TimeFlip 2 Time Tracker – Great Concept ; Poor execution
Hype Level
Timeflip 2 € 59.00
Hype
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Great Concept – Physical time tracker to avoid digital distractions.
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Design – Modern and discrete design.
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Tracking – Tracking up to 12 activities with automatic reporting & billing.
- Cost – Fair price. 1 time payment with no monthly subscription.
Yike
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Reliability – Tracking frequently pauses or resets randomly.
- Connectivity – Frequent app connectivity and sync issues.
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Build Quality – Not a premium feel, on/off touch control barely working.
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Battery – No rechargeable battery and replacement is tricky.
- Feedback – Low luminosity and lack feedback on tracking status.
Summary
The TimeFlip 2 promises a distraction-free, physical approach to time tracking but ultimately falls short due to reliability issues. While its sleek design, customizable task assignment, and tangible interaction make it an exciting concept, frustrations quickly arise. The setup process is clunky, the build quality feels subpar, and app functionality is limited, with confusing settings and weak data export options. Daily use is hindered by frequent Bluetooth disconnections, inaccurate tracking, and unreliable features like the double-tap stop function. Instead of improving productivity, users may find themselves constantly checking the app to ensure accurate tracking. Despite its potential, the TimeFlip 2’s execution undermines its purpose, leaving room for significant improvements in a future version.
A s someone constantly juggling multiple projects, I was thrilled to try the TimeFlip 2, a physical time-tracking device designed to eliminate distractions by keeping time logs without needing to rely on a phone or computer. The idea is simple yet brilliant: assign tasks to each face of the 12-sided polygon, flip the device to the relevant task, and let the built-in timer do the rest. This sounded like the perfect productivity tool. But does it live up to expectations?
Unboxing & First Impressions
Out of the box, the TimeFlip 2 feels like a futuristic productivity gadget. It’s lightweight yet sturdy, with a minimalist white polyhedron design that looks great on any desk. The device comes with a black marker, pre-printed and blank stickers to label each side, making setup easy and customizable. The packaging is nice and of good quality, leading to a positive impression but this quickly fade away when you have to struggle to open the device to introduce the batteries, trying not to (damage it too much). You regain a bit of confidence when you connect the TimeFlip with the mobile app, as it goes quite smoothly. After passing the set-up stage, your satisfaction decreases again as you realize that the build quality is not so great (some gaps here and there) and the lights are barely visible during daylight.
Configuration
The app interface is quite simple and I honestly struggled with figuring out how to assign new tasks to a specific side of the TimeFlip. For each side, you can define a task name, assign an icon, a dedicated color, your hourly rate. The stickers are nice and plenty and are easily removable without leaving adhesive. It would have been nice to have some blank stickers on a A4 sheet in order to be able to print your own stickers. You can also add a priority and tags but I couldn’t really figure out what to use it for. It is only when I used the browser version that I understood that they can be use as filters. I was enthusiast about the claim “Analyze, Export and Edit Data” together with the nice rendering of the interface, but it was such a disappointment to discover the very limited capabilities and how simple is the export function.
Daily Use
For the first few hours, the TimeFlip 2 was fun to use. I assigned different tasks to its sides—working, learning, brainstorming, writing —and started flipping as I switched between activities. I enjoyed using the Pomodoro timer for some of my tasks, it really allowed me to stay 100% focused until I see the device flashing. But as soon as I stepped out of my office to grab a coffee, everything stopped. I opened the app when I got the notification that the Bluetooth connection has been interrupted, only to realize that the tracking was not working. When I got back to my desk, the device synchronized with the app, creating multiple simultaneous entry. It got worse in the next day as I realized that the device would occasionally (if not frequently) randomly reset or switch tasks without me touching it. It sometimes takes a very long time for the app to catch up with the device counter making you wonder if it is correctly tracking or not. To stop a task, you can use the double tap function, which is better than the other method suggested by TimeFlip, which consists of creating a break task with a pomodoro timer. The double tap function is not working in 90% of the cases, no matter how hard/soft, quick/slow you do it.
I ended up spending a lot of time checking the app to ensure the right task was recorder and without interruption. I never thought that a tool that is intended to minimize digital distractions, improve focus, and enhance productivity, would tank my productivity, and encourage digital distraction!
About the Concept
If we make abstraction of the poor performance and just consider the concept. The concept is great- Imagine you flip TimeFlip 2 to the side corresponding to your task, and the timer automatically logs time spent on that activity. At the end of the day, you get a detailed breakdown of your productivity and can export the data in a nice and customizable format.
🚀 Likeable (already implemented):
✅ Physical Interaction – A tangible way to track time, which feels refreshing compared to app-based solutions.
✅ Minimalist Design – Looks great on any workspace.
✅ Customization – Pre-defined labels and colors with the option to do it your own way.
✅ Multi-Tasking Potential – Helps visualize where time is being spent across different projects.
✅ Small Footprint – Small and discrete for minimize impact.
⛔ Frustrating (to be implemented):
❌ Reliability – The device must inspire trust to enable focus, improve productivity, and reduce digital distraction.
❌ Battery – A sustainable solution without constant battery replacements.
❌ Synchronization – Pairing with a computer or a laptop would go a long way to improve productivity.
❌ Feedback – Visual, haptic and/or audio feedback is essential to trust the device and remove the need to check the app.
Conclusion
I really really wanted to love TimeFlip 2. The concept of a physical time tracker that lets you log tasks without app distractions is fantastic. But inconsistent tracking, frequent disconnections, and app frustrations make it hard to recommend. Would I use it daily? No. The frustrations and negative impact on focus and productivity outweigh the benefits.
If TimeFlip has a go at a version 3, and successfully fix the synchronization and reliability issues together with the improvements suggested above, it would most probably be the first review with a Hype Score of 100%!
Technical Terms
The Pomodoro Technique was invented in the late 1980s by Francesco Cirillo, a university student. Like many students overwhelmed with assignments and intense study schedules, Cirillo struggled to complete tasks without feeling burnout. Believing that any progress is good progress, he challenged himself to just ten minutes of focus. To commit to this challenge, he used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer, and the Pomodoro Technique was born.
1. Get your to-do list and a timer (actual tomato timer optional – any timer will do!)
2. Set your timer for 25 minutes, and focus on a single task until the timer rings.
3. When your session ends, mark off one Pomodoro and record what you completed.
4. Then enjoy a five-minute break.
5. After four pomodoros, take a longer, more restorative 15-30 minute break.
Technical Characteristics
| Dimensions (mm) | 80 x 80 x 80 |
| Weight | 90 g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Battery | 2 AA batteries |
| Tracking Activities | 1 per side, up to 12 |
| Box content | TIMEFLIP2, Quick Start guide, Sticker booklet (42 pre-designed and 100 blank) |
| Compatibility | Android, IOS |
