Should You Get a Dumbphone? 

Written By Carol Elamparo

Everything you need to know about this technology trend

What is a Dumbphone? 

Also referred to as feature phones, dumbphones are the opposite of smartphones. These devices help people break free from the addictive nature of smartphones. Gen Z and Millennials are the main adopters of this trend, opting for the phones that were popular before the capabilities of smartphones were developed. 

In general, dumbphones provide basic telephone capabilities, calling and texting. Some have extra features like high-quality cameras, hotspot capabilities, GPS, and more. As long as you can’t get caught doom-scrolling, it counts as a dumbphone.

The Benefits of Dumbphones

The goal of dumbphones is to remove the temptations and risks associated with a smartphone. This includes the negative mental health consequences of social media (addiction, comparison, FOMO, doom-scrolling, etc.), safety concerns, distractions, and more. 

Let’s start with mental health. By now research has shared that social media can have negative consequences including anxiety, depression, cutting into sleep, and more. The desire to remove the temptation comes from younger generations wishing to make a change and concerned parents. By not being able to log into social media, people can protect their mental health and use that time for healthier pursuits. 

Safety is largely a concern driven by parents navigating the vast Internet with their children. By removing some of the major capabilities of a smartphone, parents can protect their children from potentially harmful messaging and content. 

Now for distractions. Being reachable is great in theory, but it can be hard on your productivity. We’ve all been in the zone at work or school when a notification lights up our phone screen and pulls our focus. Now we can either respond or ignore it, but the damage is already done. More on productivity and social media in this previous blog! 

The reasons to adopt dumbphones are many, but these are some of the major trends. 

What Type of Dumbphone Should You Buy? 

While some are switching their numbers to phones they held onto from the early 2000s, others buy brand-new dumbphones from companies offering the option. 

Ready to give it a try? Here are some of the dumbphones to consider: 


Not ready to make the full switch? Unpluq is a cool tech option to try! It’s a physical lock that allows you to lock and unlock your phone as necessary.

Making Your Smartphone Into a Dumbphone

If a permanent change just isn’t for you, you can always turn your smartphone dumb! 

For iPhone users, it’s as simple as downloading the app, Dumb Phone. Once downloaded, it creates a text-based launch menu for only your essential apps while hiding everything else. Try a free 7-day trial before committing to $3/month or $25 for a lifetime! 

For those who use Androids, check out the Minimalist Phone app. Minimalist Phone is a launcher, meaning it replaces most of your phone’s interface. Following the setup, you’ll be left with a plain, dark interface, allowing you to swipe up to search, swipe down for notifications, and swipe left to see your apps. Enjoy a 7-day trial before paying $5/month or $30 for a lifetime. 

And, of course, you always have the option to delete certain apps, set app time limits, and utilize your Do Not Disturb function. 

Carol Elamparo
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