phone, coming in at 120.3 x 61.2 x 16.3 mm. Sure, it is thick, but what do you expect from a flip phone?

As far as the dual display setup goes, both screens are on the same half of the device. The one that is on the outside can show basic things such as the time, and, because it is of the AMOLED variety, it will require little power doing so. It should obviously also be able to display notifications, which are an integral part of the smartphone experience.

Now, as far as availability and pricing go, Samsung will release G9198 in China in August, but there is no word yet on how much it will cost when it goes on sale or whether it will reach international markets later down the road. LG's latest flip phone, for instance, is designed to meet the needs of South Korean flip phone buyers, launching in the company's home market, but it will also be available to those in other parts of the globe, like Europe.