5 ms·

Slightly off topic, are there actually any good (i.e. recommendable) dumb phones? It has been an interesting market to try to navigate and research.

beggi 13y ago
I believe Nokia Asha line of phones is leading the charge in dumb phones in developing countries, Nokia Asha 501 being the newest. It has pretty freaking awesome (especially in countries where access to electricity is a luxury) 48 day standby time (beat that iPhone!). In addition, Asha 501 actually has some kind of support for 3rd party apps.
- devd 13y ago
  I can't wait to get my hands on the 501 - I am pretty excited about this phone.
- zokier 13y ago
  And if you want physical keypad instead of touchscreen, then the 301 is probably the best featurephone available. Similar crazy long battery life, good looking design, and all the features you'd need (aside flashlight). 301 also has 3G connectivity, so I believe it has better reception than pure 2G models such as 501.
rapind 13y ago
I actually spent some time looking into dumb phones a couple years ago. My favorite would be the motofone. It's got an e-ink display, which is great for battery and sunlight, and 2 antennas which is also great if you heaven forbid make actual calls with it. Also, pretty sturdy, small, and light. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Fone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Fone Beware though, if you txt a lot, you won't like it. Not enough real estate for the crazy font they use. There are also these printed cell phones showing up. Do a google for "card phone". Pretty interesting.
- nsmartt 13y ago
  Do you happen to have a recommendation for an e-ink phone that is favorable for SMS?
  - rapind 13y ago
    Other than the F3, nope. There's not a lot out there (supposed to be an android one coming soon though). http://www.eink.com/customer_showcase_cell_phones.html http://www.eink.com/customer_showcase_cell_phones.html You'd think there'd be more considering how ideal it is for outdoor visibility and battery longevity.
- kevinconroy 13y ago
  I had a Motofone (also called F3) for the last 7 years. It started with a two week working battery life. It's a pain to text message on since it only shows 4 or 5 characters on, but it just worked as a reliable phone. Finally switched to an iPhone 5 after it became vital for me to have full Internet access 24/7 for work. If it weren't for that, I'd still have my F3. I love it as much as I love my iPhone 5. You can still find some of them on eBay. I'd offer mine, but I'm keeping it as an emergency (911) phone for my car.
  - devindotcom 13y ago
    F3 to iPhone 5 has to be the biggest jump I've heard of lately. I've been meaning to pick up a dumbphone myself, maybe I'll grab an F3 - I remember when they came out, I was dying for one. It's a bit like buying the... junker of your childhood dreams.
- JimJames 13y ago
  I used this phone for about 6 months. The screen made it hard to navigate the menus and got in the way of even simple things like adding someone to your address book. The battery life was good but it was not significantly longer than the battery life of other dumb phones (since the screen is mostly off it doesn't make a huge difference). Eventually I traded it in for a cheap nokia with an lcd.
- 13y ago
nedwin 13y ago
I lived for the last 2 years with a Nokia 1610. Highly recommend but they discontinued in January and a new model came out with a camera (which was against my minimalist ethos at the time). I ended up breaking the chain and switching back to an iPhone 5 but this app store has got me pining for the simpler days of pure sms and voice based comms.
- nedwin 13y ago
  I'm also pretty frothy on this $12 phone. http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=3040 http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=3040
fsckin 13y ago
Any used Nokia 3310 on eBay will probably outlive you.
SCdF 13y ago
I have a Nokia 1202 that I keep in my emergency drawer, that I take with me hiking and so on. It's very reminiscent of the 3315 in build quality. It talks, it txts, it has snake. What more do you need!
shrikant 13y ago
I actively use a Nokia 100 (as my "family calling" phone - calling and minimal texting -only-). A brand new one cost £18.99, it has a monster battery life, is super light and yet an absolute rock in build quality. I'm sure it has some additional bling like FM radio, a media player or whatever and some games, but I use literally use that phone for nothing other than calling and texting. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0068ZAPB0/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0068ZAPB0/

beggi 13y ago

I believe Nokia Asha line of phones is leading the charge in dumb phones in developing countries, Nokia Asha 501 being the newest. It has pretty freaking awesome (especially in countries where access to electricity is a luxury) 48 day standby time (beat that iPhone!). In addition, Asha 501 actually has some kind of support for 3rd party apps.

devd 13y ago
I can't wait to get my hands on the 501 - I am pretty excited about this phone.
zokier 13y ago
And if you want physical keypad instead of touchscreen, then the 301 is probably the best featurephone available. Similar crazy long battery life, good looking design, and all the features you'd need (aside flashlight). 301 also has 3G connectivity, so I believe it has better reception than pure 2G models such as 501.

rapind 13y ago

I actually spent some time looking into dumb phones a couple years ago. My favorite would be the motofone. It's got an e-ink display, which is great for battery and sunlight, and 2 antennas which is also great if you heaven forbid make actual calls with it. Also, pretty sturdy, small, and light. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Fone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_Fone Beware though, if you txt a lot, you won't like it. Not enough real estate for the crazy font they use. There are also these printed cell phones showing up. Do a google for "card phone". Pretty interesting.

nsmartt 13y ago
Do you happen to have a recommendation for an e-ink phone that is favorable for SMS?
- rapind 13y ago
  Other than the F3, nope. There's not a lot out there (supposed to be an android one coming soon though). http://www.eink.com/customer_showcase_cell_phones.html http://www.eink.com/customer_showcase_cell_phones.html You'd think there'd be more considering how ideal it is for outdoor visibility and battery longevity.
kevinconroy 13y ago
I had a Motofone (also called F3) for the last 7 years. It started with a two week working battery life. It's a pain to text message on since it only shows 4 or 5 characters on, but it just worked as a reliable phone. Finally switched to an iPhone 5 after it became vital for me to have full Internet access 24/7 for work. If it weren't for that, I'd still have my F3. I love it as much as I love my iPhone 5. You can still find some of them on eBay. I'd offer mine, but I'm keeping it as an emergency (911) phone for my car.
- devindotcom 13y ago
  F3 to iPhone 5 has to be the biggest jump I've heard of lately. I've been meaning to pick up a dumbphone myself, maybe I'll grab an F3 - I remember when they came out, I was dying for one. It's a bit like buying the... junker of your childhood dreams.
JimJames 13y ago
I used this phone for about 6 months. The screen made it hard to navigate the menus and got in the way of even simple things like adding someone to your address book. The battery life was good but it was not significantly longer than the battery life of other dumb phones (since the screen is mostly off it doesn't make a huge difference). Eventually I traded it in for a cheap nokia with an lcd.
13y ago

nedwin 13y ago

I lived for the last 2 years with a Nokia 1610. Highly recommend but they discontinued in January and a new model came out with a camera (which was against my minimalist ethos at the time). I ended up breaking the chain and switching back to an iPhone 5 but this app store has got me pining for the simpler days of pure sms and voice based comms.

nedwin 13y ago
I'm also pretty frothy on this $12 phone. http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=3040 http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=3040

fsckin 13y ago

Any used Nokia 3310 on eBay will probably outlive you.

SCdF 13y ago

I have a Nokia 1202 that I keep in my emergency drawer, that I take with me hiking and so on. It's very reminiscent of the 3315 in build quality. It talks, it txts, it has snake. What more do you need!

shrikant 13y ago

I actively use a Nokia 100 (as my "family calling" phone - calling and minimal texting -only-). A brand new one cost £18.99, it has a monster battery life, is super light and yet an absolute rock in build quality. I'm sure it has some additional bling like FM radio, a media player or whatever and some games, but I use literally use that phone for nothing other than calling and texting. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0068ZAPB0/ http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0068ZAPB0/