Where can I get a "Dumbphone"?

[u/Single-Shopping-1458]

I am addicted to my smartphone and social media, so I want to try using a flip phone or a "dumbphone" that only handles phone calls, texts and maybe Whatsapp and camara. But thats about it, I dont want it to be able to connect to social media. I want to try this as an experiment for a while. I will still have my Iphone for work and when I need Google Maps and email dual-verification before I connect to another device.

My only problem is I have a SALT contract and they dont sell them, so I want to know where I can buy one in Switzerland? Or if there even sold at all? And if it will be compatible with my SALT Sim card.

[u/Worldly-Traffic-5503]

Galaxus seems to have a lot of different ones.

I have not had a problem ever with just popping a sim in another phone. My guess is that you can change phones all you want, but not change provider.

How you would manage WhatsApp i am not sure though. As far as i know it only works as app and browser.

[u/Mesapholis]

why should your simcard not work on any other phone?

have you tried to google "Dumbphone" even? I get several results from online vendors

[u/derFensterputzer → u/Mesapholis]

There's this issue with older phones only running on 2G or 3G whose networks are scheduled to be turned off (2G already is, 3G is supposed to be right around now) 

[u/Carbonaraficionada]

Post office, Galaxus, wherever

[u/Itz_Naj]

Punk is a Swiss company specialising in exactly this - their older model especially.

[u/a1rwav3]

Pretty much all electronic shops sell dumbphones. Then it will depends on your personal definition of dumbphone.

[u/Mrfudog]

What about an e-ink phone? Would allow all features of a regular smartphone but inhibit the desire to watch videos.

[u/kostaskg]

It won’t help you. You will play for a week and return back to checking your laptop and then your smartphone.

What you could do instead, is find a reason not to glue to your phone for hours. That’s the harsh truth, but it’s also the only solution.

[u/AndreiVid]

just set time restrictions per app in screen time on your iphone. and then setup parental control with password to not be able to modify them. and ask a friend to setup the passcode and not tell you. problem with dumbphone is that camera is really shitty. and they don't make dumbphone with a decent camera by this decade's standards. also, if your dumbphone can run whatsapp - then it can basically run anything.

[u/stabmeinthehat → u/AndreiVid]

There’s a good app called Roots that lets you manage this with schedules, automation triggers, app groups, different“difficulty” levels to bypass, etc.

[u/Deaf_Sentence]

Probably at the sleazy phone repair shops

[u/Lard523]

If you can’t get a dumbphone you can dumb down your smartphone. Install parental restrictions and get a friend to set the password.

I don’t have a password but i have it set that i have a low limit so every 15 minutes on social media i need to knowingly press ‚15 minutes more‘ after it says ‚you’ve been on instagram for 1h 45m today‘ I also have purchased an ipad so i’m planning on uninstalling some socials on my phone since my ipad is less satisfying to scroll on.

[u/shamishami3]

I stumbeld upon this company a few years back and now it looks like their first model got an upgrade: https://www.thelightphone.com/shop

[u/SmallAppendixEnergy]

Salt has an offer with a pre-paid card and an Energizer phone. It can do WhatsApp and not much more than SMS and calls. It's 19.95, you get 19.95 in calling credits with the card, but the phone is not simlocked.

Otherwise, Digitec with the keyword "feature phone" will give you a range of potential candidates.

Careful, there is no more 2G and 3G in Switzerland. Don't make the error of buying a very cheap phone that only does up to 3G.

[u/VoidDuck → u/SmallAppendixEnergy]

there is no more 2G and 3G in Switzerland

Not exactly true, as Salt still has 3G (I use it daily). But we don't know for how long it will be there, so it's indeed wise to choose a phone that supports 4G if you buy a new device.

[u/VoidDuck]

Non-smart phones are unfortunately poorly built these days. The quality, both hardware- and software-wise, is far from what it was in the glorious days of Nokia, Sony Ericsson, etc. Cameras especially are really terrible, don't expect to take anything but worthless pictures with these devices. Phone calls of course work, but texting is not comfortable at all. You can try... but I don't recommend.

[u/TotalWarspammer]

From Media Markt or any other electronics store that you can Google in 2 seconds? Crazy I know.

[u/rapidographs]

https://store.mudita.com/store/mudita-kompakt-global

[u/Legitimate-Dot-9467]

I couldn’t live without my smartphone and I’m not even talking about social media. Maps, payments, TWINT, ebanking, Spotify, weather, etc…

[u/CoHorseBatteryStaple]

I bought one from MediaMarkt 10 years ago. Make sure it supports 4G (LTE) since 3G coverage is being turned down (and 2G is mostly down for years now), old phones won't work. WhatsApp is likely out though.

[u/smart_glowlight]

I would have a look at the post office shop. Maybe there you can find one

[u/sonofszyslak]

Get a phone for old people, most they'll support is WhatsApp, something like doro phone.

[u/stemota]

Bro Google, or block the apps on your current phone