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by paulrouget 899 days ago
I tried for years to use these type of phones.

I need Signal… so it had to be an Android phone. I also need a good map app, and Spotify.

I tried many of these phones, and they all had 2 main problems: poor build quality (random shutdown, compass failing, random android bugs), and bad bluetooth, making it impossible to use headphones (I even tried to use wired headphones, but then, there's no wired earbuds with active noise cancelling).

The only phones that were "good enough" were the 4" Unihertz Pocket and the 3" Jelly.

But the bluetooth situation was unbearable (cracking noises, sync issues), and some hardware problems just made me anxious (couldn't rely on the phone to wake up, or going on a hike).

I just ended up getting a Zenfone 8, which is a massive phone, but considered the smallest. It's way too big for me, and does way too many things. But… there's no other options sadly.

3 comments

Based on your needs you can’t really use a dumb phone; so why torture yourself by pretending a cheap-ass smartphone is a dumb phone?
Yes, form factor and "dumbness" are orthogonal - it sounds like the commenter you're replying to wants an ultra compact smartphone, not a dumbphone?
Correct.

I need a small phone that just do basic stuff. But sadly Signal and Spotify are what I consider basic.

Signal and Spotify are available for iOS, so why don't you get a 4.7" iPhone SE?
Because I want my phone to be as basic as possible. No notifications, no icons, just plain text menu.

Android can be configured to be so bare that my phone is just a black screen with 5 menu items: music, signal, map, text, phone.

Personal preference.

You can still do it on iOS using a custom launcher, such as Blank Spaces [1].

[1] https://www.blankspaces.app/

I use lineage supported lte tablets with sd cards, rooted without google play (10 inch) that are usually around 50-100$ used so you don't even care if they get lost.

You don't use those on the go to distract yourself, because it's in your pack. I stopped drunken texting and calling people alltogether as well.

Ebook-Reader, LUKS with termux, VPN, WebDAV makes this essentially your digital home on the go without the hassle to open/boot a laptop.

I agree; I've really tried to find a phone that isn't "modern" but has the features I need and want..has to be able to make phone calls, encrypted messaging of some form, GPS and NFC payments while not being beholden to G/A/M. I've yet to find that so I still look. Currently use Graphene on an older pixel but it lacks NFC payment ability.
> encrypted messaging of some form, GPS and NFC payments

That’s exactly what “modern” is.

Yeah I worded that incorrectly. I want a modern phone and capabilities but I don't want the "smart" phone.