I removed the SIM card from my Iphone 10 so I use it as an Ipod device. it solved all “music + camera” problems, so whenever I want to listen to music I downloaded previously some playlists and play them during workouts or driving. If you pay Spotify premium you also can download some music to use it offline. Great inspiration for those who start with dumb phones, thank you. Hugs from Spain! ☺️
But eventually our mind will make an excuse to install social media app and get back to addiction right? I think smartphone addiction is not due to the presence of sim, rather more to the applications that are intentionally addictive to us. I am really hesitating to ditch my iphone only for gps. Im so much dependent on gps for direction and traffic condition.
Not just the 90s, but us 95-04 gen Z remember growing up with landline and/or fliphones. Makes us want to go back to having a fliphone. Its funny how close in age older gen Z and millennials are.
This is an interesting comment. I’m in the same boat, but of the previous generation. I grew up on all my Gen X siblings VHS tapes. I saw the term Xennial once, it made a lot of sense.
I've noticed that some people are saying that you just need 'self-control' and that itself should fix the problem. Although that is partially true for any addiction you want to overcome sometimes you need to make drastic decisions in order to get drastic changes. I grew up with my smartphone and although I have tried time and time again to just use it for basic needs the temptation is always there with you. EVERYDAY. ALL THE TIME. We live in a time where no one wants to talk to eachother anymore and therefore you get out less often because no one wants to go anywhere anyways since you can have all the fun you want through the use of a small device. I feel sad for the next generation being raised with smartphones as there only companion. If I'm struggling with this I can't even imagine what they will be going through.
oh i really dislike the term "self-control". the way i see it we are all doing the best we can with the skills and knowledge we have. it's just that an awful lot of people don't have the right skills to be able to work out why they're unhappy or unsatisfied.
I see people trying to solve the music issue. I literally love CDs no Wi-Fi or anything needing if your bringing back the flip phone don’t forget about the CDS
I bought a Sunbeam after watching a few of your earlier videos, and so far, it’s been an exciting experience. Really appreciate you sharing your experiences with us. Also, that “boredom = creativity” point is pretty powerful. Like a cheat code for adult life, I think.
I had a dumb phone and loved it. I eventually had NO phone and loved that even more because I wasn’t able to contacted by work etc. I got a smart ohone again bc work was getting mad at me that I was never responding. My phone addiction immediately came back full swing and I now have to start from the beginning
That was a very thoughtful and wise analysis of what effect smart phones have on us. I hope you continue to keep the negative aspects of smart phone use out of you life. I always try to keep the idea that "just because we can do something doesn't mean we should" in mind, especially where modern technology is concerned.
All I can say is: you're on the right path and keep going. I always used "dumb phones" for calling & texting and they're great. I don't think I will ever change my flip phone for a smartphone. I love your videos.
I turned my Iphone SE 2020 version into a dumb phone. I deleted every app I could delete, hid all other apps BUT my phone and message icons. I never even take pictures with my iPhone. I only access the internet with my Chromebook. I no longer use social media at all. Only TH-cam and using Google to read news articles on my laptop. My internet usage has also dropped so much. I now feel mentally sharp. NO more brain fog,headaches and tiredness from playing on my smart phone. It's possible for a person to give up their smartphone. I survived many years before smartphones. Great video.
I havent used a smartphone, for three years and becoming 4 years this January. I been using a knock off Nextel fliphone. I perfer using my tablet, laptop, digital camera, mp3 player and physical gps.
I watching your videos since last 2,3 months. Last year I decided that in 2022 I will quit my smartphone addiction but it didn't happened. Even everyday I feel empty from inside and didn't know how hours, days are going. I'm 23 and decided to quit smartphone for 2 to 3 years and switching to nokia 5710. Thanks for your videos
I am taking the jump, and getting a Sunbeam Wireless phone. I'll still use my smart phone on wifi for work, but I'm deleting most of the apps off it. My work is on the computer and that is the only place I'll access any forms of social media. I have ADHD and the amount of social media and instant gratification sources has seriously affected my mental health. Thank you for encouraging me to take this step, and to do better for myself.
I feel the same, I'm tempted to get an old smartphone, like an iPhone 8 plus and only load necessary apps on it, no social media or anything and use an iPod for music and stuff.
Thank you so much for this. You were extremely insightful. I'm 22 and have recently ordered a light phone. Not sure if it will last but I can't wait to make the switch like you and see how it affects me and my life :)
I was going to order a Light Phone but they are over $300 where I live. I just turned my smart phone into a dumb phone instead. I won't use a traditional dumb phone because I don't enjoy T-9 texting. lol
@@shannonmacri3719 lol that's fair enough. Light phone is definitely pricey. It recently arrived and I'm enjoying the change and how it works. Could've achieved a similar effect for a quarter of the price but some of its features are quite unique for a dumb phone
@@Jax44158 You should make a video of the new Light Phone. I wanted to try one so bad but just can't spend the $300.00 on one. I'm cheap. lol. Did you find an inexpensive calling plan for it?
I'm on T-Mobile and I bought the CAT S22 Flip. It's got android and a touchscreen, but it's minimalistic. I can stream music, do my banking, etc. plus Voxer and Signal which we use for work. I found no matter how long I would go on a basic phone as soon as I go back to a smartphone I go back to all the garbage. I would just redownload social media and all the distracting apps. Maybe something for you to check out if you want to go back but stay minimalistic. Jose Briones does a review of the phone on his channel if you want to have a look.
Thanks for the great words! Especially about the data aspect. I keep reminding myself not only do you have access to the world and the whole Internet, but the the whole Internet (also the bad stuff) has access to you. That's why I would never give a smartphone to a child.
I have a small phone, a big phone and a computer. Only the small phone has a SIM. I use the small phone so that the big one can't get damaged; either broken, stolen or just snooped on or corrupted. It is my cheaper, easier to replace, scout and gate keeper phone. You don't have to choose between them. Use them tactically. Fortunately, I have never had a problem with social media. I saw the pointlessness, waste of time and nothing getting better.
I agree. I miss life without smartphones. I had a flip phone in high school and then iphones came out after college. I was so against them and once they fixed all the bugs and added more features which at the time my phone had more features than the first iphone, i eventually got it. Im now searching for a phone to get for my son that is not a smart phone. I loved my.
I’ll be honest, if I didn’t have my smartphone to listen to TH-cam videos at work all day, I would probably get so bored that I would quit my job and look for one that is more exciting. My job is so easy it’s boring and the pay is good and my boss and coworkers are really nice. I am thankful for my job, but there’s no way I would stay without some other form of entertainment throughout the day. I sit and do mindless work on a computer all day.
I would love to do this. I actually tried for like a week but then I couldn’t do Lyft or uber and a lot of jobs have apps now that you have to use to see your pay or schedule 🤦🏽♀️
Very interesting take on your journey. I choose to continue using a smartphone but with minimalism in mind: - No or delayed notifications (notification summary is very useful for that) - Focus mode with iOS 16 is great for this purpose with the focus home page that changes based on your focus mode. - Removing all unecessary application from home pages mostly - No games Those are the main things I did to help me. Now I am more focus and my phone in not in arms reach when I am focusing on work or other activities.
not gonna be a sucessful experiment i am afraid it is like a chain smoker trying to quit smoking and saying i am not gonna smoke just gonna keep a pack in my pocket
I was thinking of buying an iPhone 15 when that came out, but I think I've changed my mind. I instead wanna get an old iPhone 8 Plus that can do the latest iOS and only load it with necessary apps and use an iPod touch for entertainment and music. An iPod touch 7 can play Spotify no problem, like Dank Pods has reviewed before. Getting an old iPhone 8 Plus off of eBay is only like $250.
I'm inspired by this video enough that I am going to check out getting a "dumbphone". I'm old enough (Gen Xer) that I remember what life was like before smart phones exploded on the horizon. I seriously considered it a year ago but wasn't sure what to do regarding navigation. Since then I've found out I can use my "dumbphone" as a mobile hotspot for when I need to use navigation. Thanks for the video. Inspiring.
I still have a smartphone but I've uninstalled my social medias. The only thing on there I can't let go of is TH-cam, funny enough. I find avoiding multi-tasking is really helping me have hobbies again. I still don't think I create more than I consume but I go outside every day - even when I have work - and I do create sometimes~!
I said it before and I will say again : thank you alot for pushing us toward that behaviour. The return to use smartphone will be very exciting esp. to tell us what are the pros. And cons.
I'm also very happy and i'm really excited for you to stay excited about this experience without a smartphone, because in fact following your feedbacks are huge motivators for me to keep trying to adapt to doing the essentials in another way and reducing distractions that add nothing to me
@@ashtonwomackit's hard to ditch smartphones but I definitely have to give props to these devices because smartphone shenanigans like Bluetooth 5.0 LE a2dp and 4g LTE network made their way to keypad phones in order to keep this segment alive. If it wasn't for these 2 technologies, keypad phones might not exist anymore as 2g has been phased out by many countries . I just got the Nokia 110 4g 2023 , for me one of the best keypad phones out there but you'll probably hate it. I'm a die hard music listener, so I prefer carrying my candy bar outside instead of my hefty brick, since the 110 has a good Bluetooth connection. One thing worth mentioning, hmd global Nokia keypad phones can accommodate micro SD card over 32 gb, one thing I like about my Nokia 110 4g, is that it's Bluetooth draws less power and make the tiny 1450 mah battery last Even longer
Here's a question i have for you, smartphones are a great way to have an extra layer of security to protect important accounts you may have online. If you like to use multi-factor authentication (and you absolutely should) a smartphone can by way of authenticator apps provide unique codes that only you have access to for verification. Smartphones also have biometric features like fingerprint readers and i think some of the new ones even have iris scanners among other things. I think there are alternative solutions and i wonder if using something like a Yubikey and a dedicated fingerprint reader could be good substitutes? I know that you can use SMS as a method of verification but I've heard that's like the worst and least secure of the options available. I'm curious if this is something you've had take a different approach with at all?
Good point people need control we could have hi- tec computing and listen to music on many types of electronics . I’m still using radios cassette CD’s and the record player not every day but the work as new .
I think this was fantastic you did great! I would be scared to go back I’m getting ready to leave my iPhone my new phones on the way in about a week or less and I am looking forward to achieving things I could not achieve because I keep getting caught up and watching videos and social media and I don’t need that. I really appreciatewhat you showed us and told us thank you very much
In my modest opinion, the Sonim XP3 Plus is the best out there. As a bonus, it's military grade. Well deserved thumbs up, on your excellent perspective.
I have an iPhone, iWatch, iMac and iPad 🤦🏻♀️ I want to swap to a simple phone because I am on my phone sooo much. But I’m concerned I can’t get all my messages on the new phone or connect to my other Apple devices with the dumb phone. Is it possible?
I came across your channel because I'm currently transitioning from my normal Samsung A72 to LG Wine Smart Flip phone. I know it's still considered a "smart phone" and it's an adroid but the storage is so low and the version is so old that the apps that I can download are so limited that I can mostly only use messenger and instagram. The display quality is also so slow that it's a struggle to scroll for a very long time. I was able to read more and work on my arts. Then, I realized you also do bullet journals and arts so I subscribed. Hope to see more contents from you ❤
Id love a phone review of what phone you used as i myself hate smart phones i even got a new camera because i refuse to upgrade my iphone 8 which is still kicking and photography is very important for me and my business. Going on airplane mode helps a lot as well since most apps need connection to work. Its very freeing
I got tired of letting the smartphone take over the time I should have been spending reading the Bible. TH-cam is hard to kick though, but I don't let myself be on it at home unless I am eating, working out, or cleaning.
How would you feel about like a 1st gen Ipod Shuffle for music on walks and runs? Basically my only issue I would have (am going to have) is the accessibility of having music.
@@likemycommentifyouwantareply For lifting at the gym, I 100% need music. I am not trying to listen to people talk or listen to Justin Bieber “Baby” play over the intercom. But tell me please why I don’t
what do you use for video calling (on the laptop)? I have a nokia 2720 and can't seem to connect to whatsapp desktop where I usually video call my friends and family due to the issue of scanning a QR code. And thanks for the videos about this topic! They informed me a lot with my decision to buy a flip phone.
For those that want or need to reduce self programing and over stimulation with the internet . Keep you smart phone if you need for emergencies and a 2nd phone flip phone . Then start slowly to deprogram yourself with old electronics 📻. If you know some older person you can borrow some items that will save time and stress not looking . Now how far back in time do you want to go . A rotery phone with answer machine at home or keep the flip phone . No computer or is that needed for financial things . A portable pocket radio television with outside antenna ? All available and working perfectly . Actually there is a custom rotery dial phone for about $300 . I put away my smart phone sever times a month watch antenna tv listen to the radio play if want CD’s cassette or even music on the record player .
I'm not even distracted by, let alone addicted to my phone, but i still hate it. I've always hated smartphones because i've never needed one, and i prefer a minimalist approach to phones. Smartphones are a miracle of engineering turned into a trivial throw away consumption machine, aiming solely at wasting your time and energy.
I feel like I'm suffering from smartphone addiction; just been watching this video on my German made Fujitsu laptop. I've got a vintage 2003 Nokia 3310 but it's 2G and the signal is scheduled to be shut down in the next 10 years or so. Looking for a Nokia dumb phone that works on 4G; my 'cheap pile of junk' smartphone (Nokia 1 Plus 8GB) might be a pile of junk and might be a distraction but it works... Not sure whether to trade it in or keep it but dumb it down.
I locked my smartphone along with the band in my drawer, and I bought a rugged feature phone with txt/call only, i have an old school Sony Walkman where I played the podcast downloaded from the iTunes Store on it, and I pinned all my working emails in the form of PWA on the desktop. After things being done, I legit can rest better now, thank you❤
Liked the comment about navigating. It wasnt that long ago people got around with maps and common sense. this is another area where people are allowing themselves to be deskilled and become device dependent
As a young woman I was constantly stopping at gas stations for directions lol. After internet came on the scene I'd get directions on my computer than copy them down and be on my way. It's not that much harder. I plan on going back to that soon.
I have a smartphone of course but no doubt I can survive without a smartphone...I also started carrying my gun more sometimes I'll turn my phone off so I can stay more aware of what's gone on around me
The only thing I think I need NEED my smartphone is for payments. Almost all of stores in cities in India use UPI and it requires a phone which is amazing because you don't need to carry cash. But if you do, then it is very hard to get change because they don't have any. It's all digital
the dumb phone i used for years became out of date with carriers discontinuing CDMA service. i upgraded to a smart phone, though not by my choice. certain things required it. i'll use it until carriers discontinue service or the phone dies, whichever comes first.
Thank you for making these. I am about a month into using my Sunbeam. I get tempted from time to time but I do not think I will go back. PS. Ask your friends if they have some old ipods. I did I was given 7! - I loaded up some MP3s - ask them if they have old CDs - 200-300 songs would be enough to keep you rocking!
Every week I travel for work and I need to know what the live traffic is like. I usually drive 800km a week. I hate using my smartphone and I love my new Nokia 3310 which I have been using all summer peacefully. I thought of leaving my smartphone in the car and buying a SIM specifically to use it exclusively in the car as a navigator. What do you think? I don't find other solutions.. Ciao from Italy!
What a wonderful and wise young Lady. If i wasn't homeless and always board and board at work im get rid of it. The only thing i would need to survive is google map's and Auto book and music.
That is so interesting to listen to. And I think you're right on track me being an older gentleman that used to run around without a cell phone I used to be able to go to any place without a phone a natural directions that if I bend to one place I can get their back again without a map or GPS. Right now the internet has taken my brain away I no longer can be able to do creative things I have to look on TH-cam how to repair cars anyways I have been a automotive expert for 45 years. I have a story for you one time back long time ago I think it was around 2008. I decided to not have a phone for one year. All of my anxiety was gone life seen so much more peaceful and better then it was with a dumb phone!!!! Not even smartphone technology back then.. okay well I got my piece out that I wanted to say and now I feel extremely old like dinosaur old dirt. 😆😅😂
I had no phone at all growing up. Our phone was attached to the wall and we all shared it lol ❤❤❤ I was 27 what I got my first cell and it was this stick phones they called them. lol year 2000. 😊
That was the candy bar phone and yes remember the old phones my aunt had a party line phone . Pick up the receiver and listen if a neighbor was talking if no then we could dial out . I still have my record player with beautiful music or other .
I'm a Gen Z and I recall being in elementary school wuthout a phone while the rest of the kids where on their phones...I used to feel so left out and lonely..snd I think it contributed to my addiction
I'm trying to get my old Nokia 6310i repaired, it's just gone wrong after all this time with it, I have an iPhone but I don't know how to use it, it's too complicated, I went back to the old phone and I prefer it, I charge the battery once a week, I don't think it has text on it and that suits me. I never used camera, maps or anything else that it may be able to do, a phone for me is for making phone calls not photos or whatever else they can do, I agree it's a luxury that for older people like me don't need or know how to use, I didn't even know that you could put music on a phone, shows how much I used my technical phone
I think they make phones that are hybrid smart/dumb phones for this very situation. Like you can’t use youtube or any entertainment but Whatsapp and music would be available
take a look at the Kaios cell phones! I have one and I believe it is also the solution to your problems! But remember he is still a dumb phone and will behave like one
Wow... It's unbelieveable that someone else was thinkin like me...I had been considering getting a flip phone to seperate my communication from my smartphone.. Like, for instance-At home wrking on a project using my phone to play music through yt and boom... A call doesn't come through interupting you! Oh... And, because I miss the buttons!!!!!!!!!! 😁
Understand that the phone is an addiction. You can live without it. I was 35 before I got my first cell phone, a Motorola Razr. That was replaced a few years later by my Palm (which I loved). I didn't get my first Smartphone until 2015. Yeah, they're convenient as hell, but it's an added expense we don't need. Plus, they're making us stupid. Can you remember ANY phone numbers other than your own? I used to have about 4 dozen numbers memorized and ready to go. Right now, I want my old flip phone back with talk and text. That's it. Google be damned as well as the rest of social media.
Thoughtful video thank you. Can’t you achieve the almost exact result by keeping your smartphone and simply not having an IG or X account, not having tons of apps? My thought is the iPhone is fine. It’s all the apps and social media accounts that distract us.
Less of saying dumb phone !!. It is EVERONES CHOICE what they buy or use . I can put my phone in my sleeve coat pocket . You lot are brainwashed into thinking you NEED a "smart" phone , I do not . I have NEVER downloaded an APP , don't need to , the commercial world WANTS you to for their benefit .
I don’t care about gps or anything, I’ve watched a lot of videos about this topic and learned that it can be figured out but my main concern is whatsapp. I don’t live in the same country with my family, I study abroad and my only connection with them (without paying money for calls and texts) is whatsapp. And also video calls because we can’t see each other often. Especially video calls. And if I can just solve it with my laptop (which, I don’t know how) I won’t be able to text or call them daily because it takes a lot of money throughout the sim. That’s what I’ve been thinking about. If anyone knows a solution for this please write it down.
I can’t get rid of some features that are too important I’m my daily use ans splitting my smartphone into multiple devices won’t do. It’s so hard to balance minimalism and privacy. I need Signal for my texting and calling. My password manager with biometric. And then also some stuff that contribute to my productivity. For instance I NEED to have a reliable way to take a quick photo, and be able to share it quickly and effortlessly. In my lab classes it’s just too important. It’s not even a “nice to have” but a “need”. Which leaves me so torn. I want to take the leap and use a dumber phone, but so far, none of them managed to be a “feature” photo packing all I need and nothing I don’t. There are some hybrids that are candy bar phones but they run Android and have decent cameras, but they’ll all lack one thing from my checklist like a certain plug or sometimes it’s just the software on them that I don’t trust, coming from Chinese manufacturers known to be not so great in regards to privacy. So what I ended up doing for now, was to just KEEP my old iPhone 6S and be strict one the apps I installed on it, and for those few thing I actually didn’t need like my Reddit client, I’ve set up a Screentime limit that I’m decreasing more and more. I have 12 apps on my home screen - none of them being socials and stuff, only stock apps and signal - and a weather widget, everything else is behind the app drawer, many clicks away. It’s not a complete detox, especially when you factor my iPad that does contain potential distraction, that is by my side when I’m home. I try not to have it when going at my desk. Where I’m getting at is, you don’t need a sudden drop unless the shock is what will work on you because you know that keeping those temptations within reach will only allow the cravings to win over you goodwill, you can try to learn to have better habits with the devices you already own if there are still things you can’t get rid off because those smartphones only features take place in your productivity. That said, I would still encourage giving a dumb phone a try if you’re not concerned by things like me, because it truly will open yours eyes on the fact that your glass brick is not a necessity but just yet another addiction. And for the parent out there, maybe you can try to install this truth on your kids since the beginning of their electronics journey. Those devices should be used as tools, not distractions. I still had to switch to downgrade to a dumb phone once because my dear 6S had a battery issue, and since I already use a MP3 and iPod for music, and a watch so I’m not drawn to my phone “just to check the time”, and I’m a still a pen and paper kinda guy for quick notes, and I realized that I could almost live like this. I still missed my privacy related apps, and asking my classmates to stay longer after the lab to take the photos for me, and old Bluetooth tech not working fine so I couldn’t be one a call with earbuds will having my hands gloved up and busy so I couldn’t just say “alright fuck it I’ll just stay like this and not bother fix me smartphone”. There’s just too big of a gap between dumb and smart. I’d love a candy bar phone with good battery and modern battery tech (fast charging and all), decent camera so text and details on pétri can be kept, an OS that allows for privacy inclined apps, a flashlight (both to help with photos but also because… come on), a T9 or blackberry type keyboard that works well with my language (also use dealbreaker), USB C to allow those charging stuff and transfer the photos I took to my computer to be used. That one F22 something is kinda close to be honest, but is still lacking in some other aspect. There’s more to that that makes me unable to leave my smartphone like some translation related apps, some Mapping apps, and health related apps, but since those wouldn’t apply to everyone I didn’t mention them. But they’re also very important to me as of today. I shall see later once I’m in another environment
Social system has no interest in enabling you to switch to dumb phone easily or without any sacrifice. Its on us. It definitely gonna make life difficult to some and more difficult to few. Choice is ours. It's all about priority.
I guess I’m privileged tho I don’t use social I play world and mind games on my iPhone listening to music calling people and FaceTimeng with my therapist because she moved offices and it’s interferes with my work schedule, so FaceTime me is the only way I can talk to her at the moment and I’m pretty productive. Sold me having an iPhone is OK. Not sure how anybody else feels but I guess I am privileged.
I removed the SIM card from my Iphone 10 so I use it as an Ipod device. it solved all “music + camera” problems, so whenever I want to listen to music I downloaded previously some playlists and play them during workouts or driving. If you pay Spotify premium you also can download some music to use it offline. Great inspiration for those who start with dumb phones, thank you. Hugs from Spain! ☺️
I like your idea, just transfer the SIM card to a dumb phone, and bring along the iPhone with you for taking photos.
Superb idea 😃 thnx
Hola soy de Estados Unidos 😁
But eventually our mind will make an excuse to install social media app and get back to addiction right? I think smartphone addiction is not due to the presence of sim, rather more to the applications that are intentionally addictive to us. I am really hesitating to ditch my iphone only for gps. Im so much dependent on gps for direction and traffic condition.
That's a great idea!
There are ways to transform a TH-cam song into a mp3 too.
Not just the 90s, but us 95-04 gen Z remember growing up with landline and/or fliphones. Makes us want to go back to having a fliphone. Its funny how close in age older gen Z and millennials are.
This is an interesting comment. I’m in the same boat, but of the previous generation. I grew up on all my Gen X siblings VHS tapes. I saw the term Xennial once, it made a lot of sense.
The oldest millennial and the youngest ages Z have a 1 second age gap
Zillennials 😁
95 is definite Millennial
I've noticed that some people are saying that you just need 'self-control' and that itself should fix the problem. Although that is partially true for any addiction you want to overcome sometimes you need to make drastic decisions in order to get drastic changes. I grew up with my smartphone and although I have tried time and time again to just use it for basic needs the temptation is always there with you. EVERYDAY. ALL THE TIME. We live in a time where no one wants to talk to eachother anymore and therefore you get out less often because no one wants to go anywhere anyways since you can have all the fun you want through the use of a small device. I feel sad for the next generation being raised with smartphones as there only companion. If I'm struggling with this I can't even imagine what they will be going through.
oh i really dislike the term "self-control". the way i see it we are all doing the best we can with the skills and knowledge we have. it's just that an awful lot of people don't have the right skills to be able to work out why they're unhappy or unsatisfied.
You wouldn't scoff at an alcoholic and say "Haha just keep some liquor in the house for guests, just have some self control!"
I see people trying to solve the music issue. I literally love CDs no Wi-Fi or anything needing if your bringing back the flip phone don’t forget about the CDS
HIGHLIGHTED & NOTED
YES!!
Digital minimalism for the win.
I bought a Sunbeam after watching a few of your earlier videos, and so far, it’s been an exciting experience. Really appreciate you sharing your experiences with us. Also, that “boredom = creativity” point is pretty powerful. Like a cheat code for adult life, I think.
what is sunbeam?
@@mohammedashrafulislam8759 It's a company that's made a few models of phones with limited features: no internet access, email, social apps, etc.
I had a dumb phone and loved it. I eventually had NO phone and loved that even more because I wasn’t able to contacted by work etc. I got a smart ohone again bc work was getting mad at me that I was never responding. My phone addiction immediately came back full swing and I now have to start from the beginning
you can do it🙏🏻💪🏻
That was a very thoughtful and wise analysis of what effect smart phones have on us. I hope you continue to keep the negative aspects of smart phone use out of you life. I always try to keep the idea that "just because we can do something doesn't mean we should" in mind, especially where modern technology is concerned.
All I can say is: you're on the right path and keep going. I always used "dumb phones" for calling & texting and they're great. I don't think I will ever change my flip phone for a smartphone. I love your videos.
I turned my Iphone SE 2020 version into a dumb phone. I deleted every app I could delete, hid all other apps BUT my phone and message icons. I never even take pictures with my iPhone. I only access the internet with my Chromebook. I no longer use social media at all. Only TH-cam and using Google to read news articles on my laptop. My internet usage has also dropped so much. I now feel mentally sharp. NO more brain fog,headaches and tiredness from playing on my smart phone. It's possible for a person to give up their smartphone. I survived many years before smartphones. Great video.
You are so soft spoken and that is really soothing. Just watching your video I felt relaxed.
I havent used a smartphone, for three years and becoming 4 years this January. I been using a knock off Nextel fliphone. I perfer using my tablet, laptop, digital camera, mp3 player and physical gps.
I watching your videos since last 2,3 months. Last year I decided that in 2022 I will quit my smartphone addiction but it didn't happened. Even everyday I feel empty from inside and didn't know how hours, days are going.
I'm 23 and decided to quit smartphone for 2 to 3 years and switching to nokia 5710.
Thanks for your videos
How is it going for you now?
I am taking the jump, and getting a Sunbeam Wireless phone. I'll still use my smart phone on wifi for work, but I'm deleting most of the apps off it. My work is on the computer and that is the only place I'll access any forms of social media. I have ADHD and the amount of social media and instant gratification sources has seriously affected my mental health. Thank you for encouraging me to take this step, and to do better for myself.
I feel the same, I'm tempted to get an old smartphone, like an iPhone 8 plus and only load necessary apps on it, no social media or anything and use an iPod for music and stuff.
I'm getting Sunbeam in a few days. What's your experience been?
Thank you so much for this. You were extremely insightful. I'm 22 and have recently ordered a light phone. Not sure if it will last but I can't wait to make the switch like you and see how it affects me and my life :)
I was going to order a Light Phone but they are over $300 where I live. I just turned my smart phone into a dumb phone instead. I won't use a traditional dumb phone because I don't enjoy T-9 texting. lol
@@shannonmacri3719 lol that's fair enough. Light phone is definitely pricey. It recently arrived and I'm enjoying the change and how it works. Could've achieved a similar effect for a quarter of the price but some of its features are quite unique for a dumb phone
@@Jax44158 You should make a video of the new Light Phone. I wanted to try one so bad but just can't spend the $300.00 on one. I'm cheap. lol. Did you find an inexpensive calling plan for it?
@@shannonmacri3719 I thought I could get a old flip phone for $700. But now I see how it's that with a plan. Like wtf.
I'm on T-Mobile and I bought the CAT S22 Flip. It's got android and a touchscreen, but it's minimalistic. I can stream music, do my banking, etc. plus Voxer and Signal which we use for work. I found no matter how long I would go on a basic phone as soon as I go back to a smartphone I go back to all the garbage. I would just redownload social media and all the distracting apps. Maybe something for you to check out if you want to go back but stay minimalistic. Jose Briones does a review of the phone on his channel if you want to have a look.
Nice experiment! And I love that you can express your observations in sun easy language.
Thanks for the great words! Especially about the data aspect. I keep reminding myself not only do you have access to the world and the whole Internet, but the the whole Internet (also the bad stuff) has access to you. That's why I would never give a smartphone to a child.
I have a small phone, a big phone and a computer. Only the small phone has a SIM. I use the small phone so that the big one can't get damaged; either broken, stolen or just snooped on or corrupted. It is my cheaper, easier to replace, scout and gate keeper phone. You don't have to choose between them. Use them tactically. Fortunately, I have never had a problem with social media. I saw the pointlessness, waste of time and nothing getting better.
For the music ‘problem’ most have with flipphones, I just have a MP3 player! it’s actually much more satisfying to use
I agree. I miss life without smartphones. I had a flip phone in high school and then iphones came out after college. I was so against them and once they fixed all the bugs and added more features which at the time my phone had more features than the first iphone, i eventually got it. Im now searching for a phone to get for my son that is not a smart phone. I loved my.
I just ordered a feature phone 2 days ago thanks to your videos!
I’ll be honest, if I didn’t have my smartphone to listen to TH-cam videos at work all day, I would probably get so bored that I would quit my job and look for one that is more exciting. My job is so easy it’s boring and the pay is good and my boss and coworkers are really nice. I am thankful for my job, but there’s no way I would stay without some other form of entertainment throughout the day. I sit and do mindless work on a computer all day.
my sunbeam orchid comes in today! i'm so stoked
I would love to do this. I actually tried for like a week but then I couldn’t do Lyft or uber and a lot of jobs have apps now that you have to use to see your pay or schedule 🤦🏽♀️
Very interesting take on your journey.
I choose to continue using a smartphone but with minimalism in mind:
- No or delayed notifications (notification summary is very useful for that)
- Focus mode with iOS 16 is great for this purpose with the focus home page that changes based on your focus mode.
- Removing all unecessary application from home pages mostly
- No games
Those are the main things I did to help me. Now I am more focus and my phone in not in arms reach when I am focusing on work or other activities.
not gonna be a sucessful experiment i am afraid
it is like a chain smoker trying to quit smoking and saying i am not gonna smoke just gonna keep a pack in my pocket
@@shivam4749 it's helped me get 7 hour study sessions pretty well (streamed on my channel as proof)
Brains are sneaky bitch. Today or tomorrow it will make you feel a little checking on social wont make any change and there you will go!
I was thinking of buying an iPhone 15 when that came out, but I think I've changed my mind. I instead wanna get an old iPhone 8 Plus that can do the latest iOS and only load it with necessary apps and use an iPod touch for entertainment and music. An iPod touch 7 can play Spotify no problem, like Dank Pods has reviewed before. Getting an old iPhone 8 Plus off of eBay is only like $250.
@@shivam4749 Working for me
I'm inspired by this video enough that I am going to check out getting a "dumbphone". I'm old enough (Gen Xer) that I remember what life was like before smart phones exploded on the horizon. I seriously considered it a year ago but wasn't sure what to do regarding navigation. Since then I've found out I can use my "dumbphone" as a mobile hotspot for when I need to use navigation. Thanks for the video. Inspiring.
I am happy to hear this. Keep it up! Smartphones are a pain!
I still have a smartphone but I've uninstalled my social medias. The only thing on there I can't let go of is TH-cam, funny enough. I find avoiding multi-tasking is really helping me have hobbies again. I still don't think I create more than I consume but I go outside every day - even when I have work - and I do create sometimes~!
I said it before and I will say again : thank you alot for pushing us toward that behaviour.
The return to use smartphone will be very exciting esp. to tell us what are the pros. And cons.
Fascinating. Loved following this.
Glad you enjoyed! 😁
flip phones are making a big come back. i just switched my iphone 11 for a new nokia 2780 flip phone. cost only 85 bucks and has 4g, wifi, etc.
Loving your channel! Greetings from a Brazilian from Paraguay 🇵🇾 🇧🇷 ❤
I'm also very happy and i'm really excited for you to stay excited about this experience without a smartphone, because in fact following your feedbacks are huge motivators for me to keep trying to adapt to doing the essentials in another way and reducing distractions that add nothing to me
I like that you used the term "simple phone" instead of "dumbphone".
For the music part, just se an Ipod ;) Im still using my Ipod Classic and Nano
Your videos are so nice and easy to listen to. You have a great "public speaking" skill.
Thank you! ☺️
@@ashtonwomackit's hard to ditch smartphones but I definitely have to give props to these devices because smartphone shenanigans like Bluetooth 5.0 LE a2dp and 4g LTE network made their way to keypad phones in order to keep this segment alive. If it wasn't for these 2 technologies, keypad phones might not exist anymore as 2g has been phased out by many countries .
I just got the Nokia 110 4g 2023 , for me one of the best keypad phones out there but you'll probably hate it. I'm a die hard music listener, so I prefer carrying my candy bar outside instead of my hefty brick, since the 110 has a good Bluetooth connection.
One thing worth mentioning, hmd global Nokia keypad phones can accommodate micro SD card over 32 gb, one thing I like about my Nokia 110 4g, is that it's Bluetooth draws less power and make the tiny 1450 mah battery last Even longer
Here's a question i have for you, smartphones are a great way to have an extra layer of security to protect important accounts you may have online. If you like to use multi-factor authentication (and you absolutely should) a smartphone can by way of authenticator apps provide unique codes that only you have access to for verification. Smartphones also have biometric features like fingerprint readers and i think some of the new ones even have iris scanners among other things. I think there are alternative solutions and i wonder if using something like a Yubikey and a dedicated fingerprint reader could be good substitutes? I know that you can use SMS as a method of verification but I've heard that's like the worst and least secure of the options available. I'm curious if this is something you've had take a different approach with at all?
Good point people need control
we could have hi- tec computing and listen to music on many types of electronics . I’m still using radios cassette CD’s and the record player not every day but the work as new .
Thank you for making this video
I think this was fantastic you did great! I would be scared to go back I’m getting ready to leave my iPhone my new phones on the way in about a week or less and I am looking forward to achieving things I could not achieve because I keep getting caught up and watching videos and social media and I don’t need that. I really appreciatewhat you showed us and told us thank you very much
In my modest opinion, the Sonim XP3 Plus is the best out there.
As a bonus, it's military grade.
Well deserved thumbs up, on your excellent perspective.
I have an iPhone, iWatch, iMac and iPad 🤦🏻♀️ I want to swap to a simple phone because I am on my phone sooo much. But I’m concerned I can’t get all my messages on the new phone or connect to my other Apple devices with the dumb phone. Is it possible?
Wonderfully thought out
I came across your channel because I'm currently transitioning from my normal Samsung A72 to LG Wine Smart Flip phone. I know it's still considered a "smart phone" and it's an adroid but the storage is so low and the version is so old that the apps that I can download are so limited that I can mostly only use messenger and instagram. The display quality is also so slow that it's a struggle to scroll for a very long time. I was able to read more and work on my arts.
Then, I realized you also do bullet journals and arts so I subscribed. Hope to see more contents from you ❤
Id love a phone review of what phone you used as i myself hate smart phones i even got a new camera because i refuse to upgrade my iphone 8 which is still kicking and photography is very important for me and my business. Going on airplane mode helps a lot as well since most apps need connection to work. Its very freeing
I just replaced my smartphone (iPhone) with an Apple Watch on my wrist. As you have mentioned it is quite freeing not needing or a smartphone anymore.
I got tired of letting the smartphone take over the time I should have been spending reading the Bible. TH-cam is hard to kick though, but I don't let myself be on it at home unless I am eating, working out, or cleaning.
How would you feel about like a 1st gen Ipod Shuffle for music on walks and runs? Basically my only issue I would have (am going to have) is the accessibility of having music.
Maybe you don’t *need* music like you think you do? Just a thought.
@@likemycommentifyouwantareply For lifting at the gym, I 100% need music.
I am not trying to listen to people talk or listen to Justin Bieber “Baby” play over the intercom.
But tell me please why I don’t
@@GoldenGod69 In those ocasions I have thought to take my smartphone with me, but apart from that I will just use a dumbphone
What is typing on the Sunbeam like?
How about just delete social media apps?
what do you use for video calling (on the laptop)? I have a nokia 2720 and can't seem to connect to whatsapp desktop where I usually video call my friends and family due to the issue of scanning a QR code.
And thanks for the videos about this topic! They informed me a lot with my decision to buy a flip phone.
this is awesome. thanks for this.
For those that want or need to reduce self programing and over stimulation with the internet . Keep you smart phone if you need for emergencies and a 2nd phone flip phone . Then start slowly to deprogram
yourself with old electronics 📻. If you know some older person you can borrow some items that will save time and stress not looking . Now how far back in time do you want to go . A rotery phone with answer machine at home or keep the flip phone . No computer or is that needed for financial things . A portable pocket radio television with outside antenna ? All available and working perfectly . Actually there is a custom rotery dial phone for about $300 .
I put away my smart phone sever times a month watch antenna tv listen to the radio play if want CD’s cassette or even music on the record player .
I'm not even distracted by, let alone addicted to my phone, but i still hate it. I've always hated smartphones because i've never needed one, and i prefer a minimalist approach to phones. Smartphones are a miracle of engineering turned into a trivial throw away consumption machine, aiming solely at wasting your time and energy.
I feel like I'm suffering from smartphone addiction; just been watching this video on my German made Fujitsu laptop. I've got a vintage 2003 Nokia 3310 but it's 2G and the signal is scheduled to be shut down in the next 10 years or so. Looking for a Nokia dumb phone that works on 4G; my 'cheap pile of junk' smartphone (Nokia 1 Plus 8GB) might be a pile of junk and might be a distraction but it works...
Not sure whether to trade it in or keep it but dumb it down.
I locked my smartphone along with the band in my drawer, and I bought a rugged feature phone with txt/call only, i have an old school Sony Walkman where I played the podcast downloaded from the iTunes Store on it, and I pinned all my working emails in the form of PWA on the desktop. After things being done, I legit can rest better now, thank you❤
Liked the comment about navigating. It wasnt that long ago people got around with maps and common sense. this is another area where people are allowing themselves to be deskilled and become device dependent
As a young woman I was constantly stopping at gas stations for directions lol. After internet came on the scene I'd get directions on my computer than copy them down and be on my way. It's not that much harder. I plan on going back to that soon.
How’s talking to people on speakerphone with the sunbeam flip?
I have a smartphone of course but no doubt I can survive without a smartphone...I also started carrying my gun more sometimes I'll turn my phone off so I can stay more aware of what's gone on around me
Do you know if it is compatible with carriers in Asia?
Why didn't you buy an MP3 player? It's lighter, cheaper and less distracting than a streaming service with ads.
The only thing I think I need NEED my smartphone is for payments. Almost all of stores in cities in India use UPI and it requires a phone which is amazing because you don't need to carry cash. But if you do, then it is very hard to get change because they don't have any. It's all digital
the dumb phone i used for years became out of date with carriers discontinuing CDMA service. i upgraded to a smart phone, though not by my choice. certain things required it. i'll use it until carriers discontinue service or the phone dies, whichever comes first.
Thank you for making these. I am about a month into using my Sunbeam. I get tempted from time to time but I do not think I will go back. PS. Ask your friends if they have some old ipods. I did I was given 7! - I loaded up some MP3s - ask them if they have old CDs - 200-300 songs would be enough to keep you rocking!
PSS. I am on your email list which is great. I shared your work with my wife and I think she ordered some things last week. Keep up the great work.
I wonder if I could just use an iPod shuffle for music are those still around lol
Every week I travel for work and I need to know what the live traffic is like. I usually drive 800km a week. I hate using my smartphone and I love my new Nokia 3310 which I have been using all summer peacefully.
I thought of leaving my smartphone in the car and buying a SIM specifically to use it exclusively in the car as a navigator. What do you think? I don't find other solutions..
Ciao from Italy!
Ive never owned a smart phone in my entire life, no one needs one. to many people have their heads buried in them.
I am doing this as well! I'm not sure for how long though...
I miss slamming the phone! Not that I am an angry person, or like to argue.
I miss that too
What a wonderful and wise young Lady. If i wasn't homeless and always board and board at work im get rid of it. The only thing i would need to survive is google map's and Auto book and music.
That is so interesting to listen to. And I think you're right on track me being an older gentleman that used to run around without a cell phone I used to be able to go to any place without a phone a natural directions that if I bend to one place I can get their back again without a map or GPS. Right now the internet has taken my brain away I no longer can be able to do creative things I have to look on TH-cam how to repair cars anyways I have been a automotive expert for 45 years. I have a story for you one time back long time ago I think it was around 2008. I decided to not have a phone for one year. All of my anxiety was gone life seen so much more peaceful and better then it was with a dumb phone!!!! Not even smartphone technology back then.. okay well I got my piece out that I wanted to say and now I feel extremely old like dinosaur old dirt. 😆😅😂
I had no phone at all growing up. Our phone was attached to the wall and we all shared it lol ❤❤❤ I was 27 what I got my first cell and it was this stick phones they called them. lol year 2000. 😊
That was the candy bar phone and yes remember the
old phones my aunt had a party line phone . Pick up the receiver and listen if a neighbor was talking if no then we could dial out . I still have my record player with beautiful
music or other .
I'm a Gen Z and I recall being in elementary school wuthout a phone while the rest of the kids where on their phones...I used to feel so left out and lonely..snd I think it contributed to my addiction
Had an IPhone ad right before the start of the video 🤣
Can you share what phone worked best for you?
I use my old walkman for music anyway
Which one?
@@leont5056 my old one broke a bit ago but now I have a new one. Red and black but other than that, no clue.
I'm trying to get my old Nokia 6310i repaired, it's just gone wrong after all this time with it, I have an iPhone but I don't know how to use it, it's too complicated, I went back to the old phone and I prefer it, I charge the battery once a week, I don't think it has text on it and that suits me. I never used camera, maps or anything else that it may be able to do, a phone for me is for making phone calls not photos or whatever else they can do, I agree it's a luxury that for older people like me don't need or know how to use, I didn't even know that you could put music on a phone, shows how much I used my technical phone
I love your comments
I actually only need WhatsApp and a podcast player. Not sure which device has both.
I think they make phones that are hybrid smart/dumb phones for this very situation.
Like you can’t use youtube or any entertainment but Whatsapp and music would be available
take a look at the Kaios cell phones! I have one and I believe it is also the solution to your problems! But remember he is still a dumb phone and will behave like one
With all that in mind. I've decided to have no phone. Wish me luck guys!
Wow... It's unbelieveable that someone else was thinkin like me...I had been considering getting a flip phone to seperate my communication from my smartphone.. Like, for instance-At home wrking on a project using my phone to play music through yt and boom... A call doesn't come through interupting you!
Oh... And, because I miss the buttons!!!!!!!!!! 😁
I like using Spotify, gps, and apps that I need to contact teachers with and so on
I experienced it and can tell which phones i had, and what I had to use to navigate with a. Map book, or a gps module hahahah…
Understand that the phone is an addiction. You can live without it.
I was 35 before I got my first cell phone, a Motorola Razr. That was replaced a few years later by my Palm (which I loved). I didn't get my first Smartphone until 2015.
Yeah, they're convenient as hell, but it's an added expense we don't need. Plus, they're making us stupid. Can you remember ANY phone numbers other than your own? I used to have about 4 dozen numbers memorized and ready to go.
Right now, I want my old flip phone back with talk and text. That's it. Google be damned as well as the rest of social media.
thanks for this video
I just got a flip because the smart phones are too big for my pocket and if it got snatched your whole life is down the plughole.
Thoughtful video thank you. Can’t you achieve the almost exact result by keeping your smartphone and simply not having an IG or X account, not having tons of apps? My thought is the iPhone is fine. It’s all the apps and social media accounts that distract us.
Let us not overdo it.
It was ok, but myself, turning 59 soon, I cannot imagine going back to the 90, or the 2000's or even the 2010's!!!!!!!
Less of saying dumb phone !!. It is EVERONES CHOICE what they buy or use . I can put my phone in my sleeve coat pocket . You lot are brainwashed into thinking you NEED a "smart" phone , I do not . I have NEVER downloaded an APP , don't need to , the commercial world WANTS you to for their benefit .
I don’t care about gps or anything, I’ve watched a lot of videos about this topic and learned that it can be figured out but my main concern is whatsapp. I don’t live in the same country with my family, I study abroad and my only connection with them (without paying money for calls and texts) is whatsapp. And also video calls because we can’t see each other often. Especially video calls. And if I can just solve it with my laptop (which, I don’t know how) I won’t be able to text or call them daily because it takes a lot of money throughout the sim. That’s what I’ve been thinking about. If anyone knows a solution for this please write it down.
I can’t get rid of some features that are too important I’m my daily use ans splitting my smartphone into multiple devices won’t do.
It’s so hard to balance minimalism and privacy.
I need Signal for my texting and calling.
My password manager with biometric.
And then also some stuff that contribute to my productivity. For instance I NEED to have a reliable way to take a quick photo, and be able to share it quickly and effortlessly. In my lab classes it’s just too important. It’s not even a “nice to have” but a “need”.
Which leaves me so torn. I want to take the leap and use a dumber phone, but so far, none of them managed to be a “feature” photo packing all I need and nothing I don’t. There are some hybrids that are candy bar phones but they run Android and have decent cameras, but they’ll all lack one thing from my checklist like a certain plug or sometimes it’s just the software on them that I don’t trust, coming from Chinese manufacturers known to be not so great in regards to privacy.
So what I ended up doing for now, was to just KEEP my old iPhone 6S and be strict one the apps I installed on it, and for those few thing I actually didn’t need like my Reddit client, I’ve set up a Screentime limit that I’m decreasing more and more.
I have 12 apps on my home screen - none of them being socials and stuff, only stock apps and signal - and a weather widget, everything else is behind the app drawer, many clicks away.
It’s not a complete detox, especially when you factor my iPad that does contain potential distraction, that is by my side when I’m home. I try not to have it when going at my desk.
Where I’m getting at is, you don’t need a sudden drop unless the shock is what will work on you because you know that keeping those temptations within reach will only allow the cravings to win over you goodwill, you can try to learn to have better habits with the devices you already own if there are still things you can’t get rid off because those smartphones only features take place in your productivity.
That said, I would still encourage giving a dumb phone a try if you’re not concerned by things like me, because it truly will open yours eyes on the fact that your glass brick is not a necessity but just yet another addiction.
And for the parent out there, maybe you can try to install this truth on your kids since the beginning of their electronics journey. Those devices should be used as tools, not distractions.
I still had to switch to downgrade to a dumb phone once because my dear 6S had a battery issue, and since I already use a MP3 and iPod for music, and a watch so I’m not drawn to my phone “just to check the time”, and I’m a still a pen and paper kinda guy for quick notes, and I realized that I could almost live like this. I still missed my privacy related apps, and asking my classmates to stay longer after the lab to take the photos for me, and old Bluetooth tech not working fine so I couldn’t be one a call with earbuds will having my hands gloved up and busy so I couldn’t just say “alright fuck it I’ll just stay like this and not bother fix me smartphone”. There’s just too big of a gap between dumb and smart.
I’d love a candy bar phone with good battery and modern battery tech (fast charging and all), decent camera so text and details on pétri can be kept, an OS that allows for privacy inclined apps, a flashlight (both to help with photos but also because… come on), a T9 or blackberry type keyboard that works well with my language (also use dealbreaker), USB C to allow those charging stuff and transfer the photos I took to my computer to be used. That one F22 something is kinda close to be honest, but is still lacking in some other aspect.
There’s more to that that makes me unable to leave my smartphone like some translation related apps, some Mapping apps, and health related apps, but since those wouldn’t apply to everyone I didn’t mention them. But they’re also very important to me as of today. I shall see later once I’m in another environment
Social system has no interest in enabling you to switch to dumb phone easily or without any sacrifice. Its on us. It definitely gonna make life difficult to some and more difficult to few. Choice is ours. It's all about priority.
you keep going but myself im unable to keep my phone away at nights during bedtime ..
@Anthony yes
Very cool video.
Hi, Just wanted to remaind you that you can buy an iPod to listen to songs! It would be great.
A flip phone is the best when it comes to a phone drop
you should get a small mp3 player to listen to music
Flip phones are a less headache from screen cracking
I guess I’m privileged tho I don’t use social I play world and mind games on my iPhone listening to music calling people and FaceTimeng with my therapist because she moved offices and it’s interferes with my work schedule, so FaceTime me is the only way I can talk to her at the moment and I’m pretty productive. Sold me having an iPhone is OK. Not sure how anybody else feels but I guess I am privileged.
good stuff
For music get mp3 player