New Flipside 5 Launches with Striking New Design
The fifth generation of Flipside's iconic hard shell wallet arrives with a cleaner design & updated look. But how does it compare?
Flipside has been making hard shell quick-access wallets since 2009, and the Flipside 4 has been one of the most consistently well-regarded products in that niche for years. The fifth generation has now landed, and it represents the biggest visual departure the brand has made in a long time. But with cards accessable from the outside its a stark shift away from the fully hard shell design. Let's talk a closer look at the Flipside 5 and see if its worth your time.
Flipside 5 Wallet: Demo Video
What Is Different From the Flipside 4?
The Flipside 4 was built around a polycarbonate body with a rugged, slightly industrial look. It worked, and fans of the design loved it. The Flipside 5 takes a different direction, leading with anodised aluminium and a much cleaner, more modern aesthetic. If the Flipside 4 looked like something you would carry on a construction site, the Flipside 5 looks like something you would carry into a boardroom. Same concept, different character.
The core quick-draw system remains. Both outer sides of the wallet have card slots that push cards out with a single thumb motion, giving you immediate access to your most used cards without opening the wallet at all. What is new in the Flipside 5 is a patented card locking system on those external slots that secures cards in place until you intentionally push them out. A click confirms the card is locked. It is a sensible addition that addresses one of the few criticisms ever levelled at the Flipside format.
Inside, the hidden compartment holds up to ten bills secured by a new stainless steel cash clip, plus a dedicated ID slot. Total card capacity is seven to nine depending on how you distribute them across the internal and external slots. A new AirTag holder accessory is also available separately, which is an increasingly expected addition in this category.
Price and Availability
The Flipside 5 launches at $59.00, up from the Flipside 4’s current retail of $44.95. The $14 premium is justified by the aluminium construction and the new locking mechanism. It is available in four colours: Stealth Black, Galaxy Blue, Solstice Gold, and Blossom Pink, and is backed by a five-year limited warranty. Made in the USA.
For existing Flipside fans curious about the design shift, it is a cleaner and more refined direction. Whether die-hard Flipside 4 users will embrace the change or stick with what they know is the interesting question. Either way, the Flipside 5 is a wallet I am looking forward to getting my hands on.
What do I think of the new Flipside 5?
One of my biggest complaints of the Flipside 4 Wallet the near complete plastic construction. It wasn’t poor quality per say, but it just had a childish look, a non-premium feel and was just something that I didn’t personally like carrying around with me regarding if the wallet was actually really great to use.
But with the Flipcase 5 we get the best of both worlds in my opponion. A sleek modern metal design, but with all the features that made the Flipside 4 great. Honestly, i’m looking forward to getting my hands on the Flipside 5 where hopefully i’ll put the fourth and fifth generation head to head.
If you’re considering a hard case or hard shell wallet then why not check out our defintive guide on the best full encased wallets on the market? Check that out here.