Phones nowadays are a jack of all trades. Think of anything and your phone can do it now or in a few years time. With our attention span decreasing with each OS-release we sometimes long for a traditional phone that’s more straightforward again.
That’s why we’ve selected the best minimalist phones that are currently available for sale.
Would you like to have a true dumb phone that does nothing but calling and texting? Or rather a minimalist experience with some smartness thrown in? This selection has a bit of everything.
Dumb Phones
The following are phones that do very little in comparison to your flagship Apple or Samsung. They’re called off-grid phones, feature phones, dumbphones or burner phones, where calling and texting is the name of the game. Try to swap one of these with your current phone every once in a while and see if it can be a nicotine patch to your smartphone addiction.
Nokia 225
A silent successor to Nokia’s relaunched 3310 (which only supported a 3G network), although slightly less curvy and attractive is the Nokia 225. This is a cheap, but capable minimalist phone running on 4G.
Just like the 3310, the Nokia 225 is a sturdy phone, with a good battery life. It has a great call reception and quality (using LTE voice) and also includes an FM radio and several games whenever you get bored.
Just don’t worry that all of this will take away from the phone’s main purpose which is talking and texting.
The 225 being under fifty bucks also makes it a perfect emergency phone for kids and older people.
- Calling: Yes
- Texting: Yes
- Internet: Yes (no hotspot)
- Camera: Yes (2MP)
- Network: 4G
- Battery Life: 21 hours talk, 36 days standby
- Sim-card: Micro-SIM
- Memory: 32GB microSD
The Light Phone II
The Light Phone II really understands what we’re getting at. This is a creditcard-sized phone, succeeding the popular Light Phone. Where the original was just a phone to make phone calls with, version II can also text, help you manage your calendar and act as a hotspot. One good note by the creators is that this phone will never have social media, email, news, or ads.
The most appealing thing out of all of these phones is its design, sporting a slick e-ink display in black or white.
Light Phone II Features
- Calling: Yes
- Texting: Yes
- Internet: Hotspot
- Camera: No
- Network: 4G
- Battery Life: 1-2 days of ‘light’ regular usage
- Sim-card: Nano-SIM
- Memory: stores 9 phone numbers on speed-dial
Punkt MP02 Mobile Phone
Do you want texting in addition to calling? You spoiled brat. The Punkt MP02 looks like a calculator, but is actually a well designed piece of gear that aims to battle the distractions technology brings into our lives.
The MP02 packs a better battery than the light phone and is therefore perfect for that appless holiday.
Punkt MP02 Features
- Calling: Yes
- Texting: Yes
- Internet: Yes (tethering connection)
- Camera: No
- Network: 4G LTE
- Battery Life: 12.5 days standby, 4.2 hours talk
- Sim-card: Nano-SIM
- Memory (storage): 16GB
Buy the Punkt MP02 on the official website or Amazon.
Nokia 8110 4G (the Banana Phone)
The curved Nokia 8110 (dubbed the banana phone) is a classic cellphone. Made popular by the movie The Matrix, it features a signature slide mechanism that allows you to answer or hang up phone calls. The revived edition has 4G that you can use for a hotspot or for one of the apps that you can download from the special KaiOS store (WhatsApp is also rumoured to be released soon). The battery life on the 8110 may not be equal to the 3310, but it’s still pretty impressive compared to a smartphone. The 8110 is for when you want something more stylish and cool than the 3310. Get it in black or banana yellow.
- Calling: Yes
- Texting: Yes
- Internet: Yes
- Camera: Yes, 2MP with flash
- Network: 4G LTE
- Battery Life: 7 hours talk, 25 days standby
- Sim-card: Single-Sim or Dual-Sim (micro + nano)
- Memory: 4GB internal + microSD
Easyfone Prime-A6
The Easyfone Prime-A6 is a great choice if you’re looking for a minimalist (emergency) phone for an elderly person or a first phone for your children, to keep in contact with them.
The phone features a large font and big, embossed buttons to prevent mistyping a phone number. It has a programmable SOS button which can call out in case of emergency. It also features a bright flashlight which not a lot of feature phones carry. For charging, a convenient dock/stand is supplied with the phone.
Note that at the time of writing the Easyfone Prime-A6 is incompatible with AT&T and Verizon operators. Most other carriers are supported.
Calling: Yes
Texting: Yes
Internet: No
Camera: No
Network: 4G LTE
Battery Life: 5.5 hours talking & 96+ hours stand-by
Sim-card: nano-SIM
Memory: Up to 16GB SD-card (not included)
Buy the Easyfone Prime-A6 on Amazon
Smartphones
The following phones are minimalist smartphones. It’s for when you appreciate the silence and being distraction-free, yet you can’t give up on those essential apps on your phone.
Jelly 2, World’s Smallest 4G Phone
The one thing minimal about this phone is its form factor
The Jelly Pro Android phone ran a successful Kickstarter campaign aimed to bring the world’s smallest 4G phone into people’s hands (or rather, coin pockets).
This tiny device runs the latest Android version and allows you to do most other things you can do on a flagship smartphone. Okay, you’ll probably get tired of the small size doing any long-term typing, but it’s a nice trade-off for such a small 4G phone that runs for nearly a week on a single charge.
- Calling: Yes
- Texting: Yes
- Internet: Yes
- Camera: Yes
- Network: 4G
- Battery Life: 3 days working time, 7 days standby
- Sim-card: dual nano-SIM
- Memory: micro SD-card slot
Teracube Thrive Smartphone for Kids
Probably the safest choice for your kid when you’re a worried parent, the Teracube Thrive is a simple smartphone for your child (age 8 to 17) that comes equipped with parental controls and safe search out of the box. Running a customized version of Android, you can decide what apps are allowed and how much daily screen time your kid consumes on the Teracube. This is an excellent entry-level smartphone with the functionality that’s needed for the age. A sim comes preinstalled (Teracube Wireless, powered by T-mobile) and the phone comes in green or black.
- Calling: Yes
- Texting: Yes
- Internet: Yes
- Camera: Yes
- Network: 4G
- Battery Life: –
- Sim-card: Nano-SIM (included)
- Memory: 64GB
Buy the Teracube Thrive Smartphone on Amazon
Palm Phone, a Smartphone for Your Smartphone
The Palm Phone is like a glorified Apple Watch in that you can use your carrier’s add on plan to supply it with the needed sim card. Otherwise, the Palm Phone is a full-fledged companion smartphone that has a very appealing, durable design and a comfortable, small size.
The minimalist experience can be achieved by enabling Life Mode on the Palm Phone. This will shut off any notification or disturbance as soon as you shut off your screen.
The Palm Phone is the size of your credit card, it will beat your Apple Watch for features, but is still small enough so that you won’t let social media take over your life.
Unihertz Atom – a Rugged Minimalist Android Phone
Another credit card sized option is the Unihertz Atom. This phone provides a full Android experience in a rugged outer shell. The exterior and gorilla glass makes it perfect when you’re an active outdoors person and need a phone to stay connected, without sacrificing your premium smartphone. It sports all the features of a modern smartphone, like fingerprint detection and NFC.
The size will ensure you’ll mostly use this for phone calls or checking your messages when out and about.
- Calling: Yes
- Texting: Yes
- Internet: Yes
- Camera: Yes
- Network: 4G
- Battery Life: 14h
- Sim-card: (Dual) Nano-SIM
- Memory: 64GB
Buy the Unihertz Atom on Amazon
Minimalist OS for your existing Android phone
If you don’t have the budget for a dedicated minimalist phone, but you do have an Android phone, there are special apps that can turn your existing phone into a mindful, minimalist experience. One such example is the launcher app from minimalistphone.com. Check it out on the Google Play Store.
Hey there!
I’m Daria and I’m contacting you on behalf of Mudita, a new kind of tech company that creates human-centred products.
You haven’t mentioned Mudita Pure (https://mudita.com/products/pure/) – a classic minimalist mobile phone with an E Ink display.
Could you please add Mudita Pure to your publication?
If you have any questions, I’m happy to help.
I look forward to hearing from you soon,
Daria
Hi Darla.
I’m a complete minimalist when it comes to cellphones. If it can do anything that other devices are built for, I don’t want it in my phone. Do you have a version of this near-perfect product that does not have blue tooth capability? I’d even take a lower-quality display if that would knock off the price a bit.
Hi Daria, this looks cool. I’ll consider adding it to the post!
Are you familiar with the Wisephone minimalist phone? If so, is there a reason you didn’t include it in your list? Thanks!
Hi Rebecca, will have a look at this, thanks for the suggestion!
I want to call and recieve calls only. Nothing else. As dumb as i can get it.
For you there was the johns phone.
The Nokia 3310 is the only one without the tethering function. This is the only choice to truly escape the internet.
Buyer beware, 3G is starting to disappear where I live. Heard it will be obsolete very soon.
I’ve removed the 3310 from our overview as it’s outdated now.
I’m 16 and just got the Light phone 2. Love it already
Hi,
Any chance you could share more. I an thinking of getting our kid a Litephome.
Do you have other phones? Or is this your only phone?
Are you using it for music or podcasts?
Are you using the sim and plan from the company (if you are in the US? Or did you go get your own SIM.
Thanks!.
Suggestion: Include hotspot and usb tethering in the list of capabilities for each phone. These are important to digital minimalists who choose to not have home internet and use the phone’s data plan for ocassional connections.
I’m looking for a “light” phone with fully functioning and current directions. I’d like to see direction functionality and podcast or audible features on the rating list.
I wish Apple would make a minimalist phone advertisement and social media free , where you choose a select few functions upon purchase and can’t add after.
I’d choose text msg, phone, calendar, notes, directions (walking, public transit, bike and driving), music (either Spotify, pandora or Apple Music) and a podcast or audible app.
You should remove the recommendation of the Nokia 3310 3G. 3G is being phases in the US and you can’t get any carrier to sell you new plan with that phone. It is a waste of money.
Other countries still have 3G service and will have for years to come so this phone is still a valid choice.
Hi WF, thanks for your suggestion. We’ll make sure to update the list to take this into account!
Hi, Bit confused is there a phone for texting and email ONLY no internet?
Thanks
A left field choice could be the Garmin InReach Mini 2. More a satellite communicator for the hardcore adventurer, it features text + e-mail on a Garmin provided subscription. Link: https://amzn.to/3RXfCCU
The Gabb phone (advertised for kids) only does calls and texts.No internet, no social media! Relatively inexpensive. Looks like an average smartphone but it is very dumb. —Don’t know why it isn’t marketed to minimalist folks …like myself? Actually, I’d just want the phone…texting is horrible. But I cannot find such a device. —I loathe social media & being forced to have the app for most everything. —— K.I.S.S
That is an interesting option as well! Thanks for the tip
I am probably alone here but a text only phone would be ideal.
And i mean text only.
No speakers mics cameras or internet.
Just texts.
Some storage.
If a camera is equipped can we put a physical slide cover over it?
I think i am one of three people worldwide who may buy that unfortunately.
Hey Robin, there’s no phone in the list that just supports e-mail, without also having an internet connection. If we come across one, we’ll make sure to cover it in this article!
Can you please explain the difference between “Internet: Yes (tethering connection)” and “Internet: Hotspot” and “Internet: Hotspot only”?
(the first is for the Punkt, the second for Light Phone II, the third for Mudita.)
Is there a rugged flip phone without text or internet, basically used for making and receiving phone calls only ?
Try the Sonim XP3Plus. Yea, it has text and Internet – IF you turn them on which I do not. Texting is a miserable way to communicate, I turned it off with my carrier – along with Internet which would be pretty miserable on this phone as well. But as a phone, its fantastic!
Thanks for the suggestion, will have a look!
Hello Ricardo,
Would you consider adding the minimalist phone (https://www.minimalistphone.com) to your list? minimalist phone is a software solution to turn your Android phone into a minimalist phone, reduce your screen time and develop more mindful smartphone usage patterns.
We have received a very positive feedback from users that have tried the app and 93% of them have stated that minimalist phone has helped them reduce their screen time.
If you have any questions feel free to each out to hello@minimalist-phone.com
Best wishes,
Martin
Founder of minimalist phone
not enough non internet phones ! get google out of my phone ! ATT will not support the 3G Nokia 3310, is there an alternative, we are being tracked without consent all the time because the cell phone providers are limiting our options.
OTTLA
Any cellular phone anywhere can be tracked, by GPS, or tower triangulation.
If you are so privacy concerned. Get an alpha pager, or a 2way pager Motorola t900.
Mudita Pure is a good option, but a bit pricy.
Get a cheap Walmart flip phone, and paint the camera or put a sticker on it.
Bottom line — you are the one that dictates the amount and type of technology that it is allowed in your dally life.
The Nokia 225 may have 4G capabilities but it relies on 3G and won’t work with some networks like AT&T who shut down their 3G network earlier this year.
This is an unrelated phone, but if any of you come across the Elari NanoPhone C it iS only supported by GSM Carriers which are no longer in Canada or the US. the phone is Great I just wish I could actually use it as a phone 🙁
Looking for Ideal minimum for my father with dementia.
– receive calls only that displays photo of caller from contacts
Two mechanical buttons
ANSWER and HANG UP (touch screens don’t work for elderly)
VOLUME and RINGTONE one setting = MAX
WIRELESS charger
That’s it. I would pay a lot for this very simple phone.
I know it doesn’t exist but it would be very popular if it did
Hey Brian, there doesn’t seem to be a phone like that now. I agree it will be very popular for this use case. We did add the Easyfone Prime-A6 to the overview as a good option for elderly people. While not as simple as your suggestion it seems to be better in these areas than the other phones in the overview.
I don’t see any of the Nokias mentioned on the US site which might mean they are no longer in production.
The 6300 4G has hotspot and might be an honorable mention.
Hey M.P., we’ve just removed the 3310 from the overview. Will consider adding the 6300 4G in a future update.
Hello…. i live in mexico and i would like to buy this phone… how can i do it ?
I’ve been on the search for a good minimalist phone for a while!
I used the Light Phone 2 for about a year and found the texting to be very laggy, the speaker phone was very poor in quality, and a good handful of pictures that were sent to me were not ever forwarded to my email (and just lost in space).
Customer service was excellent and I really did love the interface and layout, but the bugs were just too much.
I just found the Sunbeam F1, which has 3 different models depending on how simple you want to go. It is a flip phone. It does not have internet or apps (which was what was most important to me). But it does has a low res camera and emojis, which was just that little extra bit I was hoping for. The low res camera is great because you don’t get distracted in life wanting to photograph everything, but it comes in handy if you want to send a quick picture to family or friends to connect 🙂
Just wanted to suggest you check it out, so it can be added to the article! It’s a lot less elegant and chic than the light phone, but there are a lot of pluses to it!
Thanks for the suggestion, will check this out!