The dumbphone (or dumb phone) is making a comeback as more and more people are ditching their smartphones in favor of a simpler, more basic device. This article explores why people are switching back to the dumbphone, including cost, battery life, nostalgia, and a desire to escape the distractions of modern-day smartphones.
We all know the feeling of being glued to our smartphones, constantly checking notifications, refreshing our feeds, and mindlessly scrolling through our apps. It’s become such a part of our daily lives that we can sometimes forget how to simply relax and exist in the moment. But what if there was a way to disconnect from the constant stimulation of our digital world and reconnect with the real world around us?
Well, that’s where the dumbphone comes in.
What is a dumbphone, you ask? Well, dumbphone (or dumb phone, whatever you want to call it) it’s basically the antithesis of a smartphone. It’s a phone that doesn’t have any bells and whistles, no fancy apps or games, and definitely no internet access. In other words, it’s a phone that allows you to focus on what’s important: your life, your relationships, and your wellbeing.
Young people are also reportedly following the trend to ditch their expensive iPhones and Androids and go back to phones with basic features without Internet access and complex apps. Many have chosen to go back to using phones with basic features to avoid information overload, online distractions, and the annoyance of regularly interacting with web applications, especially social media. Many return to using regular phones only as an extra gadget they can turn to when they need a break from social media or other online activities.
Dumbophones are regular phones or regular phones with very limited functionality compared to the iPhone. Smartphones, more tactfully known as regular phones, are ditching the features of more modern phones in favor of simpler features, not unlike those early devices that many of us would have used in the late 90s and early 2000s. and fragile touch screens; these devices can usually only make calls and send SMS messages, while higher-end models may have a basic web browser or camera.
Of course, these phones were not called "stupid" - they were once considered very smart, so to say that this is their big comeback is not right. Nostalgia aside, these phones are becoming more and more popular as they are very cheap to buy and don't have to pay exorbitant monthly fees.
Many people feel exhausted and out of touch with their real lives because they are always so consumed with their phones. Walk around and see how many people are going to meet you because you are looking at their phone.
With minimal use, your old flip phone probably lasted just over two days on a charge; larger than a smartphone, but that's to be expected since smartphones have large screens and attractive apps. Most users will get weeks of battery life from the Nokia 3310 4G and other dumbphones, even with regular use. For example, if you want to spend a weekend with your family, you can simply remove the SIM card from your smartphone and insert it into an old-fashioned flip phone.
Which Devices Are Most Popular?
If you do opt for the simpler life, and are wondering which dumbphone device to buy, then the most popular models are not made by Apple or Samsung, like they are with smartphones. Nokia have now forged themselves as the go-to brand for these dialled back phones, by consistently putting out great devices that further build on their previous success from the pre-smartphone era.
It also depends how stripped back you want your device to be, as they have different models that have more features than others. The Nokia 2720 Flip for instance, actually has the ability to use WhatsApp, search through Facebook, and even watch videos on YouTube. It also has a 2-megapixel camera, and highly impressive battery life.
Although, it should be noted that the device is implemented with a T9 keyboard, meaning it will be much more difficult typing out messages, compared to a touchscreen. Yet, it will make a brilliant middle-ground choice for someone that wants to get rid of their smartphone, but doesn’t want to completely cut themselves off from some features.
20 years old phone or a brand new one , basic phone with no features or something in between, it's safe to say that there are plenty of different dumbphones on the market, so there's sure to be one that's perfect for you because whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that the dumbphone trend is on the rise. And who knows? Maybe one day soon we’ll all be trading in our smartphones for these simple little devices.
