While reading a post by Nik Kantar mentioning the change in time-between-charges with phones, it got me thinking more about why I have been considering making the switch to a dumb phone. Only having to charge my phone once a week is one of the biggest advantages I would hope to get out of a dumb phone. Having less distractions would be an even bigger advantage. I’ll tell you the sad reality of why I haven’t made the switch.
VoLTE
Most networks have done away with older systems that dumb phones could run on. Many require VoLTE which seems to be an improvement in general for cell phones, but it does nothing for letting me use a phone that is not compatible, and most “dumb” phones that are VoLTE compatible are actually way too smart.
Feature Phones
Don’t be fooled into thinking a phone that looks dumb is anything other than a smartphone in a retro skin. Feature phones can do almost as much as smartphones, and they look just like the dumb phones of the past. All those extra features are doing is making the battery drain faster. Many reviews online complain about having to charge their feature phones as much as a smartphone.
Overpriced Dumb Phones
A few brands have started making dumb phones branded as “minimalist.” Apparently, if you call a phone minimal, the price doesn’t have to be. Prices range from $400-800. If I could be assured that these high prices for minimal phones guaranteed good wages and ethical treatment of their workforce, I would be happy to pay it, but I’ve yet to see one of these companies be transparent enough to show that.
The Passing of a Golden Age
There was a sweet spot in time when you could walk out of a store with a $40 phone that wouldn’t distract you or demand to be charged constantly. That time is gone.
For now, Ill stick with my stripped-down iPhone and dream of finding the perfect dumb phone that makes its predecessors proud.