Weekly poll: do you use a feature phone? Why?
- U
- User935
- 0k$
- 24 Aug 2026
NeonHD, 24 Aug 2026Unfortunately that does not seem to be a thing here in Canada :/At all? Perhaps you should ask your provider about it, show that there's interest and maybe they introduce it at some point. 🤷♂️
I mean, it doesn't seem like it's some rocket science for them to do and as far as I see, here in Germany they all offer it as MultiSIM, MultiCard or similar. With mine, you get one additional SIM "for free" unless you have the cheapest plan and a third one would cost me extra 5 €/month. Some offer up to 10, with some it's 10 but only up to 3 for voice and SMS. In the app I can choose if they should all ring when receiving a phonecall or just the "main" one and which receives SMS. You use data as you will but can have an active call on only one at a given time. Just fyi if you're wondering how it works.
Also, I'm sure you can get an LTE smartwatch that shares your number. I don't believe that's technically any different for the provider so except for greed, no reason for the option to not exist.
- NeonHD
- 6Fi
- 24 Aug 2026
User935, 09 Aug 2026Does your carrier not have a "multi-SIM" option? ... moreUnfortunately that does not seem to be a thing here in Canada :/
- AngelWithHorns
- L1p
- 16 Aug 2026
"potato4k Kx7 09 Aug 2026
There’s really no reason to use a feature phone today, unless you’re a snob technocrat or a YouTuber doing it for content. One can simply use an iPhone or Android phone without logging into ann Apple or Google account, nor installing any apps. Voila, a “feature” phone that is much easier to use, have better camera and microphones, and can last for days as well"
Amen!
- k
- kcm
- SH7
- 12 Aug 2026
if you are not reading and want a long battery life you can stream both from the device or the internet why not
- ?
- Anonymous
- Hkt
- 11 Aug 2026
Cz dumbphone dont watch you back :) plus it's reliable not fragile , more focus on real life , after using it i realised listening to music from microsd is less anxious seem more peaceful something in control . Rn every basic phone come with unisoc and mocor os . So I don't know if it's safe . I don't trust Kai os it's same as android n ios imo .
Some model come with nucleos os though .
I bought one with wifi and 4g . But its mocor os but very basic .
- U
- User935
- 0k$
- 11 Aug 2026
Anonymous, 10 Aug 2026You get the feature phone because you think you are special... more"You get the feature phone because you think you are special and different, aka you're a hipster, we get it."
You mean "you got a feature phone" or what? Which I obviously don't. Your misunderstanding it all would suggest you've got some issues with reading comprehension, poor attention span too? Caused by always doomscrolling and watching video so no time to read a couple of pages of a book now and then?
"to get inspiration"
I prefer to use my own imagination in the things I do; something most people nowadays no longer can due to it being replaced by constant stimulation from algorithms.
"for example, you think a physical keyboard is faster than swipe texting"
I don't think it, I know it. Had a discussion about Swype and physical keyboards here, feel free to read: https://www.gsmarena.com/newscomm-73304.php
Given the fact that 99 % of people are incapable of the very simple touch typing on a PC keyboard but stare at it like it's the most interesting thing they've ever seen 🤣, it's no wonder most can't understand the advantage of a physical keyboard on a phone either 🤣
"The fact you actually care about how your phone looks further validates that point. Most people just see their phones as tools, or a neat little piece of technology."
Another obvious example of reading comprehension struggles, mixed with a bit of empty phrases to try and sound smart. Obviously (from the message you quoted), my problem is that phones nowadays are poor tools. Poor communication device, poor video device with that stupid hole in the middle of the screen 🤣, poor audio player given the lack of a 3,5 mm jack, poor cameras (as in severely overpriced for the poor capabilities, those Ultras etc., a basic camera on a phone is of course occasionally useful, but we've had that for a quarter of a century now), etc. No progress for the past decade, just ever rising prices for the same old; no variety of forms, sizes like we had until 10-15 years ago... And obviously the point of different forms and sizes isn't so that I look different, but so that every person can find what they like best. Not everyone is simply happy with what their favorite manufacturer and TikToker say they should want.
Another thing anyone who can read should be able to notice is that I say I'd personally like a slider. If I wanted people to notice I'm "different" or whatever, I obviously wouldn't want something that most of the time doesn't look different at all. 🤦♂️
Next time try reading (with comprehension, preferably) first and then writing. Might work out better for you.
- ?
- Anonymous
- 837
- 11 Aug 2026
I'm curious but not interested right now. Todays feature phone are lesser than those from past. I grew up in that era and these devices could put some of today's Androids to shame, let alone feature phones right now. I've bought Nokia 235 two years ago and it really felt like all those NOKLA knockoffs. Maybe, it is.
- ?
- Anonymous
- 3gS
- 11 Aug 2026
AngryLithuanian, 10 Aug 2026"the goal is to cure or prevent digital addiction that... moreThere's life outside social networks and being online all time even if seems it's not the case. Other than that, dumbphones have the advantage of autonomy. Ten days on a single charge in a Nokia 1616, sometimes even more if usage is minimum.
- ?
- Anonymous
- XVE
- 11 Aug 2026
Anonymous, 10 Aug 2026You wasted your time to write this long comment. Go figure. I agree with you
Today is 2026
Smartphone is a must
He's just the 1% that refuse to moved on
- ?
- Anonymous
- Hkt
- 10 Aug 2026
Cz dumbphone dont watch you back :) plus it's reliable not fragile , more focus on real life , after using it i realised listening to music from microsd is less anxious seem more peaceful something in control . Rn every basic phone come with unisoc and mocor os . So I don't know if it's safe . I don't trust Kai os it's same as android n ios imo .
Some model come with nucleos os though .
I bought one with wifi and 4g . But its mocor os but very basic .
- ?
- Anonymous
- 099
- 10 Aug 2026
User935, 10 Aug 2026Well, the fact you got so triggered (by a comment which was... moreYou wasted your time to write this long comment. Go figure.
- ?
- Anonymous
- bas
- 10 Aug 2026
User935, 10 Aug 2026Well, the fact you got so triggered (by a comment which was... moreYou get the feature phone because you think you are special and different, aka you're a hipster, we get it.
The fact that you think phones are only used for doomscolling and slop just shows you're either willingly ignorant, or intentionally misconstruing to make yourself feel better. Yes, you can curate your algorithm, for example I have mine set so I only get cooking advice and recipes, and I use the "heckin slop doomscrolling" apps to get inspiration on what to make next. It's hard to tell if you just have no idea of the capabilities of a phone, for example, you think a physical keyboard is faster than swipe texting, which shows you either don't know how to swipe text, or again, you're intentionally pushing your false confirmation biases.
The fact you actually care about how your phone looks further validates that point. Most people just see their phones as tools, or a neat little piece of technology. Some people add extra flair via stickers and charms. But you? You think people are perceiving you by the design of the phone lmao. You realize how vain that is right? It's like thinking that people care about what kind of car you're driving, this might come as a surprise to you, but most people don't care, the ones that do, only do so out of insecurity. Do you act as performative as you are now? Going around making fake texts and calls so people can look at your phone and hope someone asks you about it? lmao.
So please, stop pretending like you're shilling this e-waste as some virtuous preaching to get addicts off their devices. The only way to control yourself from consuming mindless entertainment is to simply have an ounce of self-control, not push some garbage vanity project that will be thrown away once the fad dies down
- U
- User935
- 0k$
- 10 Aug 2026
GAMIR3DH, 09 Aug 2026Oh, sorry that you don't have self-control.
I'm ... moreWell, the fact you got so triggered (by a comment which was in no way personal) to reply with infantile "sorry that you don't have self-control" just makes it very obvious you are indeed as addicted to your phone as most. 🤷♂️ At least you seem to be somewhat aware of it if using its babysitting features, so you might be on the path to recovery. 👏
That you think you're "self-aware" of the time you spend but talk about how your "algorithm is more curated than the average" tells me you unfortunately have some more work to do, but you'll get there! 💪
I've got no algorithm other than the one in my head, I only ever open YouTube (on the PC, TV or phone) if there's a very specific topic I need info about and would benefit from a video. Which is so rare (because obviously just skimming through a textual article and skipping to the part I need is way faster than watching a 20 minute video for 10 seconds of useful info) that it didn't happen once that I open YT for the first time since installing it and it won't let me watch anything 'cause my app is "no longer supported". 🤣 Very few people on that platform that do something or have something interesting enough to say that I'd watch their content for more than a couple of minutes, happens once or twice a year.
Why wouldn't I change hardware completely? The smartphones of 2026 have the dumbest most boring form they've ever had, huge slabs fit for nothing but mindless consumption of crap. Aren't comfortable to hold on the ear to have a phonecall (which I don't mind a lot), have no keyboard to be able to properly communicate with text (this I do), just keep on getting larger and larger screens to satisfy mindless drones addicted to YT, TikToks and whatever so aren't even comfortable to hold in the hand(s) any more... I much more mind the idiotic form of today's phones than their capabilities one can even occasionally benefit from. 🤣 Plus the fact that there's zero imagination from any company; compared to the diversity of sizes, form factors etc. we had up to 10-15 years ago, the smartphone market today is just pathetic, hundreds of models and all exactly the same. Dumbphones are indeed the more exciting alternative. 🤣 Unfortunately I do need my banking app and a couple of other things so I won't switch completely (yet), but I envy the people who can do that.
Maybe I take a look at the Clicks Communicator when it comes to the market, seems rather promising, though personally I'd prefer a slider like we had back in the day. Would perhaps also take a look at a small smartphone with a 3x4 keypad.
- ?
- Anonymous
- u14
- 10 Aug 2026
Anonymous, 09 Aug 2026i used a sony ericsson j10i as my primary phone till 2023 (... more++ i wish there is a device that that is similar in operation, look and feel to these era phones, that can be connected to a smart phone, and act as a tactile user interface to a smartphone. like a smart watch, through this i can do the phone part of the smart phone + receive notifications/messages and do basic interactions. also it should have a sd card slot+headphone jack and should act as a high quality music player
- D
- David
- 0R@
- 10 Aug 2026
To me a 'Feature Phone' is one that has some sort of modern app functionality (WhatsApp etc) but a 'Dumb Phone' has no apps which are either very cheap new phones or classic 2G era phones.
- M
- Minu
- ter
- 10 Aug 2026
GAMIR3DH, 09 Aug 2026Oh, sorry that you don't have self-control. I'm ... moreOr disabling all kinds of tracking is more ideal, but still, all ads shown on YouTube are both relevant and irrelevant to your search history and overall digital footprint, whether you enjoy it or not.
- M
- Minu
- ter
- 10 Aug 2026
Sam N8 808 owner, 10 Aug 2026For me, the perfect solution is a feature phone that has:- ... moreI think even my Nokia 8 fits all criteria mentioned, and it's the screen aspect ratio that suggests whether it's a modern smartphone or not. Besides, 4K is overkill on Symbian, and so is taking photos at full resolution, so a smartphone older than a decade may fit your criteria seamlessly.
- M
- Minu
- ter
- 10 Aug 2026
YUKI93, 09 Aug 2026How do you define "feature phone"? If "featu... moreSince some of the phones shown in the photo (though dummies) are obsolete smartphones, I think even Windows Phones do count. If it's a feature phone-exclusive platform (Unisoc Mocor, PureOS or MRE), then those are dumbphones by definition and intentionally shouldn't support smartphone facilities.
- ?
- Anonymous
- X@K
- 10 Aug 2026
Sam N8 808 owner, 10 Aug 2026It's an illusion but not completely, a feature phone d... moreonly privacy. what about security?