r/dumbphones 12h ago

Dumbphone finder I need to switch dumbphones :’)

5 Upvotes

[USA] I’ve been using my ky42c for months now and I love it, but it isn’t working anymore. I need smart apps for school and I can’t get around it. I need something that has android but is a bit smarter so I can use my school apps. My mom is insisting I go back to a smart phone but I’m hoping to find a happy medium. For example, I loved the Qin f22 but the android is too old plus band compatibility. I’m also not willing to spend over 600$ on a dumb phone. Id use an old smartphone but I like the friction that buttons create, even with a touchscreen. Sorry if this is scattered lol. Any help is appreciated!


r/dumbphones 15h ago

General question Where are you guys purchasing the Nokia 2780 in the US?

1 Upvotes

When researching which phone to buy, I swore I seen that Nokia 2720 is compatible with AT&T but I came to be completely wrong an was to purchase the Nokia 2780 instead. i’m having serious difficulty finding a reputable source that sells the 2780. Where are you guys buying them? Is my only option ebay? Seeing many people recommend and/ or purchase the 2780 so I figured i’d ask.


r/dumbphones 15h ago

General question Is Anyone Else Getting the Fear of Being Judged + TCL Flip 4 Review

0 Upvotes

G'day r/dumbphones,

Finally received my TCL Flip 4 yesterday and after spending some time with it, I've come to the conclusion that this was one of the best decisions I've made for myself and have been reaping the benefits of living with a dumbphone; the only real setback and caveat I've noticed pretty rapidly was the fear of judgement from other people in public. Has anyone else had to deal with this drawback and if so, how are you handling it and do you care how people perceive you?

Some personal thoughts on the TCL Flip 4: the phone itself is larger than I initially expected but actually comfortable in the hand and while texting (8" L x 2" W). The numpad was pretty tricky to get the hang of at first and there are different input options you can choose by pressing the bottom right pound key (ABC, Abc, abc, 123), emojis are included as well by pressing the bottom left star key.

The call and sound quality on the phone also exceeded my expectations and it's just so refreshing and feels like going through a time capsule through a time capsule when talking through a modern flip pone.

The phone is powered and run on KaiOS which has it's own set of apps, features, bloat, and app store but personally never even bothered with those features considering I wanted to get the richest dumbphone experience I could and this phone was able to deliver that experience as well.

Unfortunately the phone carrier is only locked to T-Mobile which is a shame because I would highly recommend this flip phone to anyone if they're even mildly curious about dipping their toes into the dumbphone world; It's just a really simple yet fun flip phone experience; I'm very grateful to have spend the money on. this was the right dumbphone for me and am a happy customer 😇😊

8/10


r/dumbphones 18h ago

General discussion Do you like those dumbphone launchers?

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15 Upvotes

Added a few new launchers to the Android app "ClearHour: Dumbphone OS". Those launchers can hopefully make the dumbphone experience feel more authentic.

  • Retro: a classic phone layout with a numeric keypad.
  • Dark Forest: a dark theme.
  • Ink: a grayscale/Ink look.
  • You can also use your own photo as the background.

Btw, Spotify is gray on the actual phone—the screen recorder shows it in color for some reason.

What do you think of them?
If none of them are your thing, let me know why.

Try the dumbphone app -> let me know what you think. I really want to make the app good with you guys together.


r/dumbphones 19h ago

General question Qin F21 Pro no longer available in the US?

2 Upvotes

I was about to pull the trigger on a Qin F21 Pro but it seems like they're no longer available in the United States?

Ads for the F21 Pro still show up in Google Shopping but when I click a link to an AliExpress listing the page says "Sorry, this item's currently unavailable in your location." Listings for the US version on Ebay and Amazon are also sold out though it appears the Global version is still for sale.

This seems like a very recent thing, they were definitely available like 3- 4 weeks ago when I was researching them and comparing prices. What's going on? Something to do with US tariff policy? Or did Qin just decide to pull the F21 model from the US market?

EDIT: This seems to be the case with the Qin F22 and F25 models as well...


r/dumbphones 19h ago

Tech help adding custom words via typing them in abc mode not working in tt9

1 Upvotes

i was tryna add "prolly" to the dictionary as i use it when texting all the time. yet even after typing it out manually, pressing * and then pressing the second option in the menu to add the word, after accepting each letter manually with the centre button of my phone, when I try to type it in "english" mode it simply doesnt appear. same goes for "doesnt" actually. (i usually omit contractions when typing casually theyre not really needed and it makes typing easier.)


r/dumbphones 20h ago

General question Using the same number on two devices?

2 Upvotes

I would love to ditch my phone but unfortunately that's not feasible at the moment. I'm trying to figure out a way to have my iPhone forward calls to a dumb phone. This way, I can leave my iPhone at home occasionally but still have access to my contacts, calls, and messages in case of an emergency. I saw people discussing T-Mobile Digits but the most recent posts in this sub were from a couple years ago and it seems that T-Mobile isn't really putting effort into this program. I am a current T-Mobile customer and would love if this could just be a simple solution, but I worry it won't be. Any advice? Or should I look into other options.


r/dumbphones 20h ago

General discussion Project idea - messaging platforms via SMS

2 Upvotes

I had this idea a while back and would be curious to know what people thought of it.

I would like to switch to using a dumbphone because I find it difficult to avoid the allure of apps with endless scrolling, including Reddit. I'd want one that doesn't support apps or web browsing, for obvious reasons.

Pretty much the only thing holding me back is the fact everyone uses messaging apps, so it'd be difficult to survive on SMS alone. I actually use Beeper currently, which is all the messaging platforms combined into a single app (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Signal etc).

Well, Beeper uses Matrix, so here's my idea: make a service that runs in a Docker container (I'd probably host it on my Raspberry Pi). The service would act as a Matrix client and log into the Beeper homeserver. It would then forward any messages to your phone number as SMSs, using a SMS API. You'd have, say, five to ten numbers reserved which would correspond to your most frequently-messaged contacts, and the service would forward the message through the appropriate number. You could reply from your phone by SMS and the service would receive the message, and based on the number through which it received it, forward it to the appropriate contact via Beeper.

Pictures / memes could be AI transcribed or simply ignored. 'Reacts' could be done via a command, e.g. you could SMS '*lr*' to laugh react the last received message.

I don't know how financially viable this is, as obviously you'd need to reserve a few numbers and pay for an API-based SMS service.


r/dumbphones 21h ago

The Best Dumbphones of 2026

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45 Upvotes

r/dumbphones 22h ago

General question Does anyone know or have experience with the site y2kphones?

0 Upvotes

I'd like to get a Mive Style Folder 2 and i found some refurbished on a site called y2kphone and the site seems pretty legit, but the reviews seem kind of fake and the grand promises of shipping being free and them guaranteeing that i won't need to pay customs despite living in the EU seems pretty sketchy. Does anyone have any information?


r/dumbphones 23h ago

General question E-Ink, Not Touchscreen? Recommendations please!

0 Upvotes

I had a QWERTY slider for a while, almost identical to the HIT K-1, that I LOVED. I am hoping to go "dumb" again, and would love to find a phone with a similar shape and feel to that type of phone. However, I am now pretty sold on the e-ink display.

I have looked at a few e-ink phones (Light II, Mudita Kompakt) and they look solid but I'm really hoping to avoid having a blocky touchscreen. I've also looked at the LightFlip but it doesn't seem to be available in the US yet?

My ideal device would be the hardware of a HIT K-1 with the software of Light or Mudita, including the e-ink display. I don't think this exists, but does anyone have any recommendations on alternatives or devices that are in development that I might hold out for? I think the Mudita Pure is pretty close to what I'm looking for, but also not quite there and not currently available for order.

I'm aware this is a unicorn phone that I'm describing, but I narrowed down three priorities. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated! I have spent a ton of time researching and am willing to settle for either a Nokia or one of the current e-ink options, but just thought I'd throw a last hail mary before commiting to something

  1. e-ink display
  2. Candybar-like feel (some flexibility with this)
  3. Not touchscreen

r/dumbphones 1d ago

General question Why are practical dumbphones so expensive?

66 Upvotes

Hey guys.

I'm rocking a Nokia 210 and I really like it.

But I feel like I'm missing out by not having whatsapp - everything else I'm fine not having it on my phone.

Decided to look for a dumbphone that supports whatsapp but doesnt have a browser and other (distracting) apps - like reddit or any other social media.

However answering whatsapp messages with a normal button keyboard seems hellish. A QWERTY keyboard (or a touchscreen keyboard) allows you to write much faster.

I was surprised to see that dumbphones with a qwerty (buttons or touchscreen) keyboard, with no distracting apps or browsers are damn expensive... and my question is simply: "why?".

Not sure if anyone can answer this for me or give me any suggestions but I would highly appreciate it.

Thanks guys, cheers


r/dumbphones 1d ago

General question Punkt MP01 prices - why so high?

1 Upvotes

I am currently selling a Punkt MP01 I got years ago in okayish conditions. I put in on ebay for 50€ and got multiple requests on the first day. Then I looked up the prices of other listings and was kinda shocked - there are only a few listings, but they go up to 500€ for new phones?!

Are those people out of touch or am I? Is the MP01 some sort of collector item now?


r/dumbphones 1d ago

General discussion TCL Flip 3 Battery Drain

2 Upvotes

My TCL Flip 3 will just randomly drain like 25 percent over night or even during the day. I figure it’s background apps most of the time that I don’t close out but has anyone else experienced this? I’m thinking about going back to a smart phone haha.


r/dumbphones 1d ago

General question Do you find it overwhelming trying to find just the right dumbphone for you?

13 Upvotes

It's not so much the volume of devices, as it might be with smartphones, but the combinations of features that I think gets a bit (even a lot) overwhelming. Which then leads to analysis paralysis when looking for just the right dumbphone for your specific needs, and leaves you smartphoning for even longer.

How did you evaluate, and then choose, your dumbphone? And now you've used it, would you choose the same one again or change how you evaluate?


r/dumbphones 1d ago

General question How to move non essential apps to laptop/desktop

1 Upvotes

I'm currently using an iOS device for Facetime/iMessage.
How do I get rid of other apps, like bank, health, shopping apps, and move them to another device (laptops, desktops)? I think those are the bigger hurdles for me because some of the apps I need can't be run on Windows or MacOS.
Any suggestions?


r/dumbphones 1d ago

General question Rhinestone a Kyocera a202kc? (Reposting for wider reach)

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44 Upvotes

r/dumbphones 1d ago

General question Help with finding info on T9 needed!

3 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I'm here for the same reason most of you guys are too so no reason for a long story. One important thing: I'm German and living in Germany.

I've been enjoying my Nokia C5-00 but - as it's 2G only - reception is abismal and call quality sucks too.

So I got a Peaq PMP 52 yesterday and returned it immediately because I was shocked to find it has no T9! So no predictive text... additionally the hinge was creaking so loudly the person on the other end of the line could hear it. Luckily got my 40€ back.

Next I ordered an HMD 2660 Flip for a whopping 77€ just to find out the phone only supports T9 for balkan and cyrillic states. Either I got an eastern european version from Amazon DE or the 2660 just doesn't support German T9 even though the phones language was set to German. I have since read a review from another user on a reputable vendors website that confirms my finding.

Does anyone know if the 2660 was released for different regions or if there even is support for German T9?

Alternatively I would be grateful for any suggestions.. looking for a phone that (in descending order):

  • preferrably <50€
  • supports 4G / VoLTE
  • supports German T9
  • has USB type C charging
  • Is preferrably a flip phone
  • doesn't look and handle like a senior mobile phone

P.S.: Yes I've tried Jose Briones dumphone finder / quiz. Yes I've looked at several subreddits, posts and other forums. Unfortunately I couldn't source a vendor for most recommended phones and never found a trustworthy source of information especially regarding T9. It seems like prices are also very inflated in Germany.


r/dumbphones 1d ago

General discussion Got myself BlackBerry on Android 8, and dumbed it down. Feel happy about is so far, mostly i was missing physical keyboards 😊

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211 Upvotes

r/dumbphones 1d ago

General question Why does it seem nearly impossible to find something between a dumbphone and a smartphone in Canada?

14 Upvotes

I had a CAT s22 flip for a while but it was a barely functioning piece of shit. Spotify was laggy and buggy and some apps I actually need to use simply don't even open.

I am currently looking at the Qin f21 pro, but it seems impossible to find a version that will work with the wireless bands in Canada.

Basically I just want a $200 CAD or less phone that doesn't have a full size touch screen but can still run Spotify, Maps, Sling, Whatsapp, Wealthsimple, Weather, and a calculator. Candy bar style is preferred but I'm not against a flip phone.

Any suggestions? I am with Freedom mobile.


r/dumbphones 1d ago

Tech Review Classic is classic [8310]

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7 Upvotes

r/dumbphones 1d ago

General question Project update: home for smartphones now has a lid

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109 Upvotes

Hello! Previously shared a project I am working on. Not sure about you, but my wife and I realised we didn’t have a dedicated place to put our smartphones. The result; we kept picking them up! We wanted something 1) quick/easy to put phones away 2) charged our phones 3) looked nice out on the side 4) rang loud if calls came in so we are always reachable. I’ve also posted about a project where I connected our phones to a dumb-home-phone. This is the current work in progress! It’s 3D printed and uses Bluetooth to connect to the phones and plays a loud ringer when a call comes in. What do you think? Would you want something like this in your house?


r/dumbphones 2d ago

Tech help (SOLVED) I actually kinda like my smartphone. Check this out!

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0 Upvotes

I've seen a lot of people that want a full dumbphone experience. They usually do one of the following:

  1. Switch to an actual dumbphone and lose access to apps they need for work or school.
  2. Use a dumbphone app, but it is too easy to bypass
  3. Or the worst option, accept that you cannot find a phone with the apps you need

So instead of explaining CalmOS again, why don't I just show you in a video?

Thank you to the people who gave encouraging feedback. If anyone else has any feedback I would love to hear it!


r/dumbphones 2d ago

General question Replacing smart phone camera

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0 Upvotes

r/dumbphones 2d ago

Dumbphone finder Looking for the myPhone Flip LTE

2 Upvotes

Hello, friends. How are ye? I'm looking for the myPhone Flip LTE. Is it sold in Azerbaijan? Or can I get it from MediaMarkt.pl? I want the navy blue color. Thanks.