Best smart “dumb phone”

Just turn your smart phone into a brick that makes calls. Here's what I did with my iPhone SE 2020:

Matte screen protector to reduce the glossy look of the screen. White point reduction set to 100%. Color scheme set to grayscale (this all makes my phone seem ALMOST like a paper white device).

Lock Screen is totally black with clock and date only. Font set to dim gray color.
Removed biometric security features and implemented password-only.

Wallpaper totally black to match the color of the app bar at the bottom of the screen.

Deleted all apps except for the very very very bare necessities. Use laptop for anything other than phone calls and necessary messaging.

No widgets. Nothing on widget screen when you swipe right from Home Screen.

Only have phone and settings app on Home Screen. I search for anything else I might need, and the search screen is totally blank. Anything worthy of being on my Home Screen is given a uniform icon through the Shortcuts app, so all apps on my home screen look similar (simple and gray). None of them stand out.

Control center stripped down to flashlight and low battery mode.

iMessage turned off. Wifi, data, turned off. Phone kept in low battery mode. My wife likes to be able to track me, so we put an Apple AirTag on my car keys that she can track from her phone. This setup saves a TON of battery power. I charge my phone maybe once every other day now.

Message sounds turned off. No vibration. I view messages on Lock Screen/Notification Center.

Basic amazfit bip smart watch connected via bluetooth so that I can parse messages and calls without having to pick up my phone. I leave my phone in a basket in the middle of my house so that the watch can reach it through bluetooth. I also like to keep my phone in a bag or even just leave it in my car when I go out.

Seven blank screens between Home Screen and App Library (because App Library, while useful, is very distracting to me). I just put a shortcut with solid black coloring on each page so that it looks like nothing is there.

Safari deactivated.

Of course all of the basics, like no red notification dots anywhere, no banner notifications, all notifications turned off except for those that I truly truly need (phone).

Planning on ditching Reminders and Notes app and using paper notebook and paper planner instead.

So basically a brick that can make calls. I like this because if I truly need to, I can undo all of these things and give my phone more functionality (like when I travel), but in order to do so I have to be VERY intentional and put a lot of work into get it functional again.

I noticed that I started using my laptop more for distractions now. But it's just not as user friendly as a phone, so it's more difficult to get sucked in. I've also started writing down everything that I want to search or do on my laptop, and I'll do them all at once in the morning or evening instead of running to open my laptop every time I get the urge to search or do something.

I believe there’s a phone called “light phone” which is a minimalist smartphone. AFAIK, it’s pretty pricey for why it is but has very limited features as you described wanting.

• iPhone 6: new enough to avoid 3G deprecation, but old enough that it can’t update past iOS 12; so fewer apps still work

• iPhone 6S and iPhone SE (2016): same as above, but a little newer (iOS 15)

As a bonus, all these models have a headphone jack for audio playback

Ask r/dumbphones

You don't need a dumb phone for that, just don't install social media. I run an IPhone with only message apps installed. Works pretty well, plus you can get map functionality, and Spotify.

Delete the apps via the pc command line. Forgot its name but I did it

A bit of a different approach but I love using my Apple Watch as a phone replacement lately. It can call, I get notifications and can answered to text (dictating works really well). I can also listen to podcasts and use apps like maps to navigate around and I even have my credit card with me. I was against an Apple Watch for the longest time because I didn’t like the idea of having yet another screen on me - replacing my phone with it is a game changer though. It’s really nice going out without a phone and still not worrying about missing an important call!

I use iphone and still got rid of most social media. Sometimes its hard because im 5000 miles on another continent away from friends and family but im in the NOW. If they want something they can call

Any smartphone really. Just don't install social media? It really is that easy. Get rid of social media for 4 weeks straight, and you won't look back.

CAT S22

I LOVED my BlackBerry passport. It runs on Android but a lot of apps are not supported or don’t run well and you can use some self control to not actually download them in the first place. The build in keyboard feels so nice!

Android user here, I use Lawnchair Launcher. It allows me to hide all my apps, so my app drawer is empty. If I want an app I have to search for it. No widgets.

Cat S22. Has android go as the OS. Crush proof, waterproof, flip phone. Any app that requires serious processing power is such a pain in the ass you end up not even bothering. Otherwise, just use any smartphone and disable whatever you don't feel like using.

To be honest I think you are better off getting a good newish iPhone . Just stick all the apps in a folder .

The reason I say this is the apps you want often require a modern OS , and it’s more secure eg: banking

Just get a phone and don’t install social media?

Light phone

The solution I found is -> take a smart phone (Android) and just make it however dumb you want it yourself:

1. Downloaded all the essential apps I wanted on my phone (maps, banking apps, whatsapp, Uber, AirBnB, etc.)

2. Deleted all the rest I saw as a distraction (web browser, social media apps, games,...)

3. Deleted both the galaxy and google playstore through my computer using debloater software (more info below), so you're not tempted in redownloading the apps.

Result: I still have a very practical phone and my screen time has gone down with 80% without any inconvenience, effort or discipline. Although I have to say, at times, I'm now scrolling more randomly through my own old pictures or messaging people more through whatsapp or that kinda stuff..
Still feels like a huge win for me.

Upsides:

• You don't need a new 'dumb' phone or any monthly subscription for a parental blocking app.

• customize your phone to however dumb/smart you want yourself.

Downsides:

• The process is reversible (also upside of course), although the barrier to redownload the app stores and junk apps is higher (you also need you computer), I imagine some people might get tempted to still do it.

• Once in a while you have to upgrade apps, so you have to reinstall the app store through your computer, upgrade it and uninstall the app store again.

• Some apps (not that many) or subscriptions don't work if you don't have the app store installed.

• In case you uninstall all web browsers: some apps require a web browser to function properly.

How to install and use debloater for Android:
https://github.com/0x192/universal-android-debloater

Hope this can be helpful to some.