By Adam Juniper
last updated
Cheap, easy to use, and offering impressive battery life: these are the best dumbphones available today
Jump to:
- Best dumbphone: our top picks
- Best budget
- Best for seniors
- Best just calls and texts
- Best pre-paid
- Best for digital detoxers
- Best rugged dumbphone
- Best for remote locations
- Best for design
- Big button flip
- How do we pick dumbphones
The phrase 'best dumbphone' might sound like a contradiction in terms. Surely a smartphone is best, and a 'dumbphone' is inferior in every way? Well actually, for some people it's actually the opposite.
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Top Picks
1. Best budget
2. Best for seniors
3. Best just calls and texts
4. Best pre-paid
5. Best for digital detoxers
6. Best rugged dumbphone
7. Best for remote locations
8. Best for design
FAQs
How do we pick dumbphones
For example, maybe you're suffering from phone addiction, and need a digital detox. In that case, a simpler phone that doesn't let you access social media will be a preferable option. If you're buying for elderly, tech-challenged grandparents, a basic phone will be easier to use, so again that can make it a better choice.
If you don't want to spend a lot of money and just want to make calls and send texts, the best dumbphones are incredibly cheap. They also tend to have very long battery life, and be more robust if you drop them.
'Dumb' isn't, of course, a word that many retailers will use, preferring terms like ‘feature phone’. Whatever the moniker, we're talking about basic phones that can handle calls, are relatively robust, and will, in all likelihood, only need charging once a week rather than twice a day. And while they certainly won't be the best camera phones, they'll normally have some kind of camera on board. (If you need something that can handle a very rough environment, check the best rugged phones).
An important thing to remember is that many older dumbphones are now useless (though some are styled to look like them). That's because in the US, the FCC has now phased out 2G and 3G, and other countries have done the same, so phones without 4G/LTE compatibility might well be useless. Before you buy a dumbphone, be sure to first check that it's not a 2G or 3G phone, but supports 4G or another current technology, like a satellite network. Every device on this list does.
Best dumbphone: our top picks
1. Nokia 2660
This Nokia low-cost handset is available at under $20 in some places. with is an absolute bargain.
Read more below
2. Easyfone Prime A6
We recommend the Easyfone Prime A6, which keeps things nice and simple with big buttons.
Read more below
3. Nokia 225 4G
Elegant device that avoids smartphone distractions while still enjoying a few smart features, like YouTube & Facebook.
Read more below
4. AT&T Cingular SmartFlip IV
If you're looking for a great pre-paid option for yourself or a loved one AT&T has you covered.
Read more below
5. Punkt MP02
If you want to get away from all the social media and keep things simple then this is a great option for minimalists.
Read more below
6. Cat S22 Flip
If you don't mind a bit of heft but want a flip phone built to handle rough environs, then this is the handset for you.
Read more below
Adam Juniper
With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors…and, above all, drones.
Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones.
He is the author of a number of books includingThe Complete Guide to Drones,The Smart Smart Home Handbook,101 Tips for DSLR VideoandThe Drone Pilot's Handbook.
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Best budget
1. Nokia 2660 flip phone
Great styling and battery with a sensible price
Specifications
Release date: March 2022
Technology: 4G
Screen size: 2.8-in, 240x320 pixel + 160 x 128 on door
Rear camera: 5MP
Front camera: No
OIS: No
Battery life: 18 days standby / 3.4 hours talk (swappable)
Weight: 136g
Dimensions: 110 mm x 19.5 mm x 58 mm
Storage: 4GB
Reasons to buy
+ VoLTE 4G Cost effective Hearing aid compatible
Reasons to avoid
- No hotspot Limited storage
Nokia hasn’t let go of the flip phone or KaiOS, which means they’re keeping designs fresh, but this is – more than anything –a low-cost handset, available at under $20 in some places. Despite that, it has a 5MP camera, better than a good many on this list, and screens inside and out. There is also a headphone jack and, crucially for many, support for not only Bluetooth 4.2 but M4/T4 hearing aids too.
If you’re looking for long life in the field, then the phone has a swappable battery. This is especially handy in the 4G era (call time is never as high on the more modern networks; 3.4hr talk rather than 7.3 on 3G). We also appreciate the arrival of a USB-C connection as well as the 3.5mm headphone jack. There is also little bloatware, although Youtube, Google Browser, and Maps are there.
Best for seniors
2. Easyfone Prime A6
Big easy-to-press buttons and functional simplicity
Specifications
Release date: January 2021
Technology: 4G
Screen size: 1.8-in TFT
Rear camera: No
Front camera: No
OIS: No
Battery life: 96 hours standby, 5 hours' talk time
Weight: 82g
Dimensions: 115 x 52 x 14.5 mm
Storage: Supports 16GB microSIM (not included)
Reasons to buy
+ Easy to use Large fonts Big buttons
Reasons to avoid
- No camera
Want an easy phone your grandparents can use without getting overwhelmed? We recommend the Easyfone Prime A6, which keeps things nice and simple with big buttons, large fonts, and basic, easy to use functionality. We also love that it comes with an SOS button for emergencies (which you can disable if you prefer), and that it's hearing-aid compatible.
You don't get a camera, and there's little in the way of features, but that's kind of the point: keep things simple, and your oldest relatives will be able to make and receive calls without getting stressed or confused by too much modern tech.
Best just calls and texts
3. Nokia 225 4G
Great for calls and texts with a popular modernised retro look
Specifications
Release date: October 2020
Technology: 4G
Screen size: 2.4-in, 240x320 pixel
Rear camera: 0.3MP
Front camera: No
OIS: No
Battery life: 20 days standby / 6 hours talk
Weight: 118 g
Dimensions: 125 x 51 x 14mm
Storage: 128MB
Reasons to buy
+ Excellent battery Simple and cheap Bluetooth enabled
Reasons to avoid
- Texting frustrating
Here's another good choice if you want to avoid the distractions of a modern smartphone, while still enjoying a few smart features. This simple handset can take and receive calls; read (but not compose too many) texts, and even browse YouTube and Facebook. That’swatchYouTube, by the way: the camera only takes stills).
If avoiding distraction is your priority, though, it’s worth bearing in mind that the color screen is good enough for some of Nokia’s famously playable games to work. So if you're a keen mobile gamer, you’ll still need to exercise some self control.
One lovely nod to feature sets from phones 20 years its senior is the inclusion of an FM radio; a more battery efficient way of getting music, news and entertainment than the average smartphone will offer you. Note, though, that you can also add 32GB of MP3s via the MicroSD card slot.
Best pre-paid
4. AT&T Cingular SmartFlip IV
A bargain choice available as a pre-paid
Specifications
Release date: March 2020
Technology: 4G (UMTS, LTE, Wi-Fi)
Screen size: 2.8-in, 240x320 pixel
Rear camera: 2 MP
Front camera: No
OIS: No
Battery life: 72 hours standby / 10 hours talk
Weight: 130 g
Dimensions: 105 x 54 x 19 mm
Storage: 4GB
Reasons to buy
+ Facebook & Whatsapp support MicroSD support Bundled by big-name network
Reasons to avoid
- Sluggish software Google Assistant needs triggering via phone No wi-fi calling
The Cingular Smartflip IV runs KaiOS 2.5, giving it the power to run apps like Facebook or the – essential to some – WhatsApp. There’s also a camera which isn’t much to write home about, though it can record low frame rate postage-stamp videos (352x288) if that’s your thing.
If you’re not a fan of typing, Google Assistant provides voice-type in most text entry fields, and the contacts sync with Google and Outlook (to a maximum of 1000). You can also use a Bluetooth headset, but you’ll still need to open the phone and press ‘OK’ to start Google Assistant. Some reviewers said that they appreciated the ability to switch predictive type on and off, while at least one enthusiastic texter on Amazon did seem to find the system confusing.
As a classic phone, though, this is a good value device. The handset supports HD calls and the keyboard can be operated by feel well enough, ideal for those who like the form factor, don't want a touch-screen, and need to keep in touch across generations.
Best for digital detoxers
5. Punkt MP02
Phone designed for committed digital detoxers and privacy fans
Specifications
Release date: March 2019
Technology: 4G
Screen size: 2-in, 240x320 pixel
Rear camera: No
Front camera: No
OIS: No
Battery life: 180 hours standby / 4 hours talk
Weight: 100g
Dimensions: 117 x 51 x 14mm
Storage: 16GB
Reasons to buy
+ Stylish design Sync contacts on Bluetooth Supports tablet/laptop connection
Reasons to avoid
- No camera Expensive
The MP02 is expensive given its stripped-down feature sets, but its design is wholly deliberate. This isn't an old design fished out and re-branded for the elderly: it's a new phone purposely designed to serve as a minimal distraction from the modern world. Well, it was new in 2019 anyway, when this first came out
The Phone is 4G, and it can be a hotspot when needed, but as a phone, it’s distraction-free monochrome. The striking design shouldn't be a surprise given the Swiss company has had its design appear in MoMA and the V&A.
The MP02 is available in black, gray and a gorgeous light blue, in all cases with a soft-touch pad on the rear for grip. As well as looking good the device appeals where privacy is a concern. It offers support for the Signal protocol, which allows for encrypted internet-based calls as well as metadata and communications.The IP52 glass-fibre case will also take a few knocks, so this is a practical, privacy-friendly, talking point of a choice.
Best rugged dumbphone
6. Cat S22 Flip
Waterproof and military grade rugged flip phone for tough sites
Specifications
Release date: 2021
Technology: 4G
Screen size: 2.8-in + 1.4-inch external
Rear camera: 5MP
Front camera: 2MP
OIS: Android Go 11
Battery life: 160 h standby / 8 hours talk
Weight: 224 g
Dimensions: 119.4 x 61 x 23 mm
Reasons to buy
+ Will survive a tough day's work Android 11 Go Programmable PTT button Drop-tested 6ft (1.8m) onto steel
Reasons to avoid
- Play store stell feels a bit 'smart' Not a cheap option
Flip phones need not be flimsy, and not only does this one have a IP68 and 810H military spec but CAT promises the hinge has been tested 150,000 times (presumably not on the handset you buy!) The screen is Gorilla Glass 5.
Admittedly you're limited to T-Mobile, but in terms of the smart/dumb choice this handset opts to walk a tightrope with the Android Go operating system which uses the keypad but can still behave a little like a full smartphone (there is a Google search bar and icons familiar to Google Android users).
Being half-smart also means you get a 5MP main camera with flash and 2MP selfie camera so you can capture images on-site and the phone has GPS positioning. Up to 5m water resistant means it can easily be cleaned, too, and the charger is USB-C.
Some customers didn't seem to appreciate the rugged bulk (and the fact it weighs more than an iPhone Pro Max). The PTT button, too, is a useful tool for some tradesfolk but perhaps the phone could be dumbed down to remove it for others –this is more of a semi-smart built with a bit of a battering in mind.
Oh, a final possible restriction –at the time of writing this is only found on the US T-Mobile network.
Best for remote locations
7. Inmarsat IsatPhone 2
If you're headed off grid, a sat phone has it's own network
Specifications
Release date: Dec 2019
Technology: Inmarsat satellite network
Screen size: 2.1-in
Rear camera: No
Front camera: No
OIS: No
Battery life: 160 h standby / 8 hours talk
Weight: 318 g
Dimensions: 169 x 75 x 36 mm
Reasons to buy
+ Reaches remote locations Search and rescue available
Reasons to avoid
- Bulky High call costs
A final device that deserves inclusion on this list is one of the best satellite phones. Due to the limited bandwidth of the satellite network, this technology doesn't really do fast data transfer. Physics, however, does give it one huge advantage: a few satellites can see most of the Earth’s surface. That makes the tech perfect for keeping in contact from remote locations.
The IsatPhone 2 is built for adventure with IP65 compliance, a reflective screen with Gorilla glass, a dedicated location-sharing button (texting your location as a GPS text to an interested follower), and an SOS button. Put up the giant antenna nearly anywhere in the world and thanks to a network of geostationary satellites you will be able to make a call.
Best for design
8. Nokia 8110 4G
The 'banana phone' is a legendary design, worth the extra cash for some
Specifications
Release date: February 2018
Technology: 4G
Screen size: 2.4-in, 240x320 pixel
Rear camera: 2MP
Front camera: No
OIS: No
Battery life: 25 days standby / 11 hours talk
Weight: 117 g
Dimensions: 133.5 x 49.3 x 14.9 mm
Storage: 4GB
Reasons to buy
+ Cool retro design Yellow and black versions
Reasons to avoid
- No selfie camera Slow running
The flip-phone style may be old-fashioned, but it's still iconic thanks to pop culture references like the Matrix movies. The keyboard slider makes this phone not only light and compact but practical too, with no accidental pocket dials (or bag fluff) likely to cause a nuisance. The other side of that argument is that the plastic seems a little more easily scuffed than you’d like, and the processor could be snappier, but the price is very attractive – an ideal backup phone. It's got a 2MP camera, too.
Big button flip
9. Tracfone TCL Flip 2
A flip phone with big buttons is idea for seniors
Specifications
Release date: February 2018
Technology: 4G VoLTE
Screen size: 2.4-in, 240x320 pixel
Rear camera: 2MP
Front camera: No
OIS: No
Battery life: 25 days standby / 11 hours talk
Weight: 117 g
Dimensions: 133.5 x 49.3 x 14.9 mm
Storage: 16GB
Reasons to buy
+ More than standard memory Android 11 Big buttons
Reasons to avoid
- No selfie camera Locked to Tracfone (and account needs computer to manage)
Not the most stylish, or the most powerful, but because its locked to Tracfone it is very cheap to buy. The big buttons should make it straightforward to use, as do the limited features. That said you do get wi-fi capability so you wont need to blast through your minutes.
Charging, via USB-C, will buy you nearly seven hours of talk time and about a week of standby. You might find that you need a computer to manage a Tracfone account, however, so it might be a better back-up than only phone. Reading though online reviews shows that some buyers have struggled with this, but if you're looking for a handset for your kids, for example, there shouldn't be an issue.
FAQs
What is a dumbphone?
The simple answer is a dumbphone is the opposite of a smartphone – retailers tend to call them "feature phones." Dumbphones get rid of all the things that make smartphones too complicated to use, opting for simpler user interfaces, larger text, and physical buttons instead of touch screens and gestures that many people struggle to use with modern smartphones.
What is the smartest dumbphone?
Well if you are looking for a modern dumbphone with a few smart features you can't go wrong with our top pick of the Nokia 2760 flip phone. It has a passable camera for snapping photos as well as features like Bluetooth for connecting to headphones and hearing aids. The phone also has an internet browser and mapping.
Do manufacturers mind the name 'dumbphone'?
Not really. You might think 'dumb' sounds a bit offensive, but it's just the opposite to 'smart'. Nokia even have a page called 'dumbphones' on their site.
How do we pick dumbphones
How do we pick the best dumbphone?
This is a complicated area, because different people have different needs from dumbphones. To be sure we're making the best recommendations we not only asses the handsets on the market against what we in the office like, but make sure we check with real-world users, or online retail reviews to get as many perspectives as we can from different users, be they seniors looking for a straightforward experience and uncomplicated buttons or evangelists looking to re-invent our relationship with devices. Where possible we review everything in house, but this is one of those instances that seeking as broad a range of opinion as possible definitely helps!
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Adam Juniper
Managing Editor
With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors…and, above all, drones.
Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones.
He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook.
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