Recommend a dumb phone for the modern world
December 1, 2024 12:11 PM Subscribe
I'm looking to de-smartphone, but would love to keep at least some of the following, in descending order of importance: texting with emojis and maybe GIFs; taking nice photos; recording nice video; accessing a very limited amount of internet (like, clunky emergency levels); sending and receiving photos and video; and communicating with other people who use Whatsapp. The catch: I do _not_ want to just get a smartphone and disable it. Ideas?
I'd also welcome any broader recommendations or tips for going smartphone-less. Thanks!
I'd also welcome any broader recommendations or tips for going smartphone-less. Thanks!
It's not out yet, but the Mudita Kompakt might fit your needs... It's a very stripped down version of Android with an E-Ink screen, camera, and very few apps (and no app store). It might not be able to browse the web, though, in case that's a deal-killer; it also won't include Whatsapp, at least initially.
There's also the Sunbeam F1 Pro, which is similar (a very heavily modified version of Android), but available now and in a flip-phone form. It also, FWIW, does not have Whatsapp.
That said, in case it's helpful: I took a different route for my de-smartphoning after trying options like a Nokia or a Lightphone... I just use a cellular Apple Watch as my primary communication device—texting, calling, even emergency web browsing. The form factor discourages any sort of long interaction, and with haptic/sound notifications disabled, it never interrupts me (except for calls from approved contacts). I do still have an iPhone (since that's needed for the Watch), but it just stays on its wall mount in my hallway, then migrates to the charger at night. If you are interested in going that route and aren't already in the Apple ecosystem, I think a Galaxy Watch can be set up in standalone mode and used the same way (but without the accompanying phone).
For photos, I use a Fuji mirrorless camera, but that's also a hobby for me; something like a recent version of the Sony RX100 would be a great smartphone camera replacement without getting into interchangeable lenses, and should produce better pictures and videos than most smartphones. (It's also tiny, if that is a factor.)
posted by boisterousBluebird at 1:29 PM on December 1, 2024 [2 favorites]
There's also the Sunbeam F1 Pro, which is similar (a very heavily modified version of Android), but available now and in a flip-phone form. It also, FWIW, does not have Whatsapp.
That said, in case it's helpful: I took a different route for my de-smartphoning after trying options like a Nokia or a Lightphone... I just use a cellular Apple Watch as my primary communication device—texting, calling, even emergency web browsing. The form factor discourages any sort of long interaction, and with haptic/sound notifications disabled, it never interrupts me (except for calls from approved contacts). I do still have an iPhone (since that's needed for the Watch), but it just stays on its wall mount in my hallway, then migrates to the charger at night. If you are interested in going that route and aren't already in the Apple ecosystem, I think a Galaxy Watch can be set up in standalone mode and used the same way (but without the accompanying phone).
For photos, I use a Fuji mirrorless camera, but that's also a hobby for me; something like a recent version of the Sony RX100 would be a great smartphone camera replacement without getting into interchangeable lenses, and should produce better pictures and videos than most smartphones. (It's also tiny, if that is a factor.)
posted by boisterousBluebird at 1:29 PM on December 1, 2024 [2 favorites]
I have no experience with this, but WhatsApp apparently works over the web. Still, your dumbphone of choice would need a browser that doesn't choke on the WhatsApp site. Caveat: according to WhatsApp, you'll need to use WhatsApp on an Android or iOS device first in order to link your dumbphone to your WhatsApp acount.
posted by emelenjr at 1:35 PM on December 1, 2024
posted by emelenjr at 1:35 PM on December 1, 2024
This hasn't come out yet but the Light Phone III might be what you're looking for. I preordered this and am really looking forward to trying it.
posted by orrnyereg at 6:31 AM on December 2, 2024
posted by orrnyereg at 6:31 AM on December 2, 2024
One of my friends has been using a Caterpillar S22 Flip for basically the same use case. I haven't asked, so I'm not sure what the camera is like, but it seems to hit the rest of your points; he's been pretty happy with it.
posted by Karmeliet at 7:30 AM on December 2, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Karmeliet at 7:30 AM on December 2, 2024 [1 favorite]
I use the Cat S22 flip! I love it. It is, technically speaking, just a tiny Android phone in a flip phone form factor, but the small touch screen is annoying enough to use as a smartphone that I feel generally discouraged from treating it as such. I mostly just use it the way I used my old flip phones. That said, when I need a smartphone, which unfortunately one occasionally does these days, it works great. In particular, I use WhatsApp a lot with it. Its camera is not great, but decent enough that I use it from time to time.
It's also much more affordable than a lot of the "fancy dumbphones" last I checked, though I would get one soon - Caterpillar closed their phone division.
posted by nightcoast at 10:53 AM on December 2, 2024 [1 favorite]
It's also much more affordable than a lot of the "fancy dumbphones" last I checked, though I would get one soon - Caterpillar closed their phone division.
posted by nightcoast at 10:53 AM on December 2, 2024 [1 favorite]
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posted by virve at 12:31 PM on December 1, 2024