Best dumb phone on Reddit
153 reviews from r/dumbphones, r/BuyItForLife, r/Buffalo and 15 more subreddits
153 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Nokia
3.8
(35)
"Theres a Nokia 2780 that i think would be perfect for that and it works on any carrier"
"Punkt MP02 or Nokia 800 tough"
"I have a cheap old Nokia with a Pay/Go Sim. Only my Mum, Dad, Sister and Girlfriend have the number for it, and they are under strict instructions that it is ONLY to be used in life or death emergencies."
"I really like the 225 4G I have. I don't have the text timestamp issue and it stands out as a smallish candybar phone."
"I’ve had a Nokia E51 for the longest time. It's an amazing piece of tech."
"I had a 6300 and it should work great for you! I regret selling mine!"
"The 800 was my favourite phone, such a solid build and it was rapid."
"The new Nokia 3310 is the latest mobile that did it natively"
"Lately I've been using a nokia 215 which I enjoy. does not feel clunky, if anything it's weirdly lightweight."
"Nokia 2780"
#2
Light Phone
4.3
(7)
"Yes. The Light Phone 2."
"Well there's always the Light Phone 2. A bit pricey but my personal favorite."
"Lightphone 2 not a flip phone but I've heard great things about it"
"I’m selling a light phone for 125 it has no box and is used but still works great."
"Keep watching ebay. I got a very nice white LPII in April for a 'buy it now' price of $50 plus $11 shipping."
"I’d love a LightPhone 3 or some dumb phone that’s just texting, maps, music."
"Haven't used it but always been intrigued by the Light Phone."
#3
Kyocera
4.0
(6)
"Kyocera DuraXV Extreme+ 👍🏼"
"I highly recommend it."
"Kyocera DuraXE"
"The Kyocera Duraxv might meet your requirements."
"Some that run Android in the background, like the Kyocera Dura or TCL Flip2 can have it sideloaded."
"Some that run Android in the background, like the Kyocera Dura or TCL Flip2 can have it sideloaded."
#4
Tracfone
4.2
(5)
"My mom has had a flip phone from Tracfone for many years."
"Tracfone has a 1 year plan for $60 on eBay. 1200 minutes, 1200 texts, and 3GB data."
"One option that used to be very simple, with simple phones available, was Tracfone."
"We got my grandma a tracfone for this reason!"
"The tracfone dumb phones all are verizon so alcatel myflip,tcl flip2 nokia 2760."
#5
Qin
4.2
(5)
"The Qin F22/F21 Pro or Cat S22 Flip."
"I have used the Qin F22 for Whatsapp, Spotify and calls for half a year now."
"I'll suggest qin 22 pro with j2me emulator"
"Qin f22 is a good one or the midnful phone."
"There's the Qin F21 which is really good."
#6
Cat
3.8
(4)
"Very popular in this sub as a transition device."
"Cat s22"
"If your kid has a tough character... I’d pick a flip phone like the CAT S22."
"Cat S22 is cheap and can run all the apps you need."
#7
iPhone
3.8
(4)
"You can also dumb down an iPhone SE."
"Used iPhone SE."
"I ended up getting the original iPhone SE which I'm still using."
"I gave my sister iPhone se 1 with heavy parental control."
#8
Cat S22
4.7
(3)
"Yes Cat s22 is the phone you are looking for."
"I am planning to buy Cat s 22."
"Get something that runs android. qin f22 cat s22 etc"
#9
US Mobile
4.3
(3)
"Ported my mom's landline over to USM on a F4L. Very simple flip phone with hardware buttons."
"There are a few flip phone options on our shop page that could be just what you're looking for."
"Unlimited talk & text $8 before taxes"
#10
Troomi
4.0
(3)
"We looked at all the options for a kid-safe, no frills phone and ended up going with Troomi."
"We looked at all the “kid-safe”, no frills options and ended up going with Troomi."
"Get a troomi phone."
#11
Jelly
4.0
(3)
"You'll probably be looking at the Jelly phones."
"The jelly phone is intriguing to me. full capacity of a smart phone, but its super small."
"I just bought the Jelly 2 as it meets my personal needs while also being unattractive for my tech addiction."
#12
CAT
3.3
(3)
"I recommend the CAT S22 Flip for this use case."
"I recommend the CAT S22 Flip for this use case."
"The phone is dog shit and I hate using it so much."
#13
KaiOS
3.0
(3)
"R/KaiOS phones are small candybar sized, but have keypads and can do."
"Any KaiOS phone? The hot spot functionality and maps is useful in a pinch."
"Uh I think you can grab a phone with KaiOS for what you want?"
#14
TCL Flip 2
4.5
(2)
"I like my TCL Flip 2. Unlocked it was only like $50 and it works like a dream."
"I think the TCL Flip 2 can have Whatsapp sideloaded."
#15
TCL
4.5
(2)
"I recently downgraded fully to a flip phone - the new tcl flip so it has Bluetooth and mobile hotspotting - and love it."
"Maybe look into a TCL Flip Pro?"
#16
Android
4.0
(2)
"The best dumb phone is an old android without any app installed (even no browser/appstore) besides whatsapp, phone, sms, contacts, notes, camera."
"I'd recommend actually just getting the newest most reliable Android with a good case, you can dumb phone it pretty easily."
#17
AGM
4.0
(2)
"AGM M9 is good."
"I have the agm m7 and it is really good to listen to music and podcast."
#18
Unihertz
4.0
(2)
"Unihertz Jelly star!"
"There's the Unihertz Titan series but it's android."
#19
Sunbeam
4.0
(2)
"If you do go that route I would wait since they are releasing a new version."
"I have the sunbeam f1 orchid and I love it."
#20
Doro
3.5
(2)
"Doro 7030 with an Android based OS."
"Doro 7030 with an Android based OS"
#21
Nuu
3.5
(2)
"Mostly because I figured out how to unlock apk apps on it."
"Kroger branded nuu f4l. Mostly because I figured out how to unlock apk apps on it."
#22
AGM M7
3.5
(2)
"Looking into getting an AGM M7 - rugged phone that runs a proprietary version of Oreo."
"Agm m7 imo"
#23
Cingular Flex 2
3.5
(2)
"I've heard of the Cingular Flex/Flex 2 which run KaiOS."
"I just got the At&t cingular flex 2 and it seems like it works great."
#24
Nokia 6300
3.5
(2)
"I had a 6300 and it should work great for you! I regret selling mine!"
"I'd advise you don't get one until an official release on the subject is available."
#25
Lively
3.5
(2)
"Lively Jitterbug phone, got my mom one years ago."
"My dad loved his jitterbug but it’s not great for the cost."
#26
Dumbphone
3.5
(2)
"I recommend you fully switch to a dumbphone and just use the iPhone on WiFi or via hotspot"
"Any cheap dumb phone will work but I don’t know about just allowing 3 numbers"
#27
Lumia
5.0
(1)
"I had a Lumia 800 when they were new, still the best phone ive ever owned."
#28
Punkt
5.0
(1)
"Punkt MP02 or Nokia 800 tough"
#29
Nokia 3310
5.0
(1)
"I got a Nokia 3310/3330 when it first came out. Probably in 2001."
#30
RedPocket
5.0
(1)
"RedPocket offers a $30/YEAR plan that could be perfect."
#31
Sony Ericsson
4.0
(1)
"I'd recommend looking for a Sony Ericsson. In the old days, they were the best for games"
#32
Hammer
4.0
(1)
"I personally use a rusty dumb Polish "Hammer" phone (not to be confused with smartphones they also produce)..."
#33
Schok
4.0
(1)
"The Schok Classic worked for me."
#34
Android Phone
4.0
(1)
"You’re better off getting a cheap android phone and dumbing it down."
#35
Nokia 210
4.0
(1)
"I'm stuck with Nokia 210 (I'm totally okay with this one too)."
#36
Flip Phone
4.0
(1)
"Buy a flip phone. Has Whatsapp and basically a physical barrier to stop you interacting with it."
#37
Moto
4.0
(1)
"Moto G line. They don't update much, run stock android and have some genuinely useful options."
#38
Gabb
4.0
(1)
"Look into Gabb (yes, TWO B’s, not a mistype), Troomi, Pinwheel, and Bark phone."
#39
Straight Talk
4.0
(1)
"Straight Talk offers flip phones still I believe. And cheap phone plans....can go to Walmart and see what they've got or can buy online."
#40
Xiaomi
4.0
(1)
"I assume the Xiaomi f21/f22 would work? i got a f22 (currently broken), and its essentially a smartphone in a dumbphone format."
#41
Gabb Wireless
4.0
(1)
"We use GabbWireless. Their phone is not completely dumb, but it is a neutered version of Android."
#42
Kyocera Dura XV Extreme
4.0
(1)
"You can get a used Kyocera Dura XV extreme for around $100 on Ebay."
#43
Xiaomi Qin
4.0
(1)
"You could get a Xiaomi Qin and just set up parental controls?"
#44
Tracfone Various Flip Phones
4.0
(1)
"Tracfones from what i’m seeing have a lot of dumb flip phones still."
#45
Local Walmart Check Phone
4.0
(1)
"If all you want is a dumphone, just get a check phone from your local walmart."
#46
Cat S22 Flip
4.0
(1)
"Cat S22 Flip"
#47
Samsung Folder 2
4.0
(1)
"Samsung folder 2 or lg ice scream smart"
#48
Kyocera Digno 903KC
4.0
(1)
"Kyocera Digno 903kc. A bit hard to find though."
#49
Nokia 225 4G
4.0
(1)
"I have a Nokia 225 4G (The Netherlands), mine is a original one and now slow at all."
#50
Fairphone
4.0
(1)
"Honestly check out the fair phone. I think it's on its 5th generation rn."
#51
Unihertz Jelly 2
4.0
(1)
"Look at phones like Unihertz Jelly Star or Jelly 2, Cat S22, or Kyocera."
#52
Sunbeam Wireless
4.0
(1)
"I do know that one American company (Mennonite owed, I believe) Sunbeam Wireless sells three models."
#53
Mudita Pure
4.0
(1)
"Is not cheap but is great"
#54
Tello
4.0
(1)
"I think tello is probably the cheapest"
#55
Sonim
4.0
(1)
"Sonim XP3 if you want a durable flip."
#56
Unpluq
4.0
(1)
"Try an Unpluq brand phone...the Litephone 2 is only $10/month."
#57
Pinwheel
4.0
(1)
"Try out a Pinwheel Phone. It's a step up from a Gabb Phone so it won't be as annoying."
#58
Jio
4.0
(1)
"My favourite is the jio phone 2, which is a nice qwerty KaiOS phone."
#59
Duoqin (Xiaomi)
4.0
(1)
"Duoqin (xiaomi) F21pro with playstore preinstalled."
#60
Energizer
4.0
(1)
"I got the energizer E242s yesterday."
#61
Dumb Wireless
3.0
(1)
"Maybe this would work for you: https://dumbwireless.com/products/dumbwireless-smart-feature-phone-pre-order"
#62
Motorola
3.0
(1)
"All I want is the Motorola Q11 to be remade with at least 4G capability."
#63
Blue
3.0
(1)
"Had a blue Lumia ten years ago, still have it in a drawer somewhere."
#64
Jethro
3.0
(1)
"Came across their website recently. I believe they’re on the T-Mobile network."
#65
Alcatel
3.0
(1)
"A cheap option is the slow Alcatel MyFlip 2. I got one from Walmart for $20, and used it for a few years."
#66
Jitterbug
3.0
(1)
"My dad loved his jitterbug but it’s not great for the cost."
#67
HMD Barbie Themed Flip Phone
3.0
(1)
"HMD just released/is releasing a barbie themed flip phone that could be fun."
#68
Nokia 6300 4G
3.0
(1)
"Get him a flip phone or a Nokia 6300 4G."
#69
Cubot
3.0
(1)
"I use cubot pocket 3. I recommend king kong mini 2 or 3."
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