I need a new dumbphone.

October 4, 2011 12:22 PM

What is the best NON-smartphone to upgrade to when I renew my contract with Verizon?

I use my phone for calls and texts, with the occasional picture-taking. For a long time I considered getting a smartphone, but I realized I already spend more than enough time on the internet and I don't need another distraction. Also, with a baby on the way, the money for a data plan could be better spent elsewhere.

I would like a phone that is comfortable to use, but does not take up a lot of pocket-space (my old Motorola Razor was awesome). Unlike a Razor, I'd like it to have a keyboard.

So, hivemind, what's the best new phone I can get that doesn't require a data plan?

posted by mikeweeney to Technology (8 answers total)

Have you considered switching to a lower cost carrier? If you don't want a smartphone you can save a bunch of money by using Boost, Cricket, Virgin, etc.
posted by The Lamplighter at 12:35 PM on October 4, 2011

Just from my recent experience buying a non smartphone at Verizon, there were very few choices, and only 2 with keyboards. There was so little difference I went with the free one, the keyboard is a little klunky for me, but it seems to work fine. It's a LG Cosmos.
posted by katers890 at 12:44 PM on October 4, 2011 [1 favorite]

Cell Phone Finder is an awesome tool to figure out what phones have the features you are looking for. Don't feel compelled to renew your contract through that web site, however.

For the record, my roommates have LG's which describe what you are looking for.
posted by dgeiser13 at 1:27 PM on October 4, 2011

We're on Verizon and my daughter recently did her "free" replacement and got an LG Cosmos. She seems to like it fine, though she never uses the slide-out keyboard. She's a wizard texting on the numerical keypad.

I need to update my old Verizon phone, too. But, like you, I'm stumped. I definitely don't need/want a smartphone. I'd love something as solidly-built as my current phone, but the "free" units I've played with at Verizon all feel spindly and fragile.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:12 PM on October 4, 2011

The motorola RAZR is considered to be one of the best non-smartphones made and is still widely used today. I owned onw when they forst came out and if I wasn't using a smartphone that's what I would be using.
posted by Poet_Lariat at 2:25 PM on October 4, 2011

P.S. There is a CDMA (i.e. Verizon) model of that phone - the link I gave you previously was to a GSM (AT&T) model
posted by Poet_Lariat at 2:27 PM on October 4, 2011

If you don't need the latest/greatest and you're not getting a great subsidy out of a contract renewal, I'd consider finding a phone elsewhere (ebay perhaps) and connecting that up to your Verizon plan. There's no need to lock yourself in if you're not really getting something out of it.
posted by Salamandrous at 3:24 PM on October 4, 2011

I have the LG Cosmos and it works perfectly. Haven't had a single problem. Battery lasts forever, feels solidly built to me, and the keyboard is great (note: I have tiny hands). Call quality is good. The camera is crappy, but I don't think you're going to find a good one on a phone like this -- they've stopped putting any effort into making these fancy.

(Definitely going to miss the battery life when I fiiiiinally upgrade to a smartphone.)
posted by imalaowai at 6:16 PM on October 4, 2011