7 votes

Topic deleted by author

9 comments

  1. cmccabe
    Link
    I don’t have a dumb phone myself but I’m interested in them and have been reading a bit. This website seems to have some pretty good suggestions: https://bestdumbphones.com/ Good luck!

    I don’t have a dumb phone myself but I’m interested in them and have been reading a bit. This website seems to have some pretty good suggestions: https://bestdumbphones.com/ Good luck!

    6 votes
  2. soks_n_sandals
    Link
    I wonder if something like the Light Phone II might work? It's leaning more on the stripped-down smartphone side, but is really just the basics. It's target more toward those who are trying to...

    I wonder if something like the Light Phone II might work? It's leaning more on the stripped-down smartphone side, but is really just the basics. It's target more toward those who are trying to unplug or do some digital detoxing, but I wonder if it wouldn't be appropriate for someone not interested in newer tech.

    5 votes
  3. TemulentTeatotaler
    Link
    @all, thanks for all the recommendations! After talking with the parent they were still resistant to non-flip phones, so they'll be trying the ZTE Cymbal U 2020 with the same carrier. The size of...

    @all, thanks for all the recommendations!

    After talking with the parent they were still resistant to non-flip phones, so they'll be trying the ZTE Cymbal U 2020 with the same carrier.

    The size of modern phones and lack of physical buttons were the main sticking points, even with some of the options thrown out like alternative launchers (thanks for the mention of BaldLauncher!) or shortcuts with Tasker.

    I've been trying to sneak in familiarity for a few years to make the transition easier with stuff like an AndroidTV, but I guess that's best for when they have a functional phone.

    4 votes
  4. AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    It's entirely possible the MVNO they're on still has dumb flip phones or they can move to one that does. My father still only uses dumb flip phones and is on Consumer Cellular.

    It's entirely possible the MVNO they're on still has dumb flip phones or they can move to one that does. My father still only uses dumb flip phones and is on Consumer Cellular.

    3 votes
  5. DanBC
    Link
    Doro make a range of phones with various accessibility features. The phones can be expensive, and I'm guessing they're expecting people to use tax breaks and state funding to buy the more...

    Doro make a range of phones with various accessibility features. The phones can be expensive, and I'm guessing they're expecting people to use tax breaks and state funding to buy the more accessible phones. (EG, this one for £180 https://www.doro.com/en-gb/shop/mobile-devices/easy-phones/doro-780x-iup/?variationCode=7978&gclid=CjwKCAiAh9qdBhAOEiwAvxIok6gENwtsOzzdh8205YrMUT9mdhZK_7zlDWngeUJCWIDgFa5ty3ymdRoCRRUQAvD_BwE)

    But they also have solid, more normal, phones at much cheaper prices that have clear buttons and clear displays. Eg, this https://www.doro.com/en-gb/shop/mobile-devices/easy-phones/doro-1380-bb85e067/?variationCode=8319&gclid=CjwKCAiAh9qdBhAOEiwAvxIokyXFugjQ4b8F8k6S3dQJyKJRkTGamudH7WPjr1ib3rh1pavM2k97CBoCCqEQAvD_BwE or this https://www.doro.com/en-gb/shop/mobile-devices/easy-phones/doro-2404/?variationCode=7354&gclid=CjwKCAiAh9qdBhAOEiwAvxIok89hB9hFW7IpQdswb2N-qG4w3MaXxbc86bTW3VejzN9IoyjVKyNbJhoCv8sQAvD_BwE

    Some of the Doro phones can work with hearing aids which can be a handy feature for some people.

    There's some reviews here: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/product-reviews/tech/g33440915/best-dumb-phones/

    3 votes
  6. KittyCat
    Link
    if you end up going with android, a launcher like https://f-droid.org/packages/com.bald.uriah.baldphone/ (although there are lots of options it seems) would likely make things simpler to use.

    if you end up going with android, a launcher like https://f-droid.org/packages/com.bald.uriah.baldphone/ (although there are lots of options it seems) would likely make things simpler to use.

    2 votes
  7. [2]
    moocow1452
    Link
    I was with Ting until my mom twisted my arm to join Verizon, phones are compatible between the two though. Here's what they have on tap. https://tingmobile.com/shop?type=feature+phone So long as...

    I was with Ting until my mom twisted my arm to join Verizon, phones are compatible between the two though. Here's what they have on tap.

    https://tingmobile.com/shop?type=feature+phone

    So long as your preferred model has a sim card slot, it should be able to work on whatever network.

    2 votes
    1. Greg
      Link Parent
      It's a more or less safe bet, but you might be sacrificing coverage or (very rarely) find it doesn't work at all if you get unlucky with the Venn diagram of frequency bands supported by the...

      So long as your preferred model has a sim card slot, it should be able to work on whatever network.

      It's a more or less safe bet, but you might be sacrificing coverage or (very rarely) find it doesn't work at all if you get unlucky with the Venn diagram of frequency bands supported by the original network, the new network, and the phone in question.

      I wouldn't normally mention it: if you're buying a newish iPhone or Samsung or whatever they'll support basically everything anyway so it's a non-issue, but it's the kind of thing that just might come up when dealing with older more basic handsets that may not have been primarily designed for the US market.

      3 votes
  8. NoblePath
    Link
    Is this your parent?

    Is this your parent?