By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-29 18:11:43 | Updated at 2024-10-30 11:32:35
5 days ago
My smartphone is an incredible piece of engineering, connected to all of humanity’s accumulating knowledge and all the people I’ve ever known. But not all of us benefit from that kind of functionality; while it can be reassuring to have a phone on our person when we leave the house, we don’t really need an app to tell us the weather, or AI-enhanced camera software to take another photo of the sunset. Instead, what many of us need is just a basic mobile phone – which is where the best dumbphones come in.
“Bricks, dumb phones or feature phones are seeing a revival,” says Rob Maule, consumer expert at Currys – one of the leading sellers of phones, smart and otherwise. “As a whole, sales of these back-to-basic phones are up 13 per cent year-on-year, with the retro Nokia 2660 and Nokia 105 up 50 per cent and 49 per cent year-on-year respectively.”
If you’re considering buying a dumbphone, I’ve tested out six of the best below. And full disclosure: I am a millennial, whose first phones resembled the kinds of devices on offer here. If you came of age after the iPhone came out – or indeed before the original Nokia 3310 took hold – then these slightly user-unfriendly phones might be a bit of a chore to use. If you need help choosing, here’s a brief look at my top five:
The best dumb phones, at a glance
- Best overall – Nokia 3210
- Best value – Nokia 2660 Flip
- Best basic flip phone – Barbie Phone
- Best basic phone – Doro 6820
- Best digital detox phone – Punkt MP02
What is a dumbphone?
The word “dumbphone” sounds pejorative but really serves to distinguish these products – more flatteringly referred to as brick phones, feature phones or flip phones – from modern-day smartphones, which these days are large, powerful and complex devices. Basic mobile phones are the antithesis of smartphones, instead offering the core mobile phone functions of calls and text messages, which for many users is ample “connectivity” to be getting along with.
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How I tested the best dumbphones
Primarily, I have been assessing these phones for ease of use. I’ve noted how many clicks it takes to access core features like phone calls and texts, and assessed how difficult the menus and settings are to navigate. I assessed call quality and volume. I also checked how legible each screen was in a variety of lighting conditions – outdoors in the daylight, indoors under electric light and in the dark.
Each phone is a different shape, so I tested how bulky they were to carry in the pocket of jeans and blazers. And while each handset pretty much does the same thing, I did take into account the other apps available on even the most basic phones, like a basic calculator, a calendar function or games.
I’ll also admit that most of the time, I kept my smartphone on me as well – there are some parts of my daily life that require apps. But all duties that could be undertaken by dumbphone, were.
The best dumbphones
1. Nokia 3210
Best dumb phone overall, 8/10
We like: simple retro design
We don’t like: cheaper dumbphones are available
- Screen: 2.4in colour
- Wifi: No
- Battery life: 10hrs call time
- Dimensions: 123.8 mm × 50.5 mm × 22.5 mm
If you just want a basic mobile phone that will make calls and send texts, the Nokia 3210 will be difficult to beat. It contains all the functionality you need to stay in touch with people or to call for help in an emergency, plus a few extras – in a svelte frame that fits neatly into your pocket. Weighing in at under 90g, it’s a cleverly designed machine, and while it lacks most modern smartphone features, it’s still an impressively compact device.
Its useful functions include a timer, an array of calculators and conversion apps, and a basic FM radio that will play over very tinny speakers or through headphones attached by a 3.5mm jack – which will double up as an aerial to improve signal. It also has a torch, which is about bright enough to find your front door key, or in a pinch on the walk home from the pub, and two SIM slots.
Despite this being a dumbphone, there is a very basic browser, albeit one so slow that you’d never want to use it for anything important. I was able to access the headlines on a news website but I can’t imagine ever surfing the web with this device. Similarly, Nokia might as well have omitted the half-dozen low-quality games that ship in “demo” form with the 3210 – known as bloatware – which you can only play them a couple of times before you have to buy them.
Call quality is good, and it’s easy to find essential functions like text messaging. The camera is extremely basic but will capture adequate pictures. There is a simple Facebook web app but if you want to stay in touch via social media, you should really get a smartphone. Overall, the well-designed 3210 resembles its 1998 namesake and does pretty much the same job.
2. Nokia 2660 Flip
Best value dumbphone, 7/10
We like: chunky buttons
We don’t like: rubbish camera
- Screen: 2.8in colour
- Wifi: No
- Battery life: 6hrs call time
- Dimensions: 108mm x 55mm x 18.9mm
Buyers who just want a cheap dumbphone would be hard pressed to find a better option than the 2660 Flip. It has most of the same features as the more expensive 3210, plus the added benefit of a flip phone design. On the back is a simple display that lets you know the time and whether you have any notifications, and inside are some large, squishy keys.
Call quality is good and texting is straightforward, although I personally like slightly more rigid keys for drafting long messages. The menu layout is fairly easy to navigate, and while there are some “bloatware” games, most are concealed in their own folder. Crucially, the message alert and ring tone are both loud – and you can choose from a generous handful of extremely Nineties options for both.
The 2660 Flip has one of the best and clearest loudspeakers on the market, making it good for hands-free calls. The buttons on the side of the phone make it easy to adjust the volume, and opening the phone to accept an incoming call is pleasing. There is a radio function, which is improved with the addition of headphones to act as an aerial.
Unfortunately, the 2660 Flip has a 0.3 megapixel camera, which is pretty useless for capturing anything other than the basic shape of something or someone, provided they’re in direct sunlight. The 3210 above, by comparison, has a 2 megapixel camera – still dreadful by today’s standards (my smartphone has a 64 megapixel camera) but more likely to produce a useful image.
There is a browser, and a Facebook ‘app’ that is actually just a link to the Facebook website. Neither work very well. This phone has such limited web browsing and photography capabilities that I’d strongly advise against attempting to use it for either task – but if you just want a cheap flip phone, this is probably what you should choose. You should be pleasantly surprised at how long the phone will stay charged, too – if you rarely use it, you can expect a few days’ worth of standby time at least.
At £65 new, it’s one of the cheaper worthwhile dumbphones on the market. Once you start paying less than this, you’re less likely to end up with something high-quality.
3. HMD Barbie Phone
Best flip phone, 7/10
We like: cheery design and SOS button
We don’t like: expensive for a dumbphone
- Screen: 2.8in colour
- Wifi: No
- Battery life: 6hrs call time
- Dimensions: 108mm x 55mm x 18.9mm
Hear me out – the Barbie Phone might just be the best flip phone you can buy right now. I’m not in Mattel’s target demographic for the Barbie brand, but even I was excited to open the box for this phone and discover a treasure trove of pink plastic goodies within: along with the pink phone is a pink lanyard for it, a pink screen cloth, pink stickers, some pink jewels and a pink USB-to-USB C charging cable. An alternative pink facia, some odd little toys to get lost in the carpet, and removable 5.7Wh battery (believe it or not, also pink) complete this highly themed and aggressively girly package.
When I switched the phone on for the first time, it exclaimed “Hello Barbie!” and invited me to save a number for Ken. In fact every time I’ve used the phone since, I’ve been met with the same giddy salutation, which is actually far less tiresome than you’d think. And while I can’t think of a time when I’ve needed it, the addition of an SOS button on the side of the phone to quickly phone a trusted contact is a pretty neat idea on a phone ostensibly aimed at kids.
Underneath, the Barbie phone is very similar to any other modern Nokia dumbphone. It has a slightly clearer user interface (provided you don’t mind all the pink) than the 3210 or the 2660 Flip upon which it is evidently based. There’s the same radio, the same low-quality camera, and the same area, distance and currency calculators for when Barbie needs to quickly convert acres into hectares. There’s a free game called Malibu Snake, and a voice recorder for the odd memo. With decent call quality and an easy text messaging interface, this dual-sim flip phone is actually rather charming to use.
“[Dumbphones are] becoming increasingly popular with children as either a first phone, or one that can be used at school – many schools are now banning smartphones,” explains phone expert Rob. “This is more of a push from parents and schools, however, rather than pull from children.”
There are shortcomings to this phone, of course. The small selection of ringtones are all embarrassing, even within the context of a hot pink clamshell phone that directly addresses the user as “Barbie”. And like the 2660, the Barbie Phone’s hinge feels vulnerable to accidental damage.
I like the mirror on the back (which also doubles up as a screen to tell you the time and alert you to messages) but it’s certainly quite an eye-catching device, especially next to the understated 3210 or Punkt MP02. And while Barbie might enjoy the meditation timer and overall cuteness of this phone, I’m sure she’d prefer to have WhatsApp. This phone is only capable of texts and phone calls. For the £100 price tag, you could get an inexpensive smartphone.
4. Doro 6820
Best basic phone, 7/10
We like: easy interface, safety button
We don’t like: Micro USB charger
- Screen: 2.8in colour
- Wifi: No
- Battery life: 7hrs call time
- Dimensions: 107 mm x 56 mm x 20 mm
Overall, the Doro was the easiest phone to use, offering basic functions and little more. We liked the overall appearance of this flip phone, with its high contrast keys and smart black and white exterior. Unlike some of the other dumbphones on this list, the Doro 6820 doesn’t even pretend to offer web browsing – this phone really does just make calls and send texts.
Some basic phones aimed at older people (or “seniors” in American parlance) are actually quite poor products, often built very cheaply and sold to people who don’t know better. This Doro handset doesn’t feel like that at all, and while it’s unlikely to win any beauty contests, we think it’s quite nicely designed, as flip phones go.
“In the main, older generations are more au fait with smartphone technology than they were, say, ten years ago,” says Rob. “In that age bracket, dumbphones are more skewed towards those with physical or mental limitations, because the battery lasts longer, designs are less prone to damage, the physical keypads have big buttons and are more tactical, and so on.”
The software here is limited. There are no games, nor a web browser or Facebook app. Doro’s only concessions to gadgetry are a weather forecast function and a basic torch, which is bright enough to be noticed at night time. The organiser section has a calendar and a very basic calculator. There is a camera, but you won’t want to use it for anything other than very occasional daylight snaps.
Unusually, the 6820 comes with a charging cradle – a little plinth that you can slot the phone into. You can also charge directly from the plug, bypassing the cradle altogether, though I can understand the appeal of having a specific fixed place in your house where you leave your phone.
Unfortunately, this whole setup relies on the increasingly outdated micro USB connection – most modern gadgets use the standard USB C. The SIM slot, too, is designed for an older-style mini SIM, so users with a micro or nano SIM will need to spend £3 on an adapter (a judicious splodge of Blu-tac will suffice temporarily).
On the back of the phone is an SOS button that will connect the user with a chosen contact in their phone. This is clearly a handset designed with older people in mind, and is probably the one I’d pick if I was buying for an elderly relative.
5. Punkt MP02
Best digital detox phone, 7/10
We like: handsome design
We don’t like: buggy software, high price
- Screen: 2in colour (but most interfaces are black and white)
- Wifi: yes
- Battery life: 4.2 hours talk time
- Dimensions: 11.72 x 5.16 x 1.44 cm
Whether you love or hate the Punkt MP02 will depend on why you’re buying a dumbphone in the first place. If you’re a pensioner, or a relative of one, and you’re looking for a simple and straightforward handset with large buttons, clear menus and a bright screen, you might as well skip this phone altogether. It’s got none of those things. Cheaper models from Doro or Nokia have them in spades.
But that’s not the market that Punkt is aiming for with its MP02, a deliberately minimalist phone that weighs just 100g and is smaller than most of the other dumbphones. The handset – from Swiss gadget makers Punkt – offers a stripped-back, black-and-white experience, with calls and texts your only communication options.
So why the high price? Well, Punkt claims to connect to Signal, a securely encrypted messaging system. But after repeated attempts I couldn’t get it to work. Somebody more technically minded and patient than me might be able to manage it, but the internet is awash with frustrated users who couldn’t quite join the dots of the complex setup process. So I was left with just ordinary text, and ordinary voice calls.
Thankfully, both are excellent. The tiny monochrome display is surprisingly clear and the call quality is exceptional, with one recipient remarking that I sounded like I was in the same room. The call volume (and indeed ring volume) of the MP02 is very high.
My only complaints are the buggy software (it runs on a heavily modified version of Android, with no apps beyond what’s already installed) and the fact I couldn’t get Signal to work, despite much online fanfare about this possibility.
6. Unihertz Jelly Star
Best non-smartphone, 7/10
We like: smartphone functionality
We don’t like: poor battery life, and it’s not a dumb phone
- Screen: 3in full colour
- Wifi: yes
- Battery life: 1 day
- Dimensions: 10x5x2cm
When is a smartphone not a smartphone? That’s the kind of philosophical question you’ll find yourself asking when you use the Unihertz Jelly Star for the first time. On the one hand, it’s a full-fat smartphone, with Android 13 installed out of the box and the same functionality you’d get from any other budget handset. On the other hand, it’s so tiny that the user experience is palpably different from that of a normal-sized touchscreen phone.
Weighing in at just 121g, it’s about half as heavy as a mainstream smartphone, and at a little less than 5cm wide, 10cm tall and 2cm thick, it’s physically tiny compared with anything else on the market. It sits in my hand like a bar of soap, or about half a block of feta. It’s smaller than any of the flip phones in their folded state, so it fits neatly into the tiny watch pocket in my jeans. When I’m out and about, it feels like I don’t have a phone at all.
Obviously it’s an ordinary Android handset, which gives the user access to all the apps on the Play Store. That includes WhatsApp, Google Maps, authentication systems, Spotify and more – all the mod cons that keep people, especially teens, glued to their phones at all times. But because the screen is tiny (and consequently unrewarding to use) the Jelly Star feels like a tool for the job of communicating and occasionally interacting with tech, rather than a conduit through which I must live my whole life.
Battery life is poor (heavy users won’t last a day) and it’s hard to know what sort of support or software updates will be available for the Jelly Star in a couple of years – a consideration far more important when choosing a smartphone than when choosing a dumbphone. But apart from the obvious limitations of the device’s small form factor, and the weak camera, this is a reasonable contender for anybody who wants to practise digital minimalism, but who can’t quite wrench themselves away from modern life just yet.
Dumbphone FAQs
Why are dumbphones popular again?
“There seem to be three factors driving this spike,” says Rob Maule, consumer expert at Currys. “Firstly, you have an increasing number of parents buying brick phones for their children. Various organisations, including some schools, are calling for children to have much more controlled digital access, and brick phones can be a great way to minimise unsupervised time spent online, without severing their connectivity altogether.
“Secondly, you have adults themselves increasingly looking to regulate their own time spent looking at their screens. Whilst smart phones offer a range of helpful tools to help manage – and even block – the amount of time you spend on certain apps, many adults – especially those amongst Gen Z and millennial age groups – are taking things into their own hands and buying phones which simply will not let them connect to apps such as TikTok and Instagram. There are over 400,000 #DigitalDetox ‘farewell’ posts on Instagram alone.
“And thirdly, put simply, we’re seeing a retro revival,” acknowledges Rob. “Brick phones are just one example of a real return to retro products, from point-and-shoot digital cameras to video camcorders. The HMD ‘Barbie’ phone is a particular hit.”
What are the different types of dumbphones?
As the Barbie handset demonstrates, dumbphones come in a variety of shapes and sizes; unlike the increasingly homogenous smartphone market, consisting almost entirely of anonymous black rectangles, dumbphones can be had in standard brick format, or as flip phones, which open like a clam shell.
There are no significant advantages or disadvantages between these two styles, although with a flip phone you can end a phone call by snapping it shut, which is a pleasing flourish to any conversation. Generally speaking, flip phones are shorter but thicker, while brick phones or bar phones are longer and thinner.
How do dumbphones compare to smartphones?
Dumbphones obviously compare unfavourably against even the cheapest smartphones in terms of functionality, apps, compatibility and camera performance. Of the phones we have tested for this article, only one has WhatsApp, and that model isn’t really a dumbphone in the conventional sense.
“We don’t anticipate that brick phones will replace smartphones,” says Rob. “So many of today’s vital services – from accessing medical information, to paying rent, through to staying in touch with friends, families and colleagues – rely on digital connectivity. With that in mind, we expect most adult users of brick phones to retain their smart counterparts and use a combination of both to find that sweet spot between staying connected and not feeling the pressures of notification overload.”
That balance will be different for everybody. There are currently no true dumbphones with WhatsApp, or indeed any other popular apps like Spotify (for playing music) and Instagram (for sharing photos). If you need WhatsApp to chat with your friends, Google Maps to navigate or a banking app to keep track of your money, there aren’t any dumbphones on the market that’ll work for you as your only phone.
Are dumb phones compatible with the latest networks?
All of the phones tested here are compatible with current UK mobile phone networks. But that’s not the case for every dumb phone on the market, which is why buyers should avoid buying cheap handsets that might be approaching obsolescence.
This is where it starts to get complicated. Mobile phone networks evolve in generations, the latest being 5G – the fifth generation of mobile phone technology. Until recently, dumbphones operated on the very basic 2G and 3G systems, which were fine for their limited functions of sending texts and low-res photos. But 3G is being phased out in 2025 and 2G will be switched off by 2033, so for future compatibility you will want a dumbphone that can handle 4G signals.
What are the benefits of using a dumbphone?
There are lots of reasons why you might buy a dumb phone instead of a smartphone. There are young people whose lives have been so dominated by social media and internet culture that they’re choosing to disconnect themselves from the web; there are the “neo-Luddites” who eschew new technologies; and there are older people who have no need for, or interest in, social media, but who would like the ability to make a phone call or send a text message in an emergency.
As dumbphones can be almost as expensive as basic smartphones, buying one can be difficult to justify. Motorola now sells an adequate touchscreen Android smartphone, which can run apps, for just £70, while John Lewis currently sells three models for under £100. Compared with the dumb phones tested here, even these cheap smartphone handsets offer the user a much better experience – WhatsApp, Google Maps, emails, internet browsing, and everything else you might need in today’s digital age.
But comparing a smartphone with a dumbphone is like comparing a car with a bicycle. Yes, a car is more versatile in every measurable way – but some people only want a bike.
Can I have a dumbphone with WhatsApp?
There are no new dumbphones on the market with WhatsApp. There have been those in the past which either came with WhatsApp, or on which WhatsApp could be installed, such as the Nokia 800 Tough or the CAT S22, but these are difficult to recommend. The CAT is no longer being sold and the Nokia’s compatibility with WhatsApp has a limited projected lifespan. All Nokia’s current phones run on their own proprietary software, to which you cannot add new apps or features.
Why the focus on WhatsApp? Because, in the UK and most of Europe, it has become the standard messaging tool, surpassing SMS and MMS messages. Buying a dumb phone means losing access to WhatsApp messages and group chats.
While some enthusiasts manage to keep WhatsApp functional on dubiously-compatible handsets, this can require complex technical workarounds that would be inappropriate for a casual user. For now, there are no dumbphones with WhatsApp that we can recommend. Anybody who needs WhatsApp should get a cheap smartphone, not a dumbphone.
