r/minimalism • u/simpsal • 17d ago
[lifestyle] Need help switching from smart phone to flip phone
Seriously considering going back to a flip phone as my daily driver.
My screen time has gotten way too high, and even after deleting apps, I still find myself mindlessly scrolling or finding some other way to waste time on my phone. At this point I think I need a hard stop than just app limits/deleting social media.
I currently have an iPhone 17 Pro Max, which makes this feel slightly ridiculous lol, but I’m thinking about switching to a basic flip phone for day-to-day use and keeping my MacBook for anything I actually need to sit down and do.
I’m completely fine getting rid of TikTok, Twitter/X, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. I also don’t really care about losing Apple Pay. I can just start carrying my wallet again.
The main things I’m trying to figure out are:
- WhatsApp, since I have family back home and use it pretty regularly
- iMessage/FaceTime, ideally through my Mac
- Uber for the occasional ride
- Google Maps/navigation when I actually need it
- 2FA/authenticator stuff for work
- Banking or other random apps that occasionally require a smartphone
Has anyone successfully made a setup like this work?
I was thinking maybe I could put my main number on the flip phone, leave the iPhone at home on Wi-Fi, and use WhatsApp/iMessage through my Mac when I’m home. Or possibly keep a cheap secondary line on the iPhone if certain apps absolutely require it.
For anyone who has switched from an iPhone to a flip phone, what setup ended up being the least annoying while still actually reducing your screen time?
I don’t necessarily want to become completely disconnected. I just want my phone to go back to being a tool instead of something I automatically pull out every 30 seconds. Oh also, which is the best flip phone to use?
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u/Lil-Bit-813 17d ago
Turn your iPhone into a dumb phone. Think you can do it through accessibility
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u/SimpleMan_67 17d ago
If I didn’t need my iPhone for work, I would go back to a flip phone. I would ditch the apps. WhatsApp and such are too much background noise.
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u/Intelligent_Map_7849 17d ago
You’re simply not going to be able to use any navigation apps or ride share apps on a flip phone.
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u/psychologikal3 12d ago
Not true with the dumphone 2. I'm thinking about getting that because I definitely need those things so I can leave my smartphone at home.
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u/Temporary-Meal6947 17d ago edited 17d ago
Use the search feature in /dumbphones plenty of questions and answer on this. CATS 22 and Sunbeam F1 Pro Juniper might work, but I can’t remember exactly the limitations of each. People will know in that sub the best option.
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u/Herbvegfruit 16d ago
Are there other ways to solve the problem of using your phone to self soothe? Can you find something else to do with those few minutes of in between time? Can you add elements to your life to get those dopamine hits?
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u/allegedlydm 16d ago
I personally use Brick after having the same debate and realizing that I can’t manage a flip phone with my job. I need to be able to access the Google suite from wherever I am at times that beyond 9-5 M-F so I can’t really even have one phone for work hours and one for personal use.
Brick lets you set up multiple “modes” so I have a work mode with the work apps and calls and texts allowed but nothing else, and a personal mode with a few other things allowed but nothing I can spend mindless screen time on (so maps, Duolingo, etc but no social media and no Reddit or shopping apps). Unlike in-phone limit options, I physically have to get up and go tap the Brick to get out of the mode and open everything else up, which makes me more likely to think about whether I really need to do whatever it is or if it’ll mean wasting time online.
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u/williambobbins 16d ago
WhatsApp you can use on your laptop as long as you remember to turn the smartphone on every 2 weeks.
iMessage will probably keep working. Uber is pretty tricky without Google. 2FA you can usually use bitwarden, a yubikey or sms.
I see two options for you.
Use something like an e-ink Mudita Kompakt with Aurora Store. It will work for whatsapp, maps though not Google, most 2FA and most banking. Give up on Uber.
Use a smartphone you keep at home for whatsapp and banking and anything else that you can use sometimes, then use a dumbphone for SMS/calling. I'd just keep your iphone for this.
In my case I use a Mudita as my daily driver with whatsapp and my primary banking app on it. I use a GrapheneOS Pixel with no sim cards in for everything else. The occasional banking app doesn't work but everything else does (including Uber if you enable Google Services). I either tether from the Mudita or keep it at home (not as often as I'd like).
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u/VerdantAtSilverSea 15d ago
Think this through. There are many good reasons to get rid of an iPhone but it comes with a cost. For me, I had not realized how convenient iCloud is, especially Photos. No other camera and photo album app I have tried comes close. I don't have a flip phone but I switched to an Android running GrapheneOS and Proton Drive for privacy reasons, and there is no comparison in managing photos and files. Apple is in a league of its own there. But if you are willing to try giving that up, go for it.
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u/Key-Individual3322 11d ago
I have never owned a smartphone until 2 months ago and I keep it in my drawer, just take it out every 2-3 months if my signal (messenger) needs to reconnect to my computer. In the meantime I use two 10-15 year old phones (privat/work) that work great! So I have a lot of lived experience living and working witout one ^^
To answer your questions (as far as I can):
- I use signal (no whatsapp) on my laptop for work purposes, to setup you need a smartphone though (every 2-3 months)
- videocalls work great on the laptop
- I've never used uber (you might be able to book from home using the laptop?)
- for navigation, I have become really good at memorizing maps/routes. It's just a little more prep work, searching for the routes at home - sometimes I memorize, sometimes I take notes, other times I take a photo (with my old, small digital camera)
- specific authentificators might be difficult?
- online borking with a tan generator instead of a phone works great for me
In my opinion it might be very well possible to use a simple phone in your day-to-day live and you have the big advantage of still owning a smartphone for the occasional case that a specific app might need it (work, reconnecting apps, etc.).
I would not want to miss the freedom of moving around without a device that connects you to the internet. It brings me a lot of inner peace :) I hope you find the courage to try it (and not give up if it might seem difficult at first) ^^
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u/Realistic-Try7845 11d ago
Why?
Use the phone less.
A dumb phone won’t work well and basic functions take forever. No uber or 2fa on those either.
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u/No-Age991 10d ago
I was out somewhere the other day and a lot of Jews were there..they all had old flip phones/ old Nokias etc no smart phones..they seem to get on fine without them still
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u/vaurasc-xoxo 17d ago
Delete all the apps except for those and put your phone into black and white. The black and white helps a lot because it is the bright colors that also stimulate dopamine. Also limit how much you respond to family and friends with messaging. I have blackout times when I don't text back. I do not feel rushed to respond.
You can have a designated spot to keep your phone when you are at home and only use messaging 5 minutes an hour.
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u/sweadle 17d ago
You will have no way to call an uber or use GPS. Texting is a huge hassle. Honestly the world is no longer flip phone friendly.
I had one until 2015 and it got to the point where bad things were happening to me because of a lack of a smart phone.
What would be better is to develop some self control with your phone. Start small, no phone one night a week. Or turn it off at 8pm and don't pick it up until morning.
I would aim for not using it at home and just using it when you leave the house.