My $45 take on the "dumb phone" trend
* flip phone gifs inside *
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My first cell phone was a Nokia. I begged my parents to let me have one “just in case I got kidnapped on my way home from school,” amongst other things.
Texting wasn’t really a thing back then. It took a few more years before the pink razor phone came out and I could set a custom ringtone. That’s when shit got real (and when I perfected my T9 texting capabilities).
It took several more years before I got my first iPhone. “My first iPhone” sounds so ridiculous but I have admittedly owned quite a lot of them since then.
As time went on, the device I had only for emergencies became my second brain. It now holds what seems like my entire life (and work).
The relationship I have with my smartphone ebbs and flows. The less engaged I am with social media, the easier it is to unplug. But it’s still always there, with everything I could ever need at my fingertips.
What’s a ‘Dumb’ Phone?
Essentially, it’s a phone that’s not smart. It’s connected to a movement to ditch your smartphone and decrease screen time.
Over the last few years, the amount of young people who are craving a release from their smartphones has increased. Some go with the expensive “light phones,” which are kind of like smartphones except clunkier and less ‘connected.’
There’s another subset of people who are going back to flip phones in order to unplug… and to do this, probably:
I was talking to Taylor Harrington, Community Manager at Groove, a few weeks ago about how she’d recently gotten a flip phone to use at night in case of emergencies. She puts her smartphone away when she’s done working, only giving her flip phone number to a select few in case they need to reach her after hours.
I loved the idea of a dumb phone era, so I started researching.
There is (of course) an entire subreddit dedicated to people ditching their smartphones. As I read through the threads, and scoured the internet for the best dumb phone options, I started to get overwhelmed.
Buying a separate phone with a new number and new set of guidelines felt way too complicated. And completely giving up my iPhone felt way too drastic (and expensive) — these new ‘dumb’ phones can cost a few hundred dollars if not more. Gotta love capitalism!
Why Go Dumb?
Instead of giving into my decision-making spiral, I decided to get to the root of why I wanted to try out this experiment. Maybe I could find a solution within those whys. Here’s what I wrote:
I love the idea of consciously disconnecting from the parts of my phone that feel addicting: social media, email, Slack, and games. (Yea, I’m an iPhone gamer!!!)
I want to do a better job at staying present at night. Whether I’m watching a movie, doing a craft, hanging with Kitty, or whatever. I don’t want the temptation of my phone to lure me in.
I haven’t done well with tools meant to limit my time on certain apps. Having the option to unlock them or to see what I’m missing out on was a no-go for me. (I even tried Brick for a few weeks and it didn’t work for me.)
So, I put my Option C cap on and asked myself, “Is there a simpler way for me to get a nighttime-only light phone for the price of a flip phone?”
📲 The Dumb Phone (Andrea’s Version)
I did some research to see which ‘vintage’ iPhones could still receive texts if I was signed into my Apple ID and found a refurbished iPhone 5 on reebelo.com for $45.
It is tiny, slow, and doesn’t get iOS updates anymore — so most apps are either not compatible or would require a lot of effort to find and download. Also, the battery dies really quickly if I so much as try to watch a video from my own camera roll.
The only apps I have on it are iMessage (which I have connected to my regular phone number), my habit tracker, music, and the Apple programs that can’t be deleted.
It’s the perfect little companion for texting and typing out Substack ideas in bed on the Notes app. It is basic and functional and a tad too annoying to be addicted to.
After a few weeks, I’ve noticed my late-night scrolling has decreased significantly. I’m falling asleep faster, and am less tempted to do an aimless insomnia scroll when I wake up in the middle of the night.
It’s the perfect amount of unplugging for me (and my budget).
Have you considered jumping on the “dumb phone” trend? Have you already? Let me know if you have any tips or insights!!
Peace, love and T9,
Andrea
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My name is Andrea (On-Dray-Uh) Reeves (she/her), I’m the founder and systems strategist behind Type C Creative.
I’m a biracial, Black, aroace woman with ADHD and OCD. I’m an unapologetically atypical human who runs my own business on vibes, values, and good systems that meet me where I am.
I work with fellow neurodivergent, queer, and creative solopreneurs who are ready to find simpler, more compassionate and intuitive ways of running their businesses.