Smartphone detox with minimalist phones
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- Our smartphones are distracting and stressful, but they seem necessary. Michael Zelenko tests out four distraction-free phones, ranging from the palm-sized Jelly phone with internet capability to the business card-sized Light Phone that solely makes phone calls. Find out if one of these phones could fit your lifestyle, or if maps and social media apps are too important for you.
Note: this video was originally published at 9AM ET and has been reuploaded to correct an exporting error.
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Would you give up your smartphone for a minimalist phone?
The Verge no
The Verge I would give it a try lol
Never.
is what I choose to get my grand children. Emergency phone NO facebook etc.. Great idea.
You do realise if you want an easy texting experience but less attention grabbing clutter, you should just buy like a Blackberry Bold 9900, right?
i want the light phone but with messaging and music. no apps.
Aaron Domanais
Better be a FLAC player.
Tbh that's just my mum's phone anyway
The light phone 2 comes out soon, with texting.
Then look into the Light Phone 2. It has messaging, music and an alarm clock. Just quality of life improvement from the first one while still keeping the minimalism
Right that would help me
Minimalism isn't about depriving yourself of anything it's about focusing on what you value and removing what doesn't work.
Yes it is.
Yes, and without being distracted, which smart phones are good at.
Removing what you don't need.
thats essentialism bruh
That’s what these phones get wrong imo. The light 2 looks promising though.
The problem with phones is that they've stopped being tools and started making us into tools. We need this:
- Phone
- RTF Messaging
- Music
- Camera
- Maps
Tools, not Twitter.
What about some games? Can't beat some good old Pool anywhere anytime 🎱
then buy nokia maybe
Yes! I want a phone with calls and keyboard texting, a camera, and maps. That's it. Flip phones are either limited to T9 texting or run on networks being phased out. Kids' phones, like Gabb, have no maps/navigation. And these minimalist phones are so often the worst of both.
Concur 100% and to add my own boomer preferences, the email functionality plus physical keyboard of the old Blackberry handsets (which will all end up bricked in January next year when they turn off the relevant servers which had a superb privacy focus).
It may be my own weakness or dopamine dependency that makes the iPhone rob all my time: but why does the Calculator almost every fortnight need an essential update from Apple to keep functioning?
Phone, messaging, an “MP3” player, a searchable map (I don’t need GPS if I know the address I’m going to), a half decent camera that will let me take an impromptu snap, a torch and calculator, with a long battery life that won’t shatter if it’s dropped, and doesn’t cost such silly money that it hits you if its stolen or you need to add it to an insurance form. Plus email so I can reply to something urgent on the fly if not at a desk.
@@3ggshe11s buy an iphone 4s
For me an ideal minimalist should do just 3 things:
Phone calls
Texting (WhatsApp)
Music (Spotify or something similar)
Also nice to see that i am not the only one still using an iPhone 6.
LuckyLad Many ppl still use iPhone 6
I know a lot of people still using iPhone 6
Erase Planet my sister still uses a iPhone 5S... 😂
I used my iPhone 5 for over 3 years
LuckyLad you don't need whatsapp to text tho.
I'm a college Student and a few weeks back, my s7 died. I didn't have the money to buy a new phone so I got a Nokia 106. I must say life feels good now I only reply to very important text and when I need to use the internet I uses my laptop. Plus I don't need to charge my phone every day, now after 5 days. I had to detox because I didn't have the money but now I won't switch to a smartphone if someone gave it to me for free.
cheekybaby found the iPhone user.
Nice! I just bought a Nokia 6300 4g. Phone calls, whatsapp, maps and music, maybe some article reading on the web. That’s all I actually need from a phone
i find it funny that he intends to have a detox from social media but then proceeds to download snapchat on a low-end device and expects it to work.
you expect it to be minimal but then proceed to find what isn't provided.
you want a basic phone but then you want a high quality camera.
and then complains that texts are like emails. like that isn't how SMS's started when the nokia 3310 was popular - not threads.
this is such a problematic video. lol.
Jim Francis he was pointing out all kinds of flaws and features to answer viewer questions
Exactly. Minimalist with a bunch of apps. If you need a battery bank, then you're not living up to the average minimalist's standards.
yes,proved the video totally wrong.
Exactly. Lets go minimal by adding all these time waster apps.
It's a review of what each phone can and can't do. Part of reviewing a phone is looking over every nook and cranny, by downloading Snapchat, all he's doing is testing a basic functionality of most phones nowadays as compared to these obviously far more minimalist phones.
Just because he downloads Snapchat and tests for it's functionality, doesn't make his means of shooting this video ironic. I thought it was a very thorough and tasteful review.
Original Blackberry is exactly what you're describing - excellent for texting, can make phone calls, didn't do much else. Blackberry needs to bring out an updated (but not fully smartphoned) Curve 8300! Just make it 4/5G and current build quality standards and presto. Winner.
I used to lovvve my Blackberry!! They have updated phones now but that curve was the best!! Can’t believe it’s been over 10 years since I’ve had one😩. I’ve been team iPhone ever sense 🤦🏾♀️ I would definitely switch back to Blackberry!
Dude i still remember the era where everyone used to chat in BBM
With updated camera and micro sd. would be a winner in my book
Isn't the BlackBerry Classic exactly that?
@@thomase13 so expensive to find though
My life is so polluted with devices. Let me fix that by buying another device.
Hurr but muh holy buuk
Grayscaling the screens
@auggiedoggy It was a joke my dude, now ya better edit it before those people r/whoosh you.
4 of those.
@@izno1996 r/woos
Why haven’t we seen more of this guy?! He’s great.
Agreed!
My thoughts exactly. Great video!
he dumb
Ainu Syaja Hes*
@@briantyk8713 He's*
When I decided to do the minimalist phone thing (because, burned out), I went with an LG 306G that was available through Tracfone.
I still have it and I still use it. The thing is practically bomb-proof! I've dropped it quite a few times and apart from having to pop the back plate back in, it has had _no_ damage (that means no cracked screen). I charge it about every two weeks (sometimes a little less. Depends on usage). It is a feature phone, but it does have a touch screen, and is incredibly easy to navigate, and text with. I find that by not having my nose glued down to a smartphone screen all the time, I'm actually happier and more relaxed. I still do social media and comment online (obvs, since I'm here typing right now) but I do it mostly at home, or in a cafe, while staring up at the *considerably larger* screen of my laptop. And that's just the thing...I already have a great laptop, and also a tablet...I don't _need_ a smartphone.
I'm in _zero_ hurry to get another smartphone. Not only is it nice to not fall back into the "notification bell" conditioning, but I find that I love looking at the world around me.
"Which minimalist phones will help you disconnect from social media and stop being addicted to your phone?"
"Uh, well, this doesn't go on Facebook so I guess this phone is a fail"
Dude is making a minimalist phone review then complains that the phone can’t text or Snapchat. Just call them.
Exactly Americans are so scared of socializing its pathetic
"Smartphone detox" -> proceeds to download Snapchat, Instagram etc. I do understand the need for messaging app and a decent camera, that's it.
hyxal He's testing how uncomfortable is to use daily apps on a 2.5" display.
hyxal Perfect minimal phone would be messaging + spotify + camera + one or two social media apps with horrendous interfaces to limit the usage
They have a messanging app. It's called SMS. :)
@@cjthomp2005 actually SMS means Short Message Service.
EXACTLY!!!
"The small screen makes me avoid all the things I hate about a smartphone, but I want the screen to be larger so I can type." -- this guy
I spent my teenage years with a basic phone, and I only got a smartphone when I was an adult. Honestly, I texted super, super fast on T9 and later on even faster on my slide-out qwerty keyboard. It can take a bit to get used to T9 but trust me, you can definitely text bomb with it. I'm getting the Nokia phone, solidly done with the constant demand for attention from my smartphone, let alone the toxicity and mental health decline I've experienced through using social media.
I'm really thinking about getting the Nokia but maybe I'll hold off until someone develops a new flip phone. I love the nostalgia.
Then get a Moto Razr, for goodness' sake! Why all this fuss with retro imitations?
Alcatel still makes flip phones.
Same
YES! I miss hanging up on someone on a flip of a phone.. like nowawadays you have to pull the phone away from your face and hoping the screen will light back up just to hang up.
Nokia brought back the banana 🍌 phone.
when i was studying i had a windows phone. While many complained about lack of apps, i used it only to communicate and I had no distraction
Davis Jugroop same! I was so productive and creative
Same, I have adhd and at home I only use a 20 buck used cheap smartphone that originally retailed for 60 dollars. It's amazing and the only way I can actually focus 10/10 would recommend
Smartphone detox --> uninstall the social apps or stop the notifications
Roberto Pinotti
you still have access to your browser, which is more than enough to access every virtual distraction known to man.
K- MDN den disable that too... Or don't open it to begin with?!
Adam Rohdin
You could say that for every app on your phone, yet the addiction persists.
K- MDN I guess I don't understand how people can be that addicted to their phone then.
Agree
I think the Jelly is a great idea! The full functionality when you need it, but limiting enough that you only use it when you do need it. PERFECT! More people should use jellys!
Bruh I was faster at texting in T9 than I am with full qwerty
That line towards the end where he says how no one actually answers their phones anymore... That is so true. I have so many friends and family members that when I try to call, they send it to voicemail and *immediately* text me, "Hey, what's up?" It's so infuriating. I called because easier to tell you what's up over a phone call. It's like no one has any regard that you might be driving, or only have a few minutes in between something at work and need to just communicate something quickly.
they're just like zombies
My perfect phone: Calling and texting. A good camera, front and back, with a flash (doubling as a flashlight). Calculator. Clock, world clock, timer, countdown. Navigation (GoogleMaps). Calendar, reminders. Notes. Spotify (for music and podcasts). NO SOCIAL MEDIA, NO INTERNET BROWSER, NO CZcams. Just necessities and something to listen to while working.
*_Please re-do a 2022 version of this. We need this._*
"In this video I'm gonna use minimalist phones to detox! I wanna get away from smartphone features!"
Doesn't even try to detox and the entire video is essentially, 'Wowee i tried to use smartphone features! This phone does smartphone features so bad I don't even want to use smartphone features!"
Maybe I'm missing something but this video somehow managed to simultaneously be directionless as well as contradictory.
I can text with T9 faster than I type. Predictive is amazing
Thanks for your review. I find it so refreshing to listen and watch someone who is as calm as you are..
The ideal minimalist smartphone for me is something that's just in between 4-5 inches and with specs that can only run simple apps and not something like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and games like PUBG mobile. Messenger, Snapchat and the like is still useful and not as distracting as the other apps mentioned above so it's a must have. The phone should also have at least 4,000 mAh battery capacity or higher so you wouldn't have to worry about charging it every night. The cameras should also be decent enough not for compulsive selfies but for very important moments like taking a video of a person assaulting someone ( I mean, helping the person is more important but providing a video for the authorities to see would probably cement the case against the suspect).
I love the light phone
ARM Music It's just stupidly expensive though
Jozef Brodala yes it makes no sense. But i want it tho
Jozef Brodala
For the price, it should come in a custom folio wallet.
I wish TracFone would create something like this.
The nophone is not here? weird...
This video was beautifully shot, you guys make great content!
Okay, I made this same choice though I went with a smarter feature phone in the Sonim XP5s. In your review you mention a couple of phones that have gotten significant updates. Those are the Lightphone and the Punkt. The Lightphone has a number of additional applications like maps that may make it better for you. The Punkt now has the MP02 which has 4G and improved texting to include their own app that interfaces with Signal. It might be worth looking into them if you decide to revisit this subject.
Why not buy a basic android smart phone and just install the messaging apps you need, or uninstall anything non essential from your current iPhone and ignore the fluff? Minimalist phones aren't the answer, showing restraint and discipline is. You're basically driving a car into a tree and complaining that the possibility of doing it was the issue. Just don't drive into the tree.
Sam Lucas thank you!
Or just get a regular smartphone and drop the data package and they you have a great tool that's no longer a distraction
If you're addicted to you're smart phone just deleting apps or using discipline isn't going to help.
yeah thats why i drop my data plan so from 50 bucks a month to 10 was nice plus i keep my wonderful 6s i love it and sure i still love the social media apps that are so addicting but when im out and about i dont have access to them so i learn to limit myself that even when i get home from work and have wifi i kinda just ignore my phone so it defiantly help me kill the addiction i think
Emergencies or going to festivals. Long battery and low cost? Rather loose that than my shiny new phone
I can text using T9 without looking at it. Gimme some time and I can do that again.
I find it useful to be able to look up stuff on the Internet if I find myself curious about what I'm seeing in real life and it's something that would be lost with a minimalist phone.
At the same time, despite having some social media apps on my phone, I mostly ignore the notifications that pop up because I've long since detached myself from that experience, given that I was already not that engaged with it to begin with.
Finally a video I need. Thank you for this video.
This is the nuclear option.
I think a more sensible step would be to set a long password and multi-factor authentication the addictive apps... then uninstall/disable them. This would make accessing them enough of a hassle to put you off, unless you really need them.
You’ll also get the benefits of a modern phone (decent digital keyboard, gps, music, web connected address book etc), plus much improved battery life.
Smartphone functionality without gizmos? It's called Blackberry10 OS.
TheGreekGeeks Yup. That's the best OS.
Exactly
BB OS7 devices are also great. Still have(but not currently using) Curve 9315.
JasnoGT Yeah but in BB10OS you can install any android app you might need..
TheGreekGeeks True but if you're trying to disconnect that would just bring you back into the ecosystem. Depends on the person. :)
Loveeddd this video so much, thank you for the efforts you put up to make this and the conclusion by the end is so relatable. I've tried switching on to them too but it's hard and you can't be making phone calls all the time. Loved the conclusion you made.
The verge never disappoints me
Hey Verge, cool video!
The park looks beautiful!
People use a smartphone & the internet for business, its kind hard these days to go without either.
"business" because if you don't answer a work email while you are at home you'll get fired. 🙃🙃🙃
My understanding is that the Light Phone is not tethered, it can be linked to a primary phone service to allow for call forwarding, or it can be used directly as a primary phone.
I like the topic and arguements, looking at phones from a different perspective (not only specs and etc.)
This fool..... “after downloading a few apps.” Lol
Pro Tip:
Just take your old Motorola razer from your drawer.
Better for the environment and cheaper
Lennart Stahl is it still supported by modern networks? If so, I would rather buy a used flip phone from over a decade ago than own anything with the gimmicky, breakable screens of today, even if it means I have to give up internet entirely.
Mine got stolen 😭😭😭
I think I read an article ( couple of months back) that a company is producing a minimalist phone for teenagers with only text, calling, contacts and few base apps. I don't know how soon it was suppose come out.
that light phone is gorgeous
I would give up smart phones (I've done it before), but I'm a merchant sailor. Being able to use Wifi when I go out of country is more convenient than having to buy sim cards for different regions AND smart phones make it easier to handle stuff like bills and home affairs that I can't really manage as easily on a basic phone
Otherwise, I'm all for a reality where we get away from social media and smart devices. I think we've allowed them to ruin the way we interact with each other AND how we interact with the direct world around us
I shifted to the 3310...its worth every penny
I'm still uses Nokia 3310 until year 2019.
Honestly it's the only one that actually is worth the price. The rest is just overpriced junk.
NokiA 2720 with my MP3 player
Very well said. Sums up my journey with minimal phones. Thanks!
The video is so beautiful to look at and the music is so well done also love contents, thanks
No. Just forget these phones seriously. The problem is, they are trying to solve a new problem with 20 year old tech. It’s funny that the lite phone 2 is adding a few smart phone features......just don’t bother and keep you smartphone, and delete the apps you don’t want to use.
David Jensen Yeah dude thats what I do too. I delete most of my apps if I wanna feel free and as of now I don’t have anything else than CZcams. If someone has something really important to say they can just call me. No reason to ditch your phone altogether
some people are addicted to their social media and need to have no access to it at least on their phones.
5:15 i was hoping so badly he would just throw the phone in the water. Anyone else have that urge? 😄
Zym3x me
Zym3x would you like me to throw your phone into a lake?
corgidog is that supposed to be funny?
Me too felt same.,,😀😀
I imagined a bratty teenager who received the Punkt as a gift, after asking for a smartphone, flinging it off the bridge.
Then after hearing that it only does two things, one of them badly; and that it only uses 2G; for the price, I imagined this guy doing the same thing.
I own a unihertz jelly and I think it's great!
Only downsides are the GPS and the battery. Battery will last long enough if you use it as phone and not as a computer.
I’m looking for Light Phone 2, concept sounds great and it looks good too.
The video quality is great
But I thought it was pronounced something like "nOHkia" and instead of "noKEEa"
i want that jelly thing, but can they make it more functional with better spec and battery life. being bulky is not problem.
The Kin TWOm seems to remedy some of these complaints. It’s still a sucky phone with no front facing camera, but it has a dedicated slide-out keyboard, stuff like a calculator and music player, no extra apps, and it looks kinda smartphone-ish.
The phone isn't the problem. The user is the problem.
Best comment here!
yea, the phone that monitors everything you do and listens to you constantly, is not off even if you turn off, is a problem.
A lot of applications are intentionally designed with addiction in mind.
Yes. People are addicted to food, alcohol and literally everything. So we are the problem
Just use a old smartphone. I'm using since last october a 100$ Huawei smartphone from 2012. Only notes and urgent phone calls. Battery lasts half week. No regrets
It's 2019 and I've tried different ways to "disconnect". The problem with these options is that you lose a lot of the functionality you have on a smartphone. When I want to disconnect I just use an Android Go device. Not sluggish since you're just using basic apps, but the storage really is a bottleneck and discourages long scrolling sessions. Plus they have stuff like Uber and Maps just in case you really do need to use it.
I'm in my early 40s and recently got my hands on the 3310. Texting on T9 was surprisingly OK. The old muscle memory for multiple key presses to spell one word was still there.
Just get a flip phone they’re cheaper
Almost free second hand, as a matter of fact.
Remember being addicted to your minimalist phone's in the early 2000's.
good point. problem lies somewhere else.
Lite phone 2 sounds cool. However, I really love the camera on my phone, being able to whip it out and send a video of my daughter learning to say a new word or crawl to her grandparents super easily. A good, portable camera is the most important feature to me have on a phone. But once you add it and the ability to share your photos and videos it pretty much becomes a smart phone
I don't usually comment, but for this i think this guy should be in more videos explaining and comparing stuff!
Is there an Oculus Go review coming soon ?
Anis LAKHDAR The Verge probably isn't the place for good VR reviews. I know a blog that does all kind of Logical and Good reviews: Jam The Techie
Why can’t the iPhone just support a minimalist skin that you can modify to your liking? Seems like a no brainer for a market that wants to be less connected and could easily be done with something as simple as a toggle in a future OS.
Android can do that.
+phatmanXXL How?
Calling, texting/emails, music player and a decent camera, that's all I need.
$200 samsung can take that
IPhone SE
pumped for the light phone 2!
I've been using the Nokia 3310 as my daily driver phone for a year now and I love it. I will NEVER go back to a smartphone
These are still smartphones, maybe the less functionality to help with losing the addiction to smartphones but the majority pf the drawbacks are still there. The health concers some people have, and ypu will not be 'disconnected' in any way.
Just buy an old phone. Much cheaper.
Ngl the jelly phone is too adorable 😭
2:38 if I heard correctly, you just said 650 hours of standby time. How tho?
The perfect minimalist phone would be with spotify, an awesome camera, SMS, phone calls. And basic apps like calender, calculator etc.
Why is there no case on the iPhone?
I have a basic phone, it texts, calls and receives emails. It can't do much more because it crashes, you can sometimes watch a video or look something up on google but eventually it crashes and you give up. For everything else I have an ipod, so when I'm somewhere with wifi (like at home, coffee shops, supermarkets - my isp has hotspots dotted about too) I can use the apps, otherwise I can use the offline features like podcasts etc. I don't need to be messaging people when I'm out and about anyway. I actually resent having to have a phone at all, I wish people didn't need to call me. I've also got the small phone package my current phone company offers and I'm planning on changing to another to get an even smaller one so it will be even cheaper.
Great ideas for Father’s Day. Yes, my dad is one of those dads that can’t text or use apps.
People will buy anything
And pay a not that insignificant amount for something they could get almost for free.
Never underestimate morons with money to burn...They alsmost elected Hillary for President.
if the light phone 2 will have fb messenger, whatsapp or any text app, it would make much much more sense
You can make a phone, then promote is a "distraction-free" and put something distracting on your next phone.
At $30 for the phone it will make sense.
It's insultingly expensive otherwise.
The JioPhone 2 would be the perfect solution with its qwerty keyboard... unfortunately very difficult to get your hands on for now...
I have the Punkt MP02, just got it about 2 weeks ago, and I LOVE it. I had a smart phone for years, until I realized that all these screens just weren't good for me. It makes me so much happier without my smart phone.
T9 too slow for texting? You just be something special buddy.
Ok, I watched this on my Jelly :)
I'm visually impaired myself and there's just a few things I need my phones to do...I need to be do phone stuff, call and DECENT texting, I need insanity reliable and frankly fast to feel comfortable...and maps....good GPS maps...and the option for larger text ( why do fully sighted people love such little text? )
Senior market is a big market that companies tend to forget about, they usually are looking for something light compact simple with minimal functions.
These phones are just a waste of money. If you want to disconnect yourself just uninstall the app and focus on the things at hand.
Yep. Or get a second hand flip phone for almost free.
Removing the apps won't change anything. The app store is still there.
But with 20 bucks I can get a phone without the distracting apps I can't resist, at least 1 week battery and a small phone that can actually fit in my pockets ( because smartphones nowadays are tablet-size ).
George Pop, what is going to stop a smartphone addict from just buying an iPhone all over again ?
As his bank account still exists.
A true detox involves donating your entire bank balance to a stranger, you can contact me for the details.
I have an Alcatel candy bar that cost me $9 (plus $5 average per month) and sold by TracFone and it's as simple as it can get.
The Jelly is useless. Just buy an iPhone 5.
iphone 5s is the same price
I have the Posh Micro X. I am not fan of huge phones. The keyboard is OBVIOUSLY going to be a problem, so how do you fix that? Easy, considering many of us are used to the T9 physical keys on burner phones, the only logical solution for a small phone like these is to download a T9 keyboard, and make it the default for the system and you resolve your issue. I am considering getting the Jelly though.
Couldn't you hold the phone in the horizontal position to enlarge the keyboard?
Get self control, not a new phone
EXACTLY!
Some people have to go cold turkey in order to destroy the addiction. The willingness to do that is kinda respectable in my opinion.
"iPhone 6, it's a pretty good phone"
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Brandon Baker why have a overpriced piece of glass when you can have a MODERN overpriced piece of glass
The iPhone 6 on iOS 11 is, let's be honest, abysmal.
Great production and not a single word abput apple. Keep it up!
The jelly is adorable
Just get an Apple Watch.
You're a smart guy for using the minimalist phones
Good job man
We dont need 90 percent of those modern bells and whistles
They just clutter your mind
I love the concept of Light Phone. But I agree that if it provides the ability to text as well, it will be the bomb.
The sad thing with these phones is no matter how you want to detox and spend time away from your smartphone, many feature phones connect to 2g/3g, which in many countries has already undergone sunset.