Smartphones have long been the dominant device for communicating on the move, outselling their pared-down feature phone counterparts for more than a decade. However, if recent reports are to be believed, a Luddite revival is driving demand for mobile devices capable of, well, not very much.
So-called dumbphones can help people with their digital detox endeavors, with concerns that doomscrolling and round-the-clock connectivity is having an adverse impact on mental well-being. Such concerns become even more pronounced as parents increasingly seek to delay their kids’ inevitable introduction to smartphones.
A specific market has even cropped up off the back of this, with companies such as Light and Punkt producing minimalist phones for what ostensibly is still a niche market. But one of the common complaints from those willing to give this lifestyle a go is that these minimalist phones lack one key feature: messaging apps.
Sure, while SMS allows people to communicate textually across any mobile device, cross-platform chat apps, replete with multimedia group messaging, is the gold standard in today’s digital world.
WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app globally, with north of 2 billion users and over 100 million daily active users in the U.S. alone. Last year, the Meta-owned messenger got a game-changing feature for those wishing to dabble in the digital detox domain: multi-device support for more than one mobile phone. This means that those who don’t want to completely give up their smartphone can now run a secondary device with simultaneous access to the exact same WhatsApp account — perfect for when they want to go out without the constant distractions proffered by a full-featured mobile phone.
But there is a dearth of dumbphones that run WhatsApp. KaiOS-based phones were once the best bet, because WhatsApp had introduced a native app for the operating system due to its popularity in India and other markets. But WhatsApp recently announced that it’s ending support for KaiOS.
So that pretty much leaves us with Android. But there are a few handsets out there that run a version of Google’s omnipresent operating system without all the bells and whistles you’d get with a fully fledged smartphone — or at the very least, has been designed in a way that makes using the internet somewhat unappealing.
So here, in no particular order, are five dumbphones that ensure you can stay connected in a world where WhatsApp rules the messaging roost.
Emporia Touchsmart.2
This is a peculiar little flip phone from Emporia, an Austrian company that targets digital gadgetry at seniors. The Touchsmart.2 runs Android Go under the hood, but it doesn’t have any Google Play-associated tomfoolery going on, so no app store or anything like that. It just comes with WhatsApp preinstalled, alongside Signal and Telegram for those who prefer something less Facebook-y.
While it sports the traditional “look” of an old-school Nokia clamshell, you don’t have to use the fiddly physical keyboard if you don’t want to; the little 3.25-inch screen also supports touch, with an optional on-screen keyboard if required.
In truth, it’s not an amazing phone as you might expect, and you probably wouldn’t buy it for its 8-megapixel camera or FM radio. But it packs USB-C, 4G, a basic browser, and the most important thing of all, WhatsApp, replete with support for voice and video calls. In other words, it does what it promises to do: keeps you connected, with minimal distractions.
Although Emporia doesn’t officially ship outside of Europe, those willing to get creative in procuring one can expect to pay around €130.
TTfone TT970
Similar to Emporia, U.K.- and UAE-based phonemaker TTfone manufactures simple devices aimed at older users; the TT970 even includes a large emergency “SOS” button on the back that can be configured to any phone number. The clamshell form factor and Android operating system puts this in a similar bucket to that of the Touchsmart.2, but while the TT970 doesn’t have any app store to speak of, it does ship with a few extra preinstalled apps in addition to WhatsApp, including Facebook Lite, YouTube, email, and a browser. This may or may not be to your liking, but it will check most of the boxes for those seeking a viable smartphone alternative.
The TT970 costs £120 ($160), though you can probably find it cheaper through various marketplaces, and TTfone says that it ships to a handful of international markets, including the U.S. and Canada, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and Poland.
TTfone also sells a cheaper TT950 model that supports WhatsApp; it costs £80 ($107).
Cat S22
The Android-based Cat S22 flip phone is the handiwork of U.S. construction giant Caterpillar, which pitches it as a “rugged” mobile phone for those working in industries where devices might be prone to breakage.
Unlike the Touchsmart.2 or the TT970, the Cat S22 runs a fuller version of Android Go with Google Play, so you can actually access a full gamut of services that are typical of a smartphone. But given this device’s demure dimensions, the 2.8-inch touchscreen probably won’t be too inviting for TikToking or YouTubing.
The Cat S22 will cost you around $70 through Amazon (though you can probably find it cheaper), and technically it’s built for T-Mobile and affiliated MVNO networks. However, an unlocked version is available that works with most GSM carriers, including AT&T.
AGM M7
China’s AGM Mobile specializes in rugged mobile devices. The AGM M7 deviates from the first three in this list insofar as it isn’t a flip phone; it does have an old-school keyboard, but a 2.4-inch touchscreen is to the rescue for those unwilling to revert all the way back to 2006 T9 technology.
It’s worth noting that unlike the Cat S22 rugged mobile, the AGM M7 doesn’t have an app store, meaning you won’t be able to install anything on this yourself. But in addition to WhatsApp, it comes preinstalled with Facebook, TikTok, Skype, and push-to-talk walkie-talkie app Zello.
The AGM M7 is $120 and ships globally.
Unihertz: Jelly Star
China’s Unihertz says that it’s committed to “developing unique smartphones for niche groups of people,” spanning everything from QWERTY phones and rugged devices to tiny smartphones.
For those unable to make the quantum leap back two decades and embrace the humble flip phone, Unihertz ships a range of minuscule mobile phones that, while technically are smartphones, are small enough to ensure you’re not distracted by the flashy lights and distractions of the global internet.
Its Jelly series includes the Jelly Star, which runs Android 13. It’s something you might not actually hate using — aside from the fact that it’s screen is just 3 inches. Sure, it doesn’t fit the strict definition of “dumbphone,” though some people might find the device somewhat dumb, but we’ve all got to find compromises somewhere — and this is one that more people might be willing to make as part of a digital detox regimen.
The Unihertz Jelly Star costs around $200 and is available globally.
