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Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

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Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#191

Post by frosted-flakes »

Marsymars wrote: post #96

I used a Kyocera DuraXE for a bit while travelling. It's rugged, and supports LTE/tethering, but I abandoned that experiment due to how unpleasant I find T9 texting. I was recently looking for a new phone for my father... he currently uses a Gingerbread-era LG slider phone with keyboard. He's never connected it to data or wifi, only uses it for calls and texting. Doesn't look like there's much available to serve his…

Look into the BlackBerry Classic, which was released in late 2014 or early 2015 and runs BB10. It's discontinued, but you should be able to find it on ebay for much cheaper than a new KeyOne/Key2 (which are quite large compared to the Classic). It has a great keyboard and all the built-in stuff works very well and is easy to use (SMS, phone, camera, calculator, calendar, notes, music player, maps, etc.). Battery life is pretty good too, or at least it was when new.

I used this phone until the end of 2017, at which point the outdated browser and dead app store (free apps only) started to seriously limit its functionality, but if you don't need those it would work just fine. I use a KeyOne now, but I miss the Classic's smaller form factor.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#192

Post by frosted-flakes »

mwachs wrote: post #101

My suggestion is for a Blackberry Q10. It has 4G (so it'll last a long time), swappable batteries (very cheap), a great UI, useful functionality (calendar, notes), and a completely worthless app store.

I second this suggestion. Or the newer BlackBerry Classic (late 2014), which is almost identical except for the larger, non-removable battery and the addition of a thumb track pad and call/menu/back/hang up buttons.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#193

Post by [deleted] »

dredmorbius wrote: post #55
interfixus wrote: post #49

Being frivolous, not answering the question, but for my money, the best dumb phone is the analog one we used to have, plugged into a socket in the wall. It was often noisy, sound was crummy, it was unwieldy, and it cost a small fortune to run, but it was without perceptible delay, it was fully duplex, and it far better approximated real face to face conversation than the weird false starts and constant stuttering int…

Without some means of call-screening, telemarketing is making this all but untenable in the US. Oterwise, agreed.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#194

Post by HNLurker2 »

boznz wrote: post #165
crazynick4 wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I tried turning my smartphone into a "dumbphone" and using it less, but I honestly lacked the self-control to put the stupid thing down Did you remove the browsers and app store as well? I got rid of everything except for phone/texting, Slack (for work), and non-bingy convenience apps like Maps/Yelp/etc. On Android, it can be done with the adb shell without rooting, even the 'uninstallable' apps like Google search…

Just change your plan to have no data (hint the cheapest pay and go) turn off mobile data and wifi and voila a dumb phone works with my old sony.

Or just use third party app to block and let only a few: -https://offtime.es

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#195

Post by toomanyrichies »

wyclif wrote: post #168
MichaelMoser123 wrote: post #9

Ultraorthodox Jews buy dumbphones only because of religious considerations. These are known as Kosher phones. Here is a shop that sells them https://www.zipy.co.il/s/אליאקספרס/-/-/טלפון/?aspect=:::2000...

I don't know about you, but I'm jonesing for one of these so I can experience that "Gordon Gekko on the beach" feel (sorry for the '80s reference, but if you haven't seen Wall Street , you totally should): https://www.zipy.co.il/p/%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%90%D7%A7%D7%A...

Also known as the “Zach Morris phone”:

https://goo.gl/images/5VbHYW

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#196

Post by leethargo »

roadbeats wrote: post #52
leethargo wrote: post #3

I got the cheapest phone available at MediaMarkt (German electronics store). It's a SwissOne (don't know which model exactly) for about 30€. The battery life is great (runs more than a week) and it even has dual SIM support. Interestingly, I could not find (in that shop) any phone without a color screen and camera. Really, I just want a phone for calls and SMS. The one downside of that phone is that the audio volume…

I think you're talking about Swisstone SX 567 https://www.amazon.de/swisstone-DUAL-SIM-Mobiltelefon-Strahl...

It looks different, but that's probably close enough.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#197

Post by tmalsburg2 »

rinchik wrote: post #40
kpmcc wrote: post #15

Nothing compares to the Punkt MP01 and MP02 IMO. I've had the MP01 for years and it's fantastic, the only issue has been with service and I imagine that would be resolved with the MP02 and 4g. https://www.punkt.ch/en/products/mp02-4g-mobile-phone/ There's also the Lightphone and forthcoming Lightphone II. That being said, these won't really address privacy concerns per se. They don't support signal or other encrypted…

And it runs Android. What a bummer. Otherwise this phone looks perfect

I agree this is a bit disappointing. It basically makes this phone a smart phone that is just pretending to be a dumb phone, with negative implications for battery life, stability, and security (larger attack surface).

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#198

Post by paulcarroty »

crazynick4 wrote: post #134
perlgod wrote: post #18

You will be in a tough spot if you're in the USA. All the nice Nokias and decent low-tech phones are rapidly becoming useless as carriers phase out 2g (and even 3g) coverage to free up bands for LTE and now 5g. If your "dumbphone" doesn't support VoLTE you'll be frustrated with dropped calls and spotty service everywhere. I know this from experience. I settled on T-Mobile's only "dumbphone" - the Alcatel GoFlip [1].…

> I tried turning my smartphone into a "dumbphone" and using it less, but I honestly lacked the self-control to put the stupid thing down Did you remove the browsers and app store as well? I got rid of everything except for phone/texting, Slack (for work), and non-bingy convenience apps like Maps/Yelp/etc. On Android, it can be done with the adb shell without rooting, even the 'uninstallable' apps like Google search…

> Did you remove the browsers and app store as well?

It's possible with adb or root, but buy a $500-$800 device for removing basic apps? Failed logic IMHO.

> Not sure about Apple.

You can't.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#199

Post by Broken_Hippo »

brightball wrote: post #179
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you are mixing up loneliness and shyness. Loneliness can cause shyness and the other way around, but they are not the same thing. Loneliness can be forced on you. I personally moved and since some girls at the new school decided (in the locker room) that I was lesbian, folks stopped talking to me. I found a very small group of friends the next year at high school. These girls were half correct in their assess…

Loneliness sucks...but at the same time at the point where you decide you’ve had enough of it and you realize you have the power to do something about it, it becomes a tremendous motivator. Loneliness is curable, but requires effort.

Because I had so many choices at 13. Because poor folks can simply move where they'll be more accepted. ? Because everyone should be willing to act like someone they aren't so they have people (that doesn't cure loneliness). Because loneliness cause by depression is always curable?

I'm happy you solved yours. I'm happy I solved mine. But I know not everyone can have the stroke of luck to change things like I have. Lots of folks have little choice, in part because of financial woes, mental illness, age, and so on.

NOt everyone is like you. Loneliness has never been a great motivator for me, and though I don't suffer from it like I did 10 years ago, the entire thing has left me with a negative view of people and their willingness to accept folks that are different - especially when they "should know better".

That last bit has been key to my own "cure", as I'm an immigrant and folks don't assume the same things.

Re: Ask HN: What is the best “dumb” phone?

#200

Post by davzie »

rwmj wrote: post #145
puranjay wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you do for commutes? I find that it's impossible to read anything physical in crowded trains and the only way to not be bored out of my mind for those 45 minutes is to listen to music or a podcast or read something on the phone I really like the idea of doing things intently, but I'm not sure how to manage these practical things

I have a Kaossilator 2S for commutes and long train journeys. It's a great little musical instrument, so it's fun and creative. The only downside is the relatively short battery life.

That looks really novel! I love stuff like this. Being a bit creative and having fun with it rather than reading the next doom and gloom news story!
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