Gone are the glory days of the flip phone, but Verizon is bringing it back with the 4G-only LG Exalt LTE with HD voice.

Smartphones with huge displays and no physical keyboards are all the rave these days, but there was a time when mobile phones served far fewer functions and were more basic. Flip phones made waves when they first hit the scene ages ago, sporting tiny screens that seem ridiculous in comparison with today's massive displays. Nevertheless, although smartphones have since taken over, the flip phone lives on and every now and then, we see a new model hit the scene.

LG has upgraded the flip phone with its new Exalt LTE, and Verizon is bringing it to market as its very first basic phone to ditch the older CDMA network in favor of the faster 4G LTE.

Verizon LG Exalt LTE Flip Phone

Verizon is now selling the 4G-only LG Exalt LTE at $168 outright, or $0 down and $7 per month for 24 months. The device not only supports 4G, but it also packs some enhancements that should improve the quality of phone calls.

The LG Exalt LTE comes with HD voice for higher-quality audio when calling a supported Verizon phone, as well as Wi-Fi calling support in case cellular signal is poor or non-existent.

While neither Wi-Fi calling nor HD Voice has been available on Android phones and iPhones for a good while now, this marks the first time these features become available on a basic flip phone from Verizon.

LG Exalt LTE Specs

The LG Exalt LTE has a 3-inch display with a modest resolution of 400 x 240 pixels, big tactile buttons, a 5-megapixel rear camera, a high-fidelity speaker, 8 GB of storage, Bluetooth 4.1, and a 1,470 mAh battery that should last for up to 10 days in standby.

"Exalt LTE unfolds to reveal a spacious, colorful 3.0-inch screen, one of the biggest available in any flip phone," says Verizon. "A bigger screen makes it easier to read text, browse, or view pictures."

The phone features a minimalist design and a sturdy build, with large buttons that are easy to dial and use. Hearing assistance makes the sound clearer even in noisy environments, while the baked-in text-to-speech functionality reads messages out loud if users so prefer.

It's obviously a basic phone with meager specifications, but it could be good for elder users who can't quite grasp smartphones, or as a backup phone for when your smartphone dies. It may not support the modern applications we've gotten used to, but it will serve as a reliable phone for calling and texting, and 4G LTE speed is a big plus.

The LG Exalt LTE can also serve as a mobile hotspot if you need to connect other devices to the internet, which makes things even sweeter. At $170, it's not the cheapest basic phone out there, but its LTE connectivity and advanced calling features might be worth it.

Would you be interested in the new LG Exalt LTE flip phone? Let us know in the comments section below.