Staying disconnected from the relentless onslaught of social media notifications, doom scrolling, invasive ads, and questionable privacy practices is a luxury in 2024. If you’re looking for a permanent digital detox solution to your woes, a dumb phone can take things back to basics. Aimed squarely at calling, texting, and only a few extra functions, the best dumb phones will ensure you stay away from Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and other time sinks.
Good to know: looking for a safe and basic phone for kids? These are the best kids cell phone options.
Best High-End Dumb Phone: The Light Phone II
Price: $299
If you’re addicted to your smartphone and need a dumb phone that doesn’t look like someone dug up an early 2000s grave, you’ll be impressed by The Light Phone II. This thoughtfully-designed basic phone is tiny, yet packs in a large electronic paper screen (like the one on your Kindle).
The whole idea behind this minimalist phone is to enjoy the select number of tasks that you really need on a phone: calling, texting, and playing music. To support these tasks, you get Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 4G connectivity. It comes in black and white color options and doesn’t have the biggest battery (even for dumb phones), but does a good job of eliminating all distractions: camera, internet browser, and social media.
The price might be higher than the best budget Android phones, but you’re paying for elusive simplicity.
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Best Customizable Dumb Phone: Sunbeam F1 Pro
Price: $329
The Sunbeam F1 Pro is for the hardcore detoxers, providing eight different variants of its take on a basic phone. The variants allow you to pick and choose the features you want on your device. You can make it as basic or as feature-packed (to a point) as you want.
If you want an extremely basic flip phone with only calling, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, there’s an F1 Pro for you. If you want to add a touch screen, navigation, and SMS, there’s one for that too. The ability to add or remove features like a camera, touch screen, music player, and navigation is simply unprecedented.
The Sunbeam F1 Pro is a highly durable, basic flip phone with a long battery life and 4G connectivity.
Best Design of Dumb Phone: Punkt MP02
Price: $379
The Punkt MP02 wasn’t the first to the party, as far as basic or dumb phones are concerned. But what it does better than perhaps any other phone on this list, is value privacy, aesthetics, and durability. It supports the Signal protocol for encrypted calling, features a striking monochromatic design by lauded designer Jasper Morrison, and has a strong glass-fiber case.
If you’re a fan of small Android phones, you’ll love the minimalist design of the Punkt MP02. It comes in three color options, features tactile buttons, and is easy to use, thanks to its custom Apostrophy OS. It also has ringtones by a Norwegian sound artist, adding another talking point when you have company.
It keeps things limited to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other basic functions – no distracting apps or internet browser.
Best Cheap Dumb Phone: Nokia 110 4G
Price: $40
If you truly want an old-school dumb phone that’s pocket-friendly too, the Nokia 110 4G may do it for you. It’ll take you back to the early 2000s, with its extremely basic feature set, as well as rock-bottom pricing.
The Nokia 110 4G has a decent 1.8-inch screen and large buttons that are perfect for texting. It’s also quite handy and lasts long, as the 1020 mAh battery is more than enough for its basic features. 4G VoLTE allows for Internet calls, and you can use it as a music player, too. While it’s not one of the best gaming phones you can buy, it is preloaded with nine games, including the classic Snake.
Best Flip Phone: Nokia 2780 Flip
Price: $90
Another affordable Nokia phone on the list, the Nokia 2780 Flip will delight all flip phone fans wanting a taste of nostalgia. Costing under $100, this is one good-looking phone, whether open or closed. Its 2.7-inch screen and large buttons make for an enjoyable experience. There’s even a 5MP camera and 4G VoLTE connectivity so that you never miss an important moment.
The Nokia 2780 Flip may be a little more than a dumb phone, as its KaiOS supports basic apps, like WhatsApp and Facebook, but that’s about it. If you need a dumb phone with some basic app support, and you can exercise some self-control, the 2780 Flip could be a balanced phone, offering the best of both worlds.
You’ll probably appreciate the presence of a USB-C port and a flashlight, as well as support for expandable storage.
FYI: not satisfied with a dumb flip phone? Check out the best smart flip phones you can buy.
Best for Seniors: Easyfone Prime-A6
Price: $65
Older people are often not too inclined to pick up new technologies, even if it’s a basic phone. For seniors, the Easyfone Prime-A6 represents one of the easiest ways to stay connected with their loved ones. It features large buttons with huge text for easy visibility. There are no extra features like a camera or Internet access. Even charging the phone is simple via the charging dock.
An SOS button and speed dial buttons further enhance security and usability. The call quality is excellent, and the battery life pretty great. The only downside could be the slightly higher price compared to some other options on the list, but the accessibility features you get for that more than make up for it.
Compared to some of the best smartphones for seniors, the Easyfone Prime-A6 is still a fantastic value for what it costs.
Finding the right dumb phone for your needs isn’t always simple. You may be looking for the right balance between limited features and full-fledged apps – or possibly need a specific form factor or a particular set of accessibility features. The list above has something for everyone, with almost every budget featured. Also check out the top 5G phones. If you’re a photography enthusiast, the best camera phones could be fun to explore.
Image credit: Unsplash
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