[bookstore-romeo]

I'm the owner of a Light Phone II [0] and (other than battery life), the biggest downside to the Light Phone I can envision for most people is the absence of apps like Uber, Apple Pay and Spotify. I think 5G isn't that necessary on a phone like that, except maybe for future-proofing. This phone seems to have a camera, though, and access to Play Store (although it will likely be messy) really sets it apart from most "minimal" phones out there. Plus, a real keyboard might attract the people who despise the on-screen one on the Light Phone. They're really devices of different classes at this point, though. The price does seem awkwardly low, however.

[0]: https://www.thelightphone.com/

[hn_throwaway_99]

> the biggest downside to the Light Phone I can envision for most people is the absence of apps like Uber, Apple Pay and Spotify.

You've hit it spot on. I got a light phone years ago to help cure my cell phone addiction, but it was too problematic. I still need to use the "tools" of my phone - things like Maps, Uber, authenticator apps, texting, etc., but I just wanted to block the "dopamine dealers" like social media and the browser.

The best I've gotten to so far is to permanently enable "focus mode" on my phone. Of course I can still disable it, but I've noticed the number of times I just automatically start browsing the web or whatever when I'm even just a tad bored, and having those apps blocked is at least just a reminder to me of "Do you really want to do this right now?"

[pcchristie]

I'm with you. As I mentioned elsewhere, I'd have a Light Phone if it could use Telegram and a few other "essentials." Throw in a good camera and it'd be incredible.

At the moment I use greyscale mode on my Pixel and have uninstalled apps, only using them in the browser if I "need to." It's not much, but adding that small friction helps somewhat.

[skydhash]

Some more friction, use a password manager and change the password to a really long string of characters, then don't install the password manager on the phone.

[CadmiumYellow]

I tried a Light Phone as well and I found that it made texting so difficult it was basically useless to me as a phone. I then tried a basic flip phone which was more useful but ultimately still added too much friction to my life to be worth it. Now I'm back to my iPhone. It would be great if Apple created the equivalent of those minimalist Android launchers that allow you to remove distracting apps and simplify the UI. At the end of the day a phone is a tool and none of the minimalist phones currently in existence work well enough to be a useful tool for me.

[toast0]

> I think 5G isn't that necessary on a phone like that, except maybe for future-proofing.

5G is more than future proofing, at least where I am, 5G is deployed at new lower frequencies (taken from broadcast TV) that provide for more full coverage. With my new 5g phone, I have less dead zones than my old 4g phone.

[fragmede]

That is to say, you live in the future. I have the same experience with my phone. 5G is already here.

[simfree]

5G New Radio (5G-SA) at 600Mhz (band 71) can deliver useful signal about 20% further than LTE on 700Mhz (bands 12, 13, 14 & 17).

We have seen this in action as many Cellspot and other signal booster users have retired these devices as the indoor and basement cell coverage improvements of 5G deliver better service than the DSL or satellite back hauled micro cells these users used to have at home.

[al_borland]

I've had 5G turned off on my phone since I got it. There is a dead spot near my house that really annoys me any time I go anywhere. You're making me thinking I should try turning 5G on to see if it helps... but I really don't want to take the hit to my battery.

[toast0]

It's probably worth trying. I gather 5g on early phones is rough on batteries, but my phone is a 2023 and battery life seems fine with 5g on. (old phone was 2020 moto g power, new phone 2023 moto g stylus 5g).

If 4g only makes your phone get stuck searching for signal and 5g would find a signal, turning on 5g will help