Tired of your smartphone? This ‘Dumb Phone’ only calls, texts
Having a cell phone is pretty much a way of life nowadays, and while it can be a lifesaver in an emergency, a smartphone can also be a major distraction and waste of time.
That’s where a “dumb phone” by a company called Light comes in. The Light Phone 2 is specifically made for anyone wanting to break away from having a smartphone.
The device only handles the basics: calls, texts, setting alarms and some other simple functions.
No apps, Wi-Fi or Instagram here, folks! It’s just enough of a phone to make sure your friends and family can reach you and that you stay safe in the event of an emergency.
Benefits Of A Dumb Phone
“By allowing you to leave behind your smartphone, it encourages you to spend quality time doing the things you love the most, free of distraction,” the company wrote on its Indiegogo page.
This is the second model of the Light phone, with the original only making phone calls. That phone worked alongside your smartphone, but the latest model is a standalone phone for those wanting to seriously ditch their smartphone for good.
After selling more than 10,000 of the original models, the company has come up with the new phone, saying it believes in the power of “going light” more now than ever before.
“Disconnecting is profound in a time when we have become so accustomed to our existence only through hyper-connectivity,” the company said.
The Light Phone 2 has 4G LTE connectivity, a USB-C charging port and a headphone jack. It is only about the size of a credit card, making it perfect for anyone who thinks bigger isn’t always better. The screen has a black and white matte e-ink display.
How To Get One
During the course of the Indiegogo campaign, supporters could pre-order the Light Phone 2 through the crowdfunding site for $300, which is $100 less than the price the phone is expected to retail for once it’s released. About 10,733 backers pledged more than $3 million to make the Light Phone 2 a reality.
Shipments are imminent; the company’s latest update, dated August 15, 2019, says that backers should now be getting confirmation emails, with shipments set to take place between the end of August and into October. There is no word yet on how others may get their hands on the Light Phone 2.
For now, you can take steps to make your smartphone less, well, smart. Start by deleting apps you don’t need, like Facebook, and making a note of every time you reach for your phone. When you find yourself grabbing your phone for no reason other than boredom, put it down and do something more productive.
If you do realize you rely on your phone too much, know you’re far from alone. A 2016 study found that we touch our phones 2,617 times per day, while a 2015 study showed that Americans collectively check their phones 8 billion times per day!
Interested In A Digital Detox?
In September 2017, I took a 10-day digital detox, which I wrote about for Simplemost.
If you’d like to do one yourself, the No. 1 bit of advice I have to share is to delete the apps you don’t want to use. (Bonus: I found that deleting the Facebook app does indeed save your battery.) I incorporated stress-reducing practices, like yoga, in place of the time I’d previously spent digitally connected in order to help me move through the periods where I was tempted to cave.
In the end, I had a clearer head, less fatigue and the realization that I could slow down and everything would be OK. When I did return to my digital world after 10 days, I found that my usage felt more in control.
With all the online data we have the potential to explore at every second of the day, it definitely seems like a “dumb phone” couldn’t come at a better time!
Which apps would you miss most if you switched to a less capable device?