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Guides 3 min read

T-Mobile Sidekick: A Collector's Guide

The swivel screen, the best keyboard ever put on a phone, and a data service that died in 2015. What each model is worth, and what to check before you buy one.

Jean Gilles
Founder & Lead Analyst, ShopCellPlans
Published July 27, 2026
Updated July 30, 2026

The Sidekick was the first phone built around messaging rather than calling, and its swivel-open screen and full keyboard still have no real modern equivalent. Collectors buy them for the hardware, because almost nothing about the original experience survives — none of them can be activated on a modern network. This is a guide to the models, the prices, and the one part that always breaks.

Key takeaways
Danger's service died in 2015 and 2G/3G networks are retired — no Sidekick can be activated on a carrier today.
Six main models; Sidekick 3 is generally regarded as the peak, and the 2002 original is the collector's piece.
The swivel hinge is the failure point; check it before buying.
Original battery, charger, and packaging drive value more than cosmetic condition.
The Sidekick 4G (2011) is an Android phone and a different lineage entirely.

The models worth knowing

  • Sidekick (2002) — the original Danger Hiptop. Historically the most significant and the hardest to find in working condition.
  • Sidekick II (2004) — the model that made the design famous, with a better keyboard and camera.
  • Sidekick 3 (2006) — trackball, media player, microSD. Often considered the peak of the line.
  • Sidekick LX / 2008 and Sidekick LX 2009 — larger displays, more refined, more common.
  • Sidekick 4G (2011) — a Samsung-built Android device wearing the name. Different lineage, and the only one running an OS still recognisable today.
The data service is gone
Every pre-2011 Sidekick depended on Danger's servers for messaging, email, and its app catalogue. Microsoft shut that service down in 2015, and T-Mobile's 2G and 3G networks have since been retired. A classic Sidekick cannot get online, cannot sync, and cannot make calls on a current network. It's a display piece and a keyboard, not a working phone.

What condition means for value

  • The hinge is the failure point. Test the swivel; a loose or cracked hinge drops value sharply.
  • Screens suffer from delamination and dead pixels after two decades in storage.
  • Original battery, charger, and box raise value substantially — batteries that still hold charge are increasingly rare.
  • Limited editions and artist-designed variants command real premiums; standard-colour units in average condition trade for modest sums.
  • Prices are set by collector demand rather than utility, so they move with nostalgia cycles, not spec sheets.

If you actually want a keyboard phone today

The honest answer is that nothing replaces it. Physical-keyboard phones are a niche served mainly by rugged and enterprise handsets, plus a small run of keyboard cases and Bluetooth accessories for modern phones. If the goal is fast typing on a current network, a Bluetooth keyboard paired to a normal phone gets closer than any surviving Sidekick.

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#Sidekick #Retro phones #T-Mobile
Jean Gilles
About the author

Jean Gilles has researched personal finance, consumer technology, and wireless pricing for over a decade. He founded ShopCellPlans in 2019 and writes every review on the site.

Frequently asked questions

Can you still use a T-Mobile Sidekick? +
Not as a phone. Pre-2011 models relied on Danger's servers, shut down in 2015, and on 2G/3G networks that have been retired. They power on and the keyboard works, but there's no service to connect to.
Which Sidekick is the most collectible? +
The 2002 original for historical significance, and the Sidekick 3 for the best-regarded hardware. Limited editions and artist variants of any model carry premiums.
Does the Sidekick 4G still work? +
It's an Android phone, so it's closer to usable — but it was built for T-Mobile's older network layout and lacks VoLTE, which modern T-Mobile service requires. Treat it as a collectible too.
What should I check when buying one? +
The swivel hinge first, then the screen for delamination and dead pixels, then whether the battery holds any charge. Original accessories and box matter more to value than light cosmetic wear.
Will T-Mobile bring the Sidekick back? +
Nothing has been announced. The name resurfaces periodically in speculation, but there's no current product.
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