Smartphone vs Dumbphone 6 Reasons to Consider Switching

MUO

Smartphone vs Dumbphone 6 Reasons to Consider Switching

Do you really need a time-consuming, distracting smartphone? It's time to consider the alternative, to give yourself a break. For many of us, smartphones haven't delivered on their promises. They're often more additive than useful and more of a distraction than a productive tool. So when we ask ourselves if we're actually better off for having one, a growing number of people can only shake their heads. What can you do? Turns out, there are still phones dedicated to handling just the basics. These days they're called dumbphones, and while many are afterthoughts, a growing number were made with serious effort and care. There are many reasons to forego carrying around a smartphone any longer. Here's why a dumbphone may be right for you.

1 Eliminate Distractions

Let's address the big one first. One of the most harmful aspects of a smartphone is the perpetual distraction. A news app is delivering headlines. A racing game wants you to buy a new car. Social media wants you to see what's currently going viral. Your favorite channel uploaded another video. Two more podcasts have arrived. There's a chance of rain today. Those shoes you wanted have just gone on sale. If you find it challenging to focus under these conditions, it's not your fault. We have not evolved to focus on a task while processing so much information simultaneously. Even once we've put the phone back down, it still takes time for our brains to get back to the state they were in before the interruption. And if the headline or viral video was a jolt to our system, there's a good chance we won't get back to the focus we had. You can remove most of these distractions from your smartphone, but the temptation to return them is always there. A dumbphone isn't a panacea. A phone or text can still arrive at any moment, breaking your concentration. But that's a pale shadow of the ways a smartphone can beg for your attention, and the fact that you can't add more diversions means your mind is free to think about other things.

2 Place Emphasis on Actual Conversation

Depending on which phone you choose, texting will be an absolute chore. You can think of this as a setback, or you can think of this as a way to keep your focus on the kind of conversation that does us more good. We benefit from face-to-face connection, and when that option isn't available, a voice conversation is the next best thing. Text-based conversations lack most of the elements of face-to-face conversation. You can't read someone's expression or the nuances in their tone of voice. You're left trying to interpret text alone, which feels more like interacting with a machine than a person. There's a reason there is so much miscommunication and a lack of genuine connection online. Text simply isn't a rich way of talking. Think of text messages not as a substitute for conversation, but as a way to coordinate and initiate actual conversations, whether in-person or over the phone.

3 Reduce Eye Strain

Modern life introduces an abundance of screen time. Many of us work in front of computers, where we stare at screens for hours each day. Those of us who work remotely find that meetings, too, have become additional screen time. Then if we relax by playing a video game or watching TV, that's more screen time. Pair this with a smartphone, and we spend most of our days staring at an LCD screen a few inches from our face. As a result, screen time exhaustion has become a serious issue. A few modern dumbphones are decisively minimalist and offer a way for you to reduce even the eye strain that comes with spending so much time staring at LCD screens, such as the Light Phone II and the Mudita Pure. These phones offer e-ink displays that mimic the experience of paper. So when you pull out your phone to check the time, place a call, or read a text, you aren't subjecting your eyes to even more blue light.

4 Enjoy Longer Battery Life

Cell phones used to go days, perhaps even a week between charges. Smartphones reduced our expectations. Some struggle to make it until the end of the day, especially if you use them actively. Their bright, high-definition displays absolutely gobble up battery life. When you switch to a dumbphone, you're adopting a device that doesn't put nearly as much demand on a battery. So even with a substantially smaller battery, you can still get days out of a charge. Dumbphone displays don't draw as much power, and since there is less for you to do with the phone, that screen isn't on as often. There is wide variation in battery life among dumbphones, just like among smartphones, but those with less still tend to be able to go at least a couple of days before needing to plug in.

5 Have a More Portable Phone

Today's smartphones are much larger than those of the first generation. Early options came with three or four-inch screens. Now six inches or more is the norm. In that time, pockets haven't gotten any bigger. This isn't an issue if you carry your phone in a bag. But if your phone resides in a pocket, newer devices stretch what you may be willing to put up with. Dumbphones are simply smaller. They both weigh less and take up less space, which means you leave home literally feeling lighter. You're still accessible, you still have something to fall back on in case of emergencies, and you're no longer sacrificing comfort.

6 Appreciate Other Devices

Smartphones have come to replace other tools that previously served a role in our lives. Consider MP3 players, such as the iPod, that were once ubiquitous. Smartphones fill that role now. But the devices that smartphones replaced haven't just gone away. Point-and-shoot cameras are much better, and they still take better photos than the best smartphones. Alarm clocks come in very more diverse varieties, with some able to wake you up with lights in addition to sound. Even dedicated GPS units offer a better experience than earlier models without needing an internet connection. You can use any of these devices in addition to a smartphone, but many of us simply don't make that choice. With a dumbphone, you may find yourself compelled to. Carrying around more than one thing isn't necessarily a bad thing. Single-tasking helps with immersion and the quality of the experience you're having. While a camera app may help you make a record of the moment, a dedicated camera may spark in you a love for photography.

Do You Want a Dumbphone

For some people, buying a dumbphone will be no big deal. For others, it can take a conscious effort. This isn't like going from one model smartphone to other. Learning can require changes to your lifestyle. But if you're discontent with the way you feel after using your smartphone or the amount of time that it occupies each day, then a lifestyle change is what you want. Does this sound like too big a shift? That's okay. You can start small by removing apps and adopting other changes to reduce smartphone usage.