{ "name": "Slower Living Club device database", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/", "license": "Free to reuse with attribution: link back to slowerliving.club.", "generated": "2026-09-18", "count": 66, "devices": [ { "slug": "agm-m10", "name": "AGM M10", "brand": "AGM", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A pocket-sized rugged flip with a notification LED on the lid and a dedicated SOS key.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (rugged, front notification LED)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Both AGM variants in stock on AGM's own store, and in stock at dumbwireless. Also listed on Amazon.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "AGM put the M10 on its own store in February 2025. The manual artwork is dated December 2024.", "price_usd_min": 59, "price_usd_max": 89, "price_note": "$69 direct from AGM, $89 with the charging dock. $59 at dumbwireless against a $69 list. EUR 89 on AGM's EU store.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "RTOS", "os_family": "feature", "screen_size_in": 2.4, "screen_tech": "unknown", "screen_note": "2.4 inch color screen inside, plus a notification LED on the closed lid that shows calls, messages and battery at a glance.", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE. AGM does not publish a band table for the M10, and the US version is sold as T-Mobile-only.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "The manual says VoLTE works in some regions and only with some SIM cards, and the signal bar shows 4G, HD or VoLTE while it is running. In the US the M10 is sold as T-Mobile-only, where VoLTE is the only way a call gets through.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots plus a microSD tray, cards to 128GB. Only one SIM is on 4G at a time, and AGM warns a brand-new SIM has to be activated in another phone first because the M10 will not activate one itself.", "bands": "", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "An RTOS feature phone with no Wi-Fi radio.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C under a rubber port cover. An optional desk charging dock is sold alongside it.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "A 3.5mm jack under its own waterproof rubber cover, sat alongside Bluetooth 5.0.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No. Nothing can be installed on the M10. Music means the FM radio or files on a microSD card.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No. There is no app store, and AGM's manual documents SMS and MMS as the only messaging the phone does.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "No. RTOS with no Google Play Services, so messaging is plain SMS and MMS.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "The RTOS is not Android.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1200, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68/IP69K", "weight_g": 138, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Sold in the US as T-Mobile-only, and it works on T-Mobile sub-carriers such as Noble Mobile and dumbwireless", "countries": "US via AGM's own store, Amazon and dumbwireless; Europe via AGM's EU store", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "eu" ], "website": "https://www.agmmobile.com/products/agm-m10-smart-led-alerts-dual-sim-sos-call-key-high-decibel-speaker", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com, amazon.com, agmmobile.com", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/agm-m10", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Dual standby is single pass, so both cards cannot be on a call or on data at once, and AGM says a brand-new SIM has to be activated in another phone first. AGM publishes no band table for this one.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/agm-m10.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/agm-m10/" }, { "slug": "agm-m11", "name": "AGM M11", "brand": "AGM", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A keypad phone with a 4,000mAh battery that doubles as a power bank.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (rugged keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping from AGM's own store as two listings, a plain M11 and a hotspot version bundled with a global data SIM. Sold out at Dumb Wireless.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "AGM listed the M11 on its own store in December 2025 and added the hotspot bundle in May 2026. The manual artwork is dated September 2025.", "price_usd_min": 79, "price_usd_max": 89, "price_note": "$79 for the standard M11 on AGM's own store, where the list price is $89, and $89 for the hotspot version, which comes with a global data SIM. $79.99 on Amazon. On AGM's EU store the standard is EUR 89 to 98.99 and the hotspot version is EUR 99.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "ThreadX", "os_family": "feature", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "unknown", "screen_note": "2.8 inch QVGA, 240x320.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE, with GSM and WCDMA bands in the radio too. AGM ships separate US and rest-of-world band variants, and the US one is sold as T-Mobile only.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "The manual says VoLTE works in some regions and only with some SIM cards, with 4G, HD or VoLTE shown in the signal bar while a call is running. AGM sells the US variant as T-Mobile only.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots plus a separate microSD tray, cards to 128GB. The SIMs are not hot-swappable, and it is dual standby single pass, so you cannot use both SIMs for calls or data at the same time.", "bands": "US version: GSM B2/B3/B5/B8 | WCDMA B2/B5 | LTE-FDD B2/4/5/7/12/17/28AB/66/71. European version: GSM B2/B3/B5/B8 | WCDMA B1/B2/B5/B8 | LTE-FDD B1/3/5/7/8/20/28a/28b | LTE-TDD B38/39/40/41.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "AGM also sells a hotspot version bundled with a global data SIM.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C, and the top-mounted Type-C cable doubles as a lanyard and as a reverse-charging lead for other devices. No OTG, and AGM says to let the port dry for 48 hours after a soaking before using reverse charging.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack on the top, under a waterproof rubber cover.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No. There is no store, nothing can be installed, and AGM's cloud layer only carries the apps AGM ships, which are video and social. The phone has FM radio instead.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No. AGM names YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Gemini as the cloud apps and WhatsApp is not one of them, and nothing can be installed. Messaging on the phone itself is SMS and MMS.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "No. ThreadX with no Google Play Services, so messaging is SMS and MMS. The cloud apps stream video, they do not add a messenger.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "ThreadX is not Android.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "partial", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 4000, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68/IP69K", "weight_g": 225, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "The US variant is sold as T-Mobile-only, and it works on T-Mobile sub-carriers such as Mint and Noble Mobile", "countries": "US via AGM's own store and Amazon; Europe via AGM's EU store", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://www.agmmobile.com/products/agm-m11-4g-hotspot-phone", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com ($79, sold out); Amazon ($79.99); AGM's own store ($79 standard, $89 hotspot)", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/agm-m11", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "AGM's cloud layer streams YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Gemini from a server rather than installing them, which is worth knowing if the point of the purchase was to avoid those. Reverse charging through the attached USB-C lead stays off until you switch it on. The camera is 0.3MP on AGM's spec sheet and 2MP in AGM's manual.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/agm-m11.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/agm-m11/" }, { "slug": "agm-m8-flip", "name": "AGM M8 Flip", "brand": "AGM", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A rugged flip built around a very loud speaker and an SOS key.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (rugged)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2023, "introduced_note": "AGM put the M8 Flip on its own store in May 2023. The manual is dated August 2023.", "price_usd_min": 79, "price_usd_max": 99, "price_note": "$79 on AGM's own store, $99 with the charging dock, discounted from $99 and $119. EUR 99 to 119 on AGM's EU store, and CAD 129 with the dock on AGM Canada.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Mocor (RTOS)", "os_family": "feature", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "unknown", "screen_note": "2.8\" main display, large font and simple menu; a small indicator panel on the lid shows call, message and battery icons", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE with WCDMA and GSM underneath. AGM ships separate American and European band variants, so check the band list for your region.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "The manual says VoLTE works in some regions and only with some SIM cards, and shows 4G, HD or VoLTE in the signal bar while it is running.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots plus a microSD tray, cards to 128GB, not hot-swappable. Dual standby single pass, so both SIMs cannot be on calls or data at once. The Security+ version of the same phone has no SD slot.", "bands": "US version: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA B2/B4/B5/B8 | LTE B2/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B26/B66. European version: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA B1/B5/B8 | LTE-FDD B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28AB | LTE-TDD B38.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "Mocor with no Wi-Fi radio.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB 2.0 Type-C under a rubber cover, charging at 5V/1A or 5V/2A. A cradle charger is sold separately.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack under a rubber cover.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No. There is no store and nothing can be installed, so music means the built-in FM radio or files on the microSD card.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No. AGM says outright that apps cannot be installed on this phone. Messaging is SMS and MMS.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "No. Mocor RTOS with no Google Play Services, so messaging is SMS and MMS, and MMS depends on the local network.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Mocor is not Android.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1500, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68/IP69K", "weight_g": 162, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "AGM says the M8 works on T-Mobile's network in the US and on MVNOs that ride it, such as Tello. AGM gives no guidance for AT&T or Verizon.", "countries": "US, Canada and Europe, all from AGM's own regional stores", "regions": [ "ca", "eu", "us" ], "website": "https://www.agmmobile.com/products/agm-m8-flip", "buy_links": "eu.agmmobile.com; wholesale channels", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "AGM states plainly that there is no browser and that apps cannot be installed. A separate Security+ version drops the camera, the SD slot and MMS. The 104dB speaker is the selling point, and AGM's own page cannot decide between MIL-STD-810G and 810H.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/agm-m8-flip.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/agm-m8-flip/" }, { "slug": "agm-m9", "name": "AGM M9", "brand": "AGM", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "Forty-nine dollars, IP68, and a keypad. As basic as a phone gets.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (rugged keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2023, "introduced_note": "AGM first listed the M9 on its own store in November 2023. The manual on AGM's download page is a December 2024 revision.", "price_usd_min": 49, "price_usd_max": 49, "price_note": "$49 (AGM US store) / EUR 69.99 (AGM EU)", "price_recurring": "", "os": "ThreadX (AGM markets it as Simple OS)", "os_family": "feature", "screen_size_in": 2.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.4\" QVGA 240x320", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "AGM advertises 4G VoLTE. The manual adds that it only works in some regions and with some SIM cards. The signal bar shows 4G, HD or VoLTE when it is running. The US variant is sold for T-Mobile only.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots plus a separate microSD tray, three slots in all, with cards to 128GB. Dual standby single pass. You cannot use both SIMs for calls or data at the same time, and the SIMs are not hot-swappable.", "bands": "US version: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA B2/B4/B5 | LTE B2/4/5/7/8/12/17/28A. Rest-of-world version: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA B1/B5/B8 | LTE B1/3/5/7/8/20/28AB/39/40/41.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "ThreadX with no Wi-Fi radio.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C under a rubber cover, charging at 5V/1A. No OTG.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack under a waterproof rubber cover. The FM radio is built in and does not need headphones as an antenna.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No. The M9 runs ThreadX on 48MB of RAM and 128MB of storage with no app store, so Spotify cannot be installed. AGM's own pitch for music is the FM radio and headphones on the 3.5mm jack or over Bluetooth.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No. Nothing can be installed on a 48MB ThreadX feature phone with no app store. The Messages menu writes SMS and MMS and that is all.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "No. This is a ThreadX feature phone with no Google Play Services, so messaging is SMS and MMS only.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "ThreadX is not Android.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1000, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68/IP69K", "weight_g": 131, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "The US variant is sold as T-Mobile-only", "countries": "US and EU stores; Amazon", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "eu" ], "website": "https://www.agmmobile.com/products/agm-m9-rugged-4g", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com ($49); Amazon; eu.agmmobile.com", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/agm-m9", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "AGM's spec sheet lists no camera, but the manual labels a 2MP lens on the back and AGM's own renders show one. Dual standby is single pass, so only one SIM can be on a call or on data at a time. AGM sells region-specific band variants, so buy the one that matches your carrier.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/agm-m9.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/agm-m9/" }, { "slug": "apple-watch-cellular", "name": "Apple Watch (GPS + Cellular, used standalone)", "brand": "Apple", "category": "Enthusiast imports and alternatives", "tagline": "Leave the iPhone in a drawer and wear the phone instead. Setup needs the iPhone once.", "form_factor": "watch", "form_factor_detail": "Watch", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Workable, with a setup catch. See notes", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2017, "introduced_note": "Cellular arrived with Apple Watch Series 3 on 12 September 2017. The current cellular line is SE 3, Series 12 and Ultra 4.", "price_usd_min": 299, "price_usd_max": 949, "price_note": "Apple Watch SE 3 with GPS and Cellular is $299 at 40mm and $329 at 44mm, the cheapest way in. Series 12 with cellular is $499 for the 42mm aluminum case and $549 for the 46mm, $699 and $749 in titanium, and $899 and $949 in ceramic. Every titanium and ceramic Series 12 is cellular only, as is every Ultra 4, which starts at $799. The carrier line for the watch is on top of that.", "price_recurring": "roughly $6.50-$20/mo standalone watch line", "os": "watchOS", "os_family": "watchos", "screen_size_in": null, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "Always-On Retina OLED with LTPO3, 2000 nits peak and 1 nit minimum on Series 12: 416 by 496 pixels over 1196 sq mm at 46mm, 374 by 446 over 970 sq mm at 42mm, both 326 ppi. SE 3 is 368 by 448 (977 sq mm) and 324 by 394 (759 sq mm) at 1000 nits.", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "LTE on every cellular model since Series 3. Apple says the models introduced in 2024 and earlier reach 4G LTE and 3G UMTS, while Series 11 and later, SE 3, and Ultra 3 and later reach 4G LTE and 5G. The 5G is the low-power RedCap form, and on those newer watches the published radios are 5G NR and LTE only, with no GSM or UMTS to fall back on.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Apple's setup article says that for international roaming to work on the watch your carrier must support VoLTE and roaming. On the newer models the only published radios are 5G NR and LTE, so a call placed by the watch itself rides IMS. Apple footnotes the carriers whose networks do not support emergency calling over IMS.", "sim": [ "esim" ], "sim_note": "eSIM only, activated over the air from the Watch app. Apple has built one in since Series 3.", "bands": "Series 12 (A3582/A3587), SE 3 (A3326/A3328) and Ultra 4 (A3579), the models Apple lists for the US and most of the world: FDD-5G NR n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n66, n71; TDD-5G NR n38, n40, n41 (Ultra 4 adds n53); FDD-LTE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 66, 71; TDD-LTE 38, 39, 40, 41 (Ultra 4 adds 53). China mainland gets different models: Series 12 A3586/A3588, SE 3 A3327/A3329, Ultra 4 A3580.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "no", "usb_c_note": "No port at all. It charges on a magnetic puck, and the cable in the box is the one that ends in USB-C.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No jack. Audio goes to the built-in speaker or to Bluetooth headphones.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Spotify ships a watchOS app. With Premium and Bluetooth headphones it streams over the watch's own cellular or Wi-Fi connection with no iPhone nearby, and downloads for offline play; the free tier can only control playback on another device.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "partial", "whatsapp_note": "WhatsApp now ships an Apple Watch app, listed as needing watchOS 10 or later.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "RCS came to Messages with iOS 18 and Apple documents it as an iPhone feature; watchOS Messages does not offer it. On its own line the watch sends iMessage and SMS.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "watchOS does neither.", "maps": [ "apple" ], "camera": "no", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "watchOS installs from the Watch app only; there is no APK to sideload.", "browser": "no", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": null, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IP6X dust resistance on Series 12 and Ultra 4, none published for SE 3; 50m water resistance (ISO 22810:2010) on Series 12 and SE 3, 100m on Ultra 4", "weight_g": 32, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Apple's US list includes AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, UScellular, Boost Mobile, Cricket, Metro by T-Mobile, Visible, Xfinity Mobile, Spectrum Mobile, Consumer Cellular, Cox Mobile, C Spire, GCI and several regional carriers; the watch must be on the same carrier as the iPhone it is paired to. For a watch with its own number instead of the iPhone's, the carrier has to support Apple Watch For Your Kids: in the US that is AT&T, BetterRoaming, Boost Mobile, Cellcom, C Spire, Cricket Wireless, T-Mobile, UScellular, Verizon and Xfinity Mobile. Prepaid and some older accounts are not supported.", "countries": "Cellular service is carrier-dependent. Apple lists carriers across more than sixty countries and regions, including the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, most of Europe, India, Japan, Australia and the Gulf states. There are two regional cellular models and neither works everywhere.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://www.apple.com/watch/cellular/", "buy_links": "", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Not a phone, but a real strategy, so it earns a row. On an ordinary plan the watch shares the iPhone's number, and an iPhone is needed once to set it up. Apple Watch For Your Kids is the way around that, giving the watch a number and an account of its own. After setup it runs without a phone nearby, and there is no browser on it.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/apple-watch-cellular.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/apple-watch-cellular/" }, { "slug": "balance-phone", "name": "Balance Phone", "brand": "Balance Phone", "category": "Locked-down smartphones", "tagline": "A Galaxy A37 with the distracting apps blocked at system level, and you can't undo it.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping direct from Balance across the UK, the EU, Switzerland and Norway. The US and Canadian storefronts do not carry it; there they sell only the Pro and the Balance OS subscription.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Replaces an earlier Balance Phone built on the Galaxy A16. Balance's store listing for the A37 version dates from June 2026.", "price_usd_min": 460, "price_usd_max": 577, "price_note": "Balance prices this model by market and never in dollars: EUR 449 in the eurozone, GBP 429 in the UK, EUR 399 in Norway and CHF 386 in Switzerland. At mid-September 2026 rates that runs from about 460 to about 577 dollars. It is not sold in the United States or Canada, where the store carries only the Pro and the Balance OS subscription. Balance OS is included for the life of the phone, with no subscription on top.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Balance OS on Android 16, preinstalled on a Samsung Galaxy A37 5G and locked at system level", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 6.7, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "6.7 inch Super AMOLED, 1080 x 2340, 120 Hz, peak 1900 nits, Gorilla Glass Victus+.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "Balance publishes a European band set for this model and says outright that it cannot use mobile data on US networks.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Not published. Balance says its phones work with almost every major carrier worldwide except AT&T and Verizon, and puts that down to a frequency-band incompatibility in this hardware.", "sim": [ "physical", "esim", "dual" ], "sim_note": "Dual SIM with eSIM: a nano-SIM plus an eSIM, or two nano-SIMs and two eSIMs, with two active at a time.", "bands": "LTE B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B20, B28; UMTS B1, B5, B8; GSM 850/900/1800/1900. Balance does not publish a 5G band list for this model.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C. A cable is in the box but no wall plug. Balance sells that separately.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5 mm jack on the Galaxy A37 5G.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal sit on Balance's allowed list. Music is not one of the blocked categories and installs from the Play Store like anything else.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "WhatsApp is named on Balance's allowed list and installs from the Play Store like any other messaging app. Balance's own setup guide tells you to back up your WhatsApp chats before the factory reset.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Balance ships the ordinary Google Play Store and links your Google account normally, and its blocked list is social, gaming, gambling, streaming, dating and adult content, so Google Messages and its RCS chats are untouched. Balance never names RCS itself, and note that it blocks every external link by default, including ones sent to you.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 5000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IP68", "weight_g": 196, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked. Balance says its phones work with almost every major carrier worldwide except AT&T and Verizon. This model cannot use mobile data on US networks at all.", "countries": "The UK, the EU, Switzerland and Norway. Not sold in the United States or Canada.", "regions": [ "uk", "eu" ], "website": "https://www.thebalancephone.com/products/balance-phone", "buy_links": "", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The blocks sit below the user and cannot be removed, and even a factory reset has to be run remotely by Balance. External links are blocked by default, browsing works only in Chrome or Ecosia, and a few banking apps including HSBC and UBS do not work.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/balance-phone.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/balance-phone/" }, { "slug": "balance-phone-pro", "name": "Balance Phone Pro", "brand": "Balance Phone", "category": "Locked-down smartphones", "tagline": "The Galaxy S25 version of the same idea, for people who still want a great camera.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Balance's store listing for the Pro went live in February 2025.", "price_usd_min": 817, "price_usd_max": 817, "price_note": "749 euros in Balance's own store. The same page reads 817 dollars in the US, 699 pounds in the UK and 1,144 dollars in Canada. Balance OS is included for the life of the phone. The 99 dollars a year subscription only applies if you put Balance OS on a Samsung you already own.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Balance OS on Android, preinstalled on a Samsung Galaxy S25 and locked at system level", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 6.2, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "6.2 inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 2340 x 1080, 120 Hz, the Galaxy S25 panel.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "Full 2G to 5G sub-6 band set on paper, including the North American bands. Balance's US store is narrower than that. It says the Pro runs on most US networks and names T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile, Tello, Mobile X, Google Fi and US Mobile GSM plans, then tells anyone on AT&T or Verizon to switch carriers. The older FAQ still says the Pro works with no issues, so the two pages disagree.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Balance publishes nothing about VoLTE. It says its phones work with almost every major carrier worldwide except AT&T and Verizon, and now puts that gap down to hardware built to European network specs rather than anything on the carriers' side.", "sim": [ "physical", "esim", "dual" ], "sim_note": "Dual SIM with eSIM, as on any Galaxy S25.", "bands": "LTE FDD B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B17, B18, B19, B20, B25, B26, B28, B32, B66; LTE TDD B38, B39, B40, B41; 5G sub-6 N1, N2, N3, N5, N7, N8, N12, N20, N25, N26, N28, N66, N38, N40, N41, N75, N77, N78; UMTS B1, B2, B4, B5, B8; GSM 850/900/1800/1900", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 on the Galaxy S25. A cable is in the box but no wall plug.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5 mm jack on the Galaxy S25.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal sit on Balance's allowed list. Music is not one of the blocked categories and installs from the Play Store like anything else.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "WhatsApp is named on Balance's allowed list and installs from the Play Store like any other messaging app.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Balance ships the ordinary Google Play Store and links your Google account normally, and blocks only social, gaming, gambling, streaming, dating and adult apps, so Google Messages and its RCS chats are untouched. Balance never names RCS itself.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 4000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IP68", "weight_g": 162, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Unlocked. Balance lists T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Ultra Mobile, Tello, Mobile X, Google Fi and US Mobile GSM plans as networks the Pro runs on. It tells anyone on AT&T, Verizon, Cricket Wireless, Visible, Consumer Cellular, Spectrum Mobile, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile Warp plans, Straight Talk or TracFone to move to its own Balance Mobile service instead. The Pro is the only Balance model sold in the US.", "countries": "Sold worldwide, including the United States, the UK, the EU and Canada.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://www.thebalancephone.com/products/balance-phone-pro", "buy_links": "", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The only Balance handset sold in the US, because it is the only one that works on US mobile data. Balance OS is included for the life of the phone, and the yearly subscription applies only if you put Balance OS on a Samsung you already own. Balance sells its own eSIM plans now as well.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/balance-phone-pro.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/balance-phone-pro/" }, { "slug": "bigme-hibreak", "name": "Bigme Hibreak (original)", "brand": "Bigme", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "The original HiBreak. Older Android, smaller screen, lowest price.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Still shipping from both of Bigme's stores, though it is the oldest phone in the line.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "Bigme listed it in May 2024; reviews followed that autumn.", "price_usd_min": 229, "price_usd_max": 259, "price_note": "$229 for black and white and $259 for color on Bigme's global store; Bigme's US store lists the color one at $249.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 11 with Google Play pre-installed", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 5.84, "screen_tech": "eink", "screen_note": "5.84\" ePaper, 720x1440 at 275ppi. The color version is a Kaleido 3 panel, 480x240 of color at about 92ppi. 36-level front light with no auto-brightness.", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE only. The published bands are 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40 and 41, with no band 12, 13, 66 or 71.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One nano-SIM and a microSD card up to 1TB. Bigme's diagram labels a single tray on the left edge for both.", "bands": "LTE B1/2/3/5/7/8/20/28/34/38/39/40/41", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C at USB 2.0 transfer speed. Charging is slow, about 10W, and no charger or cable comes in the box.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. One speaker at the top and Bluetooth for everything else.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Google Play ships on the phone, so the normal Android app installs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Installs from Google Play, and the hands-on review lists WhatsApp among the messaging apps that run on it.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Android 11 with the Play Store and Play Services on board, so Google Messages handles RCS. The build is old and no longer patched, which is the bigger worry.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 3300, "removable_battery": "unknown", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 170, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Bigme's own band chart names AT&T and Verizon on bands 2 and 5 for North America. Bands 12, 13, 66 and 71 are not on the list.", "countries": "Direct from Bigme (global store and bigmestore.com); Amazon", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://store.bigme.vip/products/bigme-hibreak-smartphone", "buy_links": "bigmestore.com", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Android 11, which Bigme has stopped patching, and that is the main reason to look at the newer HiBreaks first. No charger in the box, and a refill is slow.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/bigme-hibreak.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/bigme-hibreak/" }, { "slug": "bigme-hibreak-plus", "name": "Bigme Hibreak Plus", "brand": "Bigme", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "Color e-ink with stylus support, on open Android 14. Reading first.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping from Bigme's own store since April 2026.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Listed by Bigme in March 2026 and shipping from April 2026.", "price_usd_min": 249, "price_usd_max": 259, "price_note": "$249 for the black-and-white version and $259 for the color one, device only. The stylus-and-case bundles are $279 and $289, and the stylus on its own is $49.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 14", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 6.13, "screen_tech": "eink-color", "screen_note": "6.13\" Kaleido 3 color ePaper, laminated. 824x1648 at 300ppi in black and white, 412x824 at 150ppi in color. 36-level cold and warm front light, set by hand: Bigme advertises automatic ambient adjustment but there is no auto-brightness setting on the phone. A black-and-white version sells for ten dollars less.", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "dual" ], "sim_note": "Tray takes two nano-SIMs, 4G only. No microSD slot; storage expands over USB OTG.", "bands": "", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C at USB 2.0 transfer speed. Bigme does not quote a fast-charge figure for this one.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. Bigme does not list one, and photographs of both ends of the phone show only the speakers, the USB-C port, the SIM tray and the infrared window.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Bigme's own FAQ names Spotify as one of the apps that installs from the Play Store on this phone.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Bigme's own FAQ names WhatsApp as one of the apps that installs from the Play Store on this phone.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Android 14 with the Play Store, Gmail and the rest of the Google apps preinstalled, so Google Messages and its RCS chats work as they do on other Google-licensed phones. Nobody has published a test of RCS on it, and your carrier still has to turn it on.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "Gmail is preinstalled with the rest of the Google apps.", "battery_mah": 4500, "removable_battery": "unknown", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 190, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "", "countries": "Direct from Bigme's own store. Their Euro shop carries it too, priced in euros; their Brazil and Mexico stores do not list it.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://store.bigme.vip/products/hibreak-plus-6-13epaper-4g-handwriting-smartphone", "buy_links": "Bigme Euro Shop, EUR 249 device only: https://euroshop.bigme.vip/products/hibreak-plus-6-13epaper-4g-handwriting-smartphone-with-52fps-android-14os-and-4-64gb-storage", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "No NFC, so no tap to pay, and the stylus is sold separately. The front light Bigme advertises as automatic has no auto-brightness setting on the phone. Charging is slow.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/bigme-hibreak-plus.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/bigme-hibreak-plus/" }, { "slug": "bigme-hibreak-pro", "name": "Bigme HiBreak Pro (B/W)", "brand": "Bigme", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "Same phone, black and white panel. Sharper text, no color layer.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping from Bigme's own store.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Bigme's store listing went up in January 2025.", "price_usd_min": 439, "price_usd_max": 459, "price_note": "$439 before tax from Bigme's own store, $459 with tax included.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 14, certified", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 6.13, "screen_tech": "eink", "screen_note": "6.13\" black-and-white ePaper, 824x1648 at 300ppi, with a cold and warm front light.", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "dual" ], "sim_note": "Tray takes two nano-SIMs, dual standby. No microSD slot.", "bands": "5G NSA n1/2/3/5/7/8/20/25/28/38/40/41/66/77/78 | 5G SA n1/2/3/5/7/8/20/25/28/38/41/77/78 | LTE-FDD B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/66 | LTE-TDD B34/38/39/40/41", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, with 18W fast charging.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. The bottom edge is the USB-C port, the speaker and the SIM tray, so headphones mean Bluetooth.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The Play Store ships on the phone, so the normal Android app installs and runs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Installs from the Play Store and works, though scrolling a busy chat on e-ink is always a compromise.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Android 14 here ships with the Play Store and Google Play Services, so Google Messages and RCS work the way they do on any Google-certified Android. Your carrier still has to turn it on.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 4500, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 193, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked. Bigme publishes no carrier list for it. Dumb Wireless sells the HiBreak Pro Color, which carries the identical band list, as T-Mobile and T-Mobile MVNOs only and says Verizon and AT&T do not work; no such statement has been published for this model, so check your carrier first.", "countries": "Direct from Bigme; Amazon", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://store.bigme.vip/products/bigme-hibreak-pro-4g-5g-epaper-smartphone-black-color", "buy_links": "Amazon ($459)", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The monochrome panel is the sharper one for reading. The Play Store and Play Services are on board, so this is ordinary Android behind the e-ink. Bigme's own listings have given the weight as both 180 g and 193 g.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/bigme-hibreak-pro.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/bigme-hibreak-pro/" }, { "slug": "bigme-hibreak-pro-color", "name": "Bigme HiBreak Pro Color", "brand": "Bigme", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A full Android phone on a color e-paper screen. Slower on purpose.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping. Dumb Wireless is clearing the HiBreak line at 20 percent off.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Shipped from November 2025", "price_usd_min": 359, "price_usd_max": 479, "price_note": "Dumb Wireless is closing the HiBreak line out at $359 in black and $379 in white, down from $439. Bigme lists it at $469 and was discounting it to $459 before tax at last check, or $479 with tax included.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 14, certified: open app installation", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 6.1, "screen_tech": "eink-color", "screen_note": "6.1-inch Kaleido 3 color ePaper. 824x1648 at 300ppi in black and white, 412x824 at 150ppi in color. Front light with 32 levels of warm and cool.", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "2G / 3G / 4G LTE / 5G", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "dual" ], "sim_note": "Tray takes two nano-SIMs. No microSD slot.", "bands": "5G NSA n1/2/3/5/7/8/20/25/28/38/40/41/66/77/78 | 5G SA n1/2/3/5/7/8/20/25/28/38/41/77/78 | LTE-FDD B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/66 | LTE-TDD B34/38/39/40/41", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C. 18W fast charging, USB 2.0 transfer speed.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. The bottom edge is the USB-C port, one speaker and the SIM tray, so it is Bluetooth or a USB-C adapter.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The Play Store ships on the phone, so the normal Android app installs and runs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Installs from the Play Store and works, though scrolling a busy chat on e-ink is always a compromise.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Bigme ships the Google Play Store on an open Android 14 build, and Google Wallet and Google Pay work on it, so Google Messages and RCS behave as on any Play phone. Your carrier still has to turn it on.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 4500, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 193, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Unlocked. Works on T-Mobile and T-Mobile MVNOs; not supported on Verizon or AT&T.", "countries": "Direct from Bigme (global + EU store); Amazon", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://store.bigme.vip/products/bigme-hibreak-pro-color-6-e-ink-eye-friendly-smartphone-with-4g-5g-connection", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com ($359-$379); Amazon ($449-$519)", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/bigme-hibreak-pro", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Bigme OS 5 sits on Android 14 and an update past it is unlikely. Haptic feedback is buggy. The black-and-white HiBreak Pro shares this body and nearly the same specs, and its panel is sharper for text.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/bigme-hibreak-pro-color.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/bigme-hibreak-pro-color/" }, { "slug": "cat-s22-flip", "name": "CAT S22 Flip", "brand": "CAT (Bullitt, under license)", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A rugged Android flip with a touchscreen and the Play Store. Getting hard to find.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (rugged, touchscreen)", "availability_status": "limited", "availability_note": "Out of production. Bullitt, which built Cat phones under license, laid off staff in January 2024 and went into administration with PwC that March. New old stock is still on sale at specialist resellers at around $190 to $225, and refurbished units turn up for about $130.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2021, "introduced_note": "Released 18 Sep 2021", "price_usd_min": 192.99, "price_usd_max": 224.95, "price_note": "New sealed stock runs $192.99 at Electronics Force, $194.99 at Cell2Get and $224.95 at Cellphone Beast. Refurbished units go for about $130 when anyone has one in stock. Prices move with whatever is left on the shelf.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 11 (Go edition) with Google Play Store pre-installed", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8\" TFT LCD 480x640 touchscreen, Gorilla Glass 5, plus a 1.44\" external display", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE Cat 4, with 3G WCDMA and 2G GSM in the band list and even some CDMA. In the US only LTE and VoLTE are any use now, since the older networks are switched off.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "VoLTE is how this phone makes calls. The manual's status-icon table includes a VoLTE indicator. It was sold as a T-Mobile device, so that is the network it is happiest on.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One nano-SIM plus a dedicated microSD tray for cards up to 128GB, both under the removable battery. No eSIM.", "bands": "LTE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | WCDMA 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900. The wide band list is the main reason it keeps getting recommended. It works in far more countries than most flips.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "under a rubber flap, plus pogo-pin dock contacts", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm socket. The parts diagram in Bullitt's manual numbers eleven features and the only port among them is the USB port, and the box ships a USB-C to 3.5mm converter. The manual adds that the phone only works with DAC headsets, so a passive adapter is the wrong one to buy. Use the converter in the box, USB-C headphones or Bluetooth.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The Play Store is preinstalled and the manual walks you through installing apps from it, so the real app runs. The 2.8-inch screen is the only thing in the way.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Same story as Spotify. The Play Store is preinstalled, so the real app installs and runs. There is a 2MP front camera for video calls.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Android 11 Go with the Play Store preinstalled, and the manual sets Messages as the default SMS app, so RCS should behave as it does on any Play-certified Android phone. No maker statement and no hands-on test confirms it on this model.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "unknown", "android_auto_note": "Android Go and a 2.8 inch screen are outside what Android Auto is tested on.", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2000, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68", "weight_g": 224, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Works on T-Mobile and T-Mobile MVNOs such as Mint and Tello", "countries": "Global. Sold in the US, UK and EU", "regions": [ "us", "uk", "eu" ], "website": "https://web.archive.org/web/20230129223254/https://www.catphones.com/en-ca/cat-s22-flip/", "buy_links": "Amazon; y2kphones.com; refurbishers", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Bullitt went into administration in 2024, so nobody is maintaining this any more and what you buy is what it stays. Bullitt's product page and its own manual disagree on the size and the weight by a good margin.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/cat-s22-flip.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/cat-s22-flip/" }, { "slug": "commodore-callback-8020", "name": "Commodore Callback 8020", "brand": "Commodore", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "A retro flip running Sailfish OS, with a VFD-style cover screen. Pre-order.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (dual screen)", "availability_status": "preorder", "availability_note": "Pre-order, charged in full at checkout. Commodore's store is selling Batch 24 with a February to March ship estimate and lists the batch after that as TBC. The date has slipped more than once. The announcement targeted the last quarter of 2026, pre-order coverage quoted October to November, and in late August the store showed December to January. Commodore's own footnote says the device has not yet completed FCC equipment authorization and cannot ship until it does. Cancellable for a full refund any time before shipping.", "prerelease": true, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Announced 16 Jun 2026; pre-orders opened 30 Jun 2026", "price_usd_min": 399, "price_usd_max": 640, "price_note": "All four standard colors (Starlight, BASIC Beige, SX Silver and ProtoPET White) are $399 with the Zero Waste Eco-Validated memory option, which uses remanufactured, stress-tested RAM and storage; the same phone with new memory is $449. Those launch prices are down from list prices of $449 to $499 for the eco builds and $499 to $549 for the new-memory ones. The Founders Edition is $640, down from $699, ships with new memory, and adds PVD gold coating, a presentation ring box, a hard case, IEM earphones and a 24k gold-plated C= key. A three-year extended warranty is $49 and worldwide shipping is free at launch for a limited time. Charged in USD, in full, at pre-order.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Sailfish OS (Jolla, Linux-based) with sandboxed Android AppSupport. No Google Play Services, no Play Store. Browsers and social media blocked at system level.", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 3.25, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.25 inch / 8.3 cm IPS at 480x640 inside, with the touch layer switched off by default and enabled only when an app needs it. 1.77 inch / 4.50 cm VFD-style cover display with five dome notification LEDs.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE is the ceiling. Commodore says it supports up to 4G VoLTE plus Wi-Fi and left 5G out deliberately, for battery life, a smaller body, better indoor signal and less temptation to stream. Legacy GSM and WCDMA radios are in the published band table.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Commodore's spec page states 'VoLTE: Yes, supported'", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Physical dual SIM only. Commodore states it does not use eSIM, though it works with 5G-era SIM cards. A separate microSD slot takes up to 256GB and a 32GB card is in the box.", "bands": "GSM B1/2/5/8 | WCDMA B1/2/5/8 | LTE-FDD B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/20/25/26/28AB/66/71 | LTE-TDD B38/40/41. Commodore notes Band 14 (first responders) is not supported.", "hotspot": "unknown", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C for charging and data, and the cable is in the box.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack. Launch coverage describes one, though Commodore never prints the measurement on its own pages. The audio path runs through ESS and Cirrus Logic DAC chips and handles HD audio and lossless files, and there is a built-in FM radio. Wired in-ear monitors are a $50 add-on at checkout.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Commodore lists Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer and Audible as compatible, subject to ongoing app compatibility. They run as sandboxed Android apps rather than native ones, and there is a built-in music player, podcasts and FM radio alongside them.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Preinstalled, and Commodore says it can be uninstalled in a couple of clicks.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Commodore says RCS would route every private message through Google's servers, which defeats the point of a de-Googled phone, so it is not shipping. It points people at OpenBubbles instead for an iMessage-like experience. SMS and MMS work, though group MMS does not yet.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Sailfish OS is not Android, so there are no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "partial", "sideloading_note": "APKs install for anything except browsers and social media, which Commodore blocks at system level.", "browser": "no", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1850, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP44", "weight_g": null, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked, physical SIM only. Commodore's own caveat: it supports all major LTE bands worldwide but 'carrier support can vary by region, plan, whitelist, and VoLTE provisioning.'", "countries": "Worldwide, with a couple of exceptions Commodore does not name. Free worldwide shipping at launch, for a limited time.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://commodore.net/callback/", "buy_links": "Ordered direct from commodore.net; charged upfront at pre-order", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Sideloading is allowed for everything except browsers and social media, which are blocked at system level. This is a revived brand shipping its first phone, and Commodore's own footnote says the device has not cleared FCC authorization, so no pre-order can ship until it does.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/commodore-callback-8020.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/commodore-callback-8020/" }, { "slug": "dumber-mini", "name": "Dumber Mini", "brand": "Dumber", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A tiny Android keypad phone that still runs WhatsApp, Spotify and Maps.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar with a 2.8 inch touchscreen above a T9 keypad and D-pad (21 keys)", "availability_status": "preorder", "availability_note": "Preorder on the maker's store, with an estimated ship date of 15 January 2027 for new orders. The first batch of 1000 shipped from July 2026; the maker expects 2000 more from its manufacturer by mid-November and says the first 1000 of those preorders go out by 1 December.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Announced on 6 March 2026 and first shipped on 6 July 2026. The OS was called Dumbdroid until a trademark dispute with Google forced the rename to Dumber OS.", "price_usd_min": 219, "price_usd_max": 219, "price_note": "$219 for the US and Canada model on the maker's store, or CAD 313 in Canada. The shop's home currency is sterling: GBP 149 for the US and Canada model and GBP 159 for the rest-of-world model. Taxes are included for UK, EU and US orders.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "DumberOS (AOSP 14 / LineageOS 21)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8 inch IPS capacitive touchscreen at 640 by 480. The maker posted a notice in August 2026 about screen faults on the first shipment.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "Two hardware variants with different band sets. The maker says the US and Canada model works outside the US only patchily.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "The maker says VoLTE is fully supported and works out of the box after a recent update. Wi-Fi calling is not supported yet.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots and no microSD. No eSIM; the maker points people at a third-party eSIM adapter instead.", "bands": "US and Canada: 2G GSM EGS850/PCS1900; 3G WCDMA B1/B2/B4/B5; 4G FDD-LTE B1/B2/B4/B5/B7/B12/B13/B17/B66/B71. Rest of world: 2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900; 3G WCDMA B1/B2/B5/B8; 4G FDD-LTE B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28B; TDD-LTE B38/B39/B40/B41", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "One USB-C port. The maker confirms USB-C to USB-C charging cables work on the Mini, unlike on its other model.", "headphone_jack": "unknown", "headphone_jack_note": "The maker's I/O table lists only a USB-C port and never mentions a 3.5 mm jack, so this is unconfirmed either way.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The maker's FAQ says Spotify and Apple Music both work, and the phone ships with a store that reaches the whole Google Play catalog.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "WhatsApp, Messenger and Signal all run, with push notifications through microG or Google Play Services.", "rcs": "partial", "rcs_note": "The default build is degoogled and runs microG, where the maker says RCS does not work. It works on the alternative build with real Google Play Services, and the maker will not guarantee that in future.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "unknown", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Installing from unknown sources is available in settings. The phone ships degoogled with microG and the Aurora store, and the built-in updater switches to the Google Play variant and back; an App Blocker in settings can turn installation off altogether.", "browser": "yes", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2150, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 110, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "T-Mobile only in the US, per the maker, and Telstra only in Australia. Canadian carrier compatibility is not stated yet.", "countries": "Shipped from the UK. The store's own country list runs to about fifty countries across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, with a separate US and Canada model and a rest-of-world model.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://dumbermini.com/products/preorder-dumber-mini-us-version", "buy_links": "Mostly direct from the maker; the rest-of-world model is a separate listing at dumbermini.com/products/dumber-phone. Romobil.no in Norway is a named reseller.", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The maker supports only T-Mobile in the US and only Telstra in Australia, and there is no Wi-Fi calling and no eSIM. In August 2026 it published a notice about widespread screen faults on the first shipment. Apps that check Play Integrity, which means a lot of banking, will refuse to run.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/dumber-mini.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/dumber-mini/" }, { "slug": "dumbphone-2", "name": "Dumbphone 2", "brand": "dumb.co", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "Twenty dollars plus a plan. The cheapest way to try a second, dumber number.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "2026", "price_usd_min": 20, "price_usd_max": 20, "price_note": "$20 one-time for the phone plus shipping, then a required plan with a four-month minimum. Three tiers, all plus tax: DUMBEST at $15.99/mo as a standalone phone, DUMBER at $20.99/mo as a companion to a smartphone, and DUMB at $25.99/mo which adds the Spotify, Apple Music and podcast bundle. Damage that is not an out-of-box defect carries a $65 replacement fee.", "price_recurring": "DUMBEST $15.99/mo, DUMBER $20.99/mo or DUMB $25.99/mo plus tax, 4-month minimum (required)", "os": "dumbOS: dumb.co's own software on a TCL Flip 2, which ships stock with Android 11", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8 inch QVGA 240x320 TFT LCD inside, with a 1.44 inch color cover display. There is no touchscreen. It is a keypad phone, and dumb.co ships voice-to-text and its own TT9 predictive typing, with a tutorial video for new owners.", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "dumb.co's own service on T-Mobile's network, 4G LTE, with 1GB of data a month on every plan. US and Puerto Rico only, and dumb.co says Alaska is still to come.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "The TCL Flip 2 hardware is sold as an LTE-only handset with HD Voice, so calls ride LTE. dumb.co publishes no VoLTE spec of its own.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM, pre-inserted by dumb.co and tied to their service. dumb.co says dumbOS only works on an active dumb.co plan and that most core features stop without one, so you cannot bring your own carrier. There is a microSD slot for up to 128GB.", "bands": "", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, listed by dumb.co in their own hardware specs.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack, listed by dumb.co alongside Bluetooth. Worth having on the DUMB plan, which is the tier that adds Spotify, Apple Music and podcasts.", "spotify": "partial", "spotify_note": "Spotify comes with the audio bundle on the top DUMB tier, not with the phone. You link your account by signing in to Spotify on a computer during setup and the phone picks up the pairing.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "WhatsApp is on every tier, but it joins as a linked device: you scan a QR code on the flip with the phone that already holds your WhatsApp account. Signal works the same way, as a secondary device on the Signal Desktop flow.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "The phone's own line is SMS and MMS. On the companion tiers a smart txt app mirrors your smartphone instead: Android owners sign in to Google Messages on the flip, and iPhone owners route iMessage through a relay running on their computer. Anything richer than SMS arrives second hand from the other phone.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "dumbOS has no Google services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Possible but discouraged by the maker, and a factory reset means a replacement phone.", "browser": "unknown", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1850, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 140, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "dumb.co's own service on T-Mobile's network. BYO carrier is not supported", "countries": "US + Puerto Rico. Not Alaska, not international.", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://dumb.co/", "buy_links": "Ordered through dumb.co; dumbwireless links to it", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": true, "notes": "Signal, WhatsApp and text sync are linked clients paired to accounts you hold elsewhere, not standalone apps. Porting your old number cancels the service on your smartphone, so do not port it if you want this as a second phone. A factory reset means a replacement phone.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/dumbphone-2.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/dumbphone-2/" }, { "slug": "duoqin-qin-3-ultra", "name": "Duoqin Qin 3 Ultra", "brand": "Duoqin", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A Chinese anti-addiction school phone. Its LTE bands barely touch US networks.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (mini slab)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Still listed as a current product on Duoqin's own site and stocked by import sellers.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2023, "introduced_note": "Announced in China in March 2023. Chinese retail listings date the 8GB/256GB version to July 2023.", "price_usd_min": 300, "price_usd_max": 300, "price_note": "Launched in China at CNY 1,599 for 8GB/256GB, about $230 at the time. Chinese retail has since drifted to roughly CNY 970. Import sellers list the global version at $300.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 12", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 5.02, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "5.02-inch 720x1520 LCD with a hole-punch front camera in the top left corner. Duoqin's own spec sheet calls the screen 5.05 inches. No refresh rate is published.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "Duoqin lists it for China Mobile 2G and 4G, China Unicom 2G, 3G and 4G, and China Telecom 4G VoLTE. There is no 5G.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Duoqin says the phone does VoLTE voice, data and messaging on China Telecom 4G, and its own FAQ adds that the line itself has to have VoLTE switched on first. Nothing is published about VoLTE outside China.", "sim": [ "physical" ], "sim_note": "One nano SIM slot, single standby. The Chinese hands-on review says the tray takes a single card and the import listing's spec block agrees, though the same listing's sales copy claims dual SIM.", "bands": "2G GSM 3/8; 3G WCDMA 1/5/8; 4G FDD-LTE 1/3/5/7/8; 4G TDD-LTE 38/39/40/41", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C handles charging, data and headphones. The box has a USB-A to USB-C cable and no charger. Chinese retail listings rate the wired charging at 18W; Duoqin does not publish a figure.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm socket. Duoqin's own spec sheet lists headphones as Type-C or wireless, and the hands-on review confirms the USB-C port takes Type-C headphones.", "spotify": "unknown", "spotify_note": "The phone ships with Duoqin's own Chinese app market rather than Google Play, and no source lists Spotify in it. On the Standard build you can install an APK from the browser, but nobody has published whether Spotify actually runs.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "unknown", "whatsapp_note": "The Student build blocks every install route except Duoqin's own market, and a factory reset does not undo it, so sideloading is only possible on the Standard build. No source lists WhatsApp in that market or reports testing it here.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "A China-market Android with Duoqin's own app market and no Google Play or Play Services, so there is no Google Messages and no RCS. Texting is SMS, or WeChat.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "unknown", "android_auto_note": "Whether the Play Store is on board depends on the variant you buy.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "partial", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2500, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 118, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "LTE FDD 1/3/5/7/8 and TDD 38/39/40/41, a China and Europe set. Bands 2, 4, 12, 13, 66 and 71, which is most of what AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon run, are all missing. Assume it will not work properly on a US network.", "countries": "Sold in China through Duoqin's own shop and its JD and Tmall stores. Everywhere else it is an import.", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://www.duoqin.com/product_qin3ultra.html", "buy_links": "Duoqin's own shop, JD and Tmall in China; qinf21pro.com for the global version", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "At first boot you pick a Standard or a Student build, and the Student one can only install from Duoqin's own market. A factory reset does not undo that choice. There is no Google Play, the interface and preloaded apps are Chinese, and the Qin AI assistant is billed by the query.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/duoqin-qin-3-ultra.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/duoqin-qin-3-ultra/" }, { "slug": "duoqin-qin-f22-pro", "name": "Duoqin Qin F22 Pro", "brand": "Duoqin", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A T9 keypad under a 3.54-inch touchscreen. Google Play only on the global units.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (touchscreen + T9 keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Still a current product on Duoqin's own site, and both colors were in stock at the main English import store when this row was checked.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2022, "introduced_note": "Chinese launch in the second half of 2022, on Android 12. Duoqin still lists it as a current product.", "price_usd_min": 149.99, "price_usd_max": 149.99, "price_note": "$149.99 from the main English import store for 4GB/64GB in black or white, both colors in stock. A Qin specialist reseller lists the same phone at $208 with and without Google Play pre-installed, but every variant there is out of stock. Import marketplaces run cheaper and were not re-checked.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 12", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.54, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.54-inch 640x960 touchscreen at 330ppi, with a physical T9 keypad below it.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "2G, 3G and 4G. Duoqin lists it for China Mobile 2G and 4G, China Unicom 2G, 3G and 4G, and China Telecom 4G VoLTE. There is no 5G.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Duoqin says the phone carries VoLTE voice, data and messaging on China Telecom's 4G, and that the line needs VoLTE enabled. Nothing is published about VoLTE on US or European carriers.", "sim": [ "physical" ], "sim_note": "One nano SIM slot. The import listings and the third-party spec sheets both say single SIM; the dual-SIM claims come from marketplace copy, not from Duoqin.", "bands": "Two lists are published and they do not match. Duoqin's own page gives GSM 3/8, WCDMA 1/5/8, FDD-LTE 1/3/5/7/8 and TDD-LTE 38/39/40/41. One English import store lists a wider set for the global unit: GSM 2/3/5/8, WCDMA 1/2/5/8, FDD-LTE 1/3/5/7/8/20/28a/28b and TDD-LTE 34/38/39/40/41. Another import store selling the same global unit republishes Duoqin's narrower list, so check which one a seller is shipping.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "Dual-band Wi-Fi, which Duoqin confusingly advertises as 5G.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C for charging and data, and it doubles as the headphone port. Charging is 5V/2A and there is no fast charge.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm socket. Duoqin's own page spells it out. Headphones connect over Bluetooth TWS or through the Type-C port.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The global units ship with the Play Store pre-installed, so Spotify installs the ordinary way. Duoqin's own Chinese build carries no Google services at all, so on an imported Chinese unit you would be sideloading it or going through a third-party store.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Same story as Spotify. The global units come with the Play Store pre-installed, so WhatsApp installs from it. Duoqin's Chinese build has no Google services, so an imported Chinese unit needs sideloading or a third-party store first.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "No RCS. Duoqin's Chinese build ships with no Google services at all, and where a seller has hand-installed the Play Store the phone is not a certified Google device and cannot take system updates afterwards, so Google Messages has nothing dependable to register against. Texting is SMS and MMS.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "Only on the variants that ship with the Play Store.", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Android 12 with the unknown-sources toggle intact, so an APK installs from settings, which is the route on an imported Chinese unit, since that build ships with no Google services, only Duoqin's own Chinese app market, and its first-boot setup offers a Student mode that blocks app installs altogether. Global units have the Play Store put on by the seller, and those cannot take OTA updates afterwards.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2150, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 116, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "LTE bands 2, 4, 12, 13, 66 and 71 are all missing from both the Chinese and the global band lists, and those are most of what AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon run. Sellers have offered US-tuned builds of the older F21 Pro but not of this one, so check with your carrier before importing.", "countries": "Built for the Chinese market. English-language import stores and marketplaces ship it everywhere else.", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://www.duoqin.com/product_f22pro.html", "buy_links": "qinphone.com (global version, Google Play pre-installed, $149.99); qinf21pro.com (lists it with and without Google Play but is out of stock); SUNSKY; AliExpress; import sellers", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Duoqin's feature grid advertises dual-band Wi-Fi as 5G support, and resellers repeat it as though it meant 5G cellular. It is not a 5G phone. On global units the Play Store is installed by hand by the seller, after which that unit cannot take system updates. The Chinese build has no Google services at all.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/duoqin-qin-f22-pro.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/duoqin-qin-f22-pro/" }, { "slug": "hmd-barbie-phone", "name": "HMD Barbie Phone", "brand": "HMD", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A restyled Nokia flip in pink, with stickers and a beaded strap.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (dual screen)", "availability_status": "limited", "availability_note": "Still in normal retail in Europe: Vodafone UK has it in stock at GBP 49 and HMD's UK page also links Very, its German page lists Cyberport, freenet, Galaxus, MediaMarkt and Mueller, and its Irish page links Harvey Norman. In the US it is down to Amazon and eBay - Dumb Wireless is sold out at $219.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "Announced and on sale 28 Aug 2024 (US version October 2024)", "price_usd_min": 129, "price_usd_max": 219, "price_note": "$129 / EUR 129 / GBP 99 at launch. Dumb Wireless listed it at $219 and is sold out.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "S30+ internationally. The US version is a different phone under the pink shell and runs KaiOS 3.1.", "os_family": "s30", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8 in internal LCD at 240x320 QVGA plus a 1.77 in QQVGA external screen set into a mirror", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "GSM/GPRS 900/1800, WCDMA and LTE Cat 1 on the international build. The US build carries US LTE bands instead.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM. HMD quotes dual-SIM talk time for the international build and single-SIM figures for the US one.", "bands": "International: GSM quad band | WCDMA B1/2/4/5/8 | LTE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41. US: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA 2/4/5 | LTE B2, B4, B5, B7, B12, B13, B17, B25, B26, B41 (HPUE), B66, B71", "hotspot": "partial", "hotspot_note": "The international model has no Wi-Fi. The US model is KaiOS hardware with Wi-Fi.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C for charging and data on both builds. The international box has a cable and no wall charger, which HMD says is deliberate to cut e-waste; the US box lists a charger instead.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack on both builds, and HMD lists an FM radio it describes as wired and wireless.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No Spotify on either build. HMD's international sheet lists only an MP3 player and FM radio for audio and its manual documents no store at all, and a search of the KaiOS app catalog returns nothing from Spotify.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No WhatsApp on either build. The international one gives you no way to install apps, and KaiOS itself says WhatsApp is not available on KaiOS 3.0, the platform the US version runs; the KaiOS app catalog lists no WhatsApp either.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "SMS only. Neither HMD spec sheet mentions RCS, both user guides describe plain text messages that split in two when they run long, and there is no RCS app in the KaiOS store.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Neither model runs Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "partial", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Series 30+ is a feature-phone OS with no app installation of any kind.", "browser": "partial", "email": "partial", "email_note": "The international model has none. The US KaiOS model has a browser and email.", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 123, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked", "countries": "Global from Aug 2024; US from Oct 2024", "regions": [ "global", "us" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/hmd-barbie-phone", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com (sold out); Amazon; eBay", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/hmd-barbie-phone", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Really two phones. The international model is a restyled Nokia 2660 Flip with no Wi-Fi and no browser. The US model is different hardware on KaiOS, with Wi-Fi, a browser and email. Check the model number against the one you mean to buy.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/hmd-barbie-phone.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/hmd-barbie-phone/" }, { "slug": "iphone-5", "name": "iPhone 5 (repurposed as a dumbphone)", "brand": "Apple", "category": "Enthusiast imports and alternatives", "tagline": "Listed so nobody buys one by mistake. With no VoLTE it cannot make calls in the US.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "Not viable as a phone on most modern networks. See notes", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2012, "introduced_note": "Announced 12 September 2012, on sale 21 September, at $199 for the 16GB model with a new two-year contract", "price_usd_min": 40, "price_usd_max": 40, "price_note": "Second-hand only. The cheapest Swappa listing was $40 in September 2026; condition and storage move it around.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "iOS 10.3.4 maximum: no security updates", "os_family": "ios", "screen_size_in": 4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "4-inch 1136-by-640 Retina LCD at 326 ppi, 800:1 contrast, 500 cd/m2", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "no", "volte_note": "No VoLTE, so voice has to fall back to 2G or 3G. Verizon stopped activating non-VoLTE devices and decommissioned CDMA on 3 January 2023; T-Mobile retired 3G UMTS on 1 July 2022 and 2G GSM on 3 August 2026.", "sim": [ "physical" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM", "bands": "GSM model A1428: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE bands 4 and 17. GSM model A1429: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE bands 1, 3 and 5. CDMA model A1429: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 13 and 25.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "no", "usb_c_note": "Lightning, and the iPhone 5 was the first iPhone to use it. 30-pin accessories need Apple's adapter", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "The jack moved to the bottom edge on the iPhone 5, in the same assembly as the Lightning connector and the speaker grille", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "The current Spotify app needs iOS 16.1; this phone stops at iOS 10.3.4", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "WhatsApp needs iOS 15.1; this phone stops at iOS 10.3.4", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "RCS reached Messages with iOS 18, which needs an iPhone XS or later, so nothing on an iPhone 5 can send it", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "This is an iPhone, so the car standard is CarPlay.", "maps": [ "apple" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "partial", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "iOS installs from the App Store only; there is no APK to sideload.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1440, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 112, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "No US carrier will carry its voice calls any more. AT&T began phasing out 3G on 22 February 2022 and says talk and data work only on devices that support 4G LTE and HD Voice, and it no longer activates phones without HD Voice. Verizon stopped activating non-VoLTE devices and decommissioned CDMA on 3 January 2023. T-Mobile retired 3G UMTS on 1 July 2022 and its 2G GSM network on 3 August 2026. Outside the US, 2G and 3G shutdowns vary by country, so check before relying on it.", "countries": "Launched 21 September 2012 in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK, with 22 more countries on 28 September 2012. Second-hand only now.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://support.apple.com/en-us/112016", "buy_links": "Swappa and other second-hand markets", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The radio is the problem. There is no VoLTE, so voice falls back to 2G or 3G, and US carriers have switched both off. iOS 10.3.4 is the end of the line, so current WhatsApp and Spotify will not install. Treat it as a Wi-Fi iPod. An iPhone SE, second or third generation, is the usual answer for the small-iPhone feel with working voice.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/iphone-5.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/iphone-5/" }, { "slug": "keyphone-the-hybrid", "name": "Keyphone The Hybrid", "brand": "Keyphone", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "Modular and repairable. Keypad, battery, camera and screen all swap out.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar with swappable keypad (T9 / QWERTY / touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Crowdfunded 2025; retail 2026", "price_usd_min": 399, "price_usd_max": 464, "price_note": "$399 direct with the numeric keypad and the 13MP camera. The Signature QWERTY keyboard adds $35 and the 20MP camera module adds $30, so a fully specified Hybrid is $464. Dumbwireless sells the QWERTY build at $428.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Custom skin on AOSP 15: 15 built-in apps, no app store", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8in at 480x640 in Hybrid mode; the 4.0in full-screen model runs 540x1080. Touch works but can be switched off, and the Hybrid has no on-screen keyboard.", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Keyphone does not publish VoLTE support. The phone is 4G only and the company lists Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile as compatible, which in practice needs VoLTE, but it never says so.", "sim": [ "physical", "esim", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One physical SIM plus eSIM profiles. Keyphone's product page calls the tray hybrid dual. MicroSD is rated to 128GB, and the manual labels the single side tray SIM/SD card.", "bands": "4G LTE FDD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28B, 66, 71", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "Email and the hotspot are not built yet.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C. No wireless charging.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack on the side, labelled the headset jack in the manual.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No app store and no sideloading, and Spotify is not among the pre-installed apps. Keyphone ships its own Music app instead.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store and no sideloading. Messaging is Keyphone's own app.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Messaging is Keyphone's own app. There is no Google Messages, no store and no sideloading, so there is no way to add it. Optional Google services only cover things like Android Auto and contact syncing.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "Optional Google services cover Android Auto and contact syncing.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Sideloading and APK installs are blocked outright, so the app list is the whole phone.", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "Email and the hotspot are not built yet.", "battery_mah": 2400, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 159, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, plus MVNOs including Mint, Cricket, Metro, US Mobile, Visible, Total, Straight Talk, Tracfone, Red Pocket, Xfinity Mobile and Consumer Cellular. Bell, Telus and Rogers in Canada; EE, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK.", "countries": "Sold direct to the US, Canada and internationally. Keyphone publishes carrier lists for the US, Canada, the UK, the EU and Israel.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "global" ], "website": "https://keyphone.tech/products/the-hybrid", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com; Amazon", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/keyphone", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Sideloading and APK installs are blocked outright, so the fifteen or so built-in apps are the whole phone. Email and the hotspot are not built yet. Some retailers advertise 6GB and 128GB, but Keyphone's own documentation says 4GB and 64GB.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/keyphone-the-hybrid.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/keyphone-the-hybrid/" }, { "slug": "kyocera-digno-902kc", "name": "Kyocera Digno 902KC / 903KC", "brand": "Kyocera", "category": "Enthusiast imports and alternatives", "tagline": "A SoftBank keitai with a proper English menu and an awkward band list.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (keitai)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "Both carriers have retired it (Y!mobile's page says the model is no longer sold and SoftBank has taken its product page down), so it is a used-import buy. SoftBank still lists repair support, due to end on August 31, 2028, and Kyocera was still publishing new firmware source for it in February 2026.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2020, "introduced_note": "Kyocera announced the DIGNO Keitai 3 on January 23, 2020, and SoftBank's English user guide is dated that month. The launch firmware for the 902KC and for Y!mobile's identical 903KC both went out on March 6, 2020, which is the day Y!mobile put the 903KC on sale.", "price_usd_min": 190, "price_usd_max": 240, "price_note": "Kyoex, the Japanese exporter the buy links point to, sells it new and SIM-unlocked at $285 in black or silver, down from a $395 list, and the pink at $345, down from $545. Used stock runs $160 for the black and $185 for the silver, with a $245 pink listed but out of stock. Other import sellers vary with condition, so treat the range as a guide.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android-based SoftBank feature-phone build; neither Kyocera nor SoftBank publishes the version. English is a supported system language.", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.4-inch 854x480 FWVGA TFT main screen and a 0.9-inch OLED sub-display on the lid.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE, 3G and GSM, with international roaming. Y!mobile rates it at 112.5Mbps down and 37.5Mbps up on 4G.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "VoLTE and HD Voice, but it is SoftBank and Y!mobile VoLTE. The guide says it only works between VoLTE-capable Y!mobile and SoftBank handsets. On a foreign network it is down to that carrier provisioning an uncertified device.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One USIM slot under the back cover, alongside a microSDHC slot that takes up to 32GB. No dual SIM, no eSIM.", "bands": "LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8. 3G on bands 1, 2, 4 and 8, GSM 900/1800/1900 abroad. SoftBank's own band list marks 5, 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26 and 28 as not fitted and every TDD band as absent, so in the US it is band 2 and band 4 only. Passable in a city, nothing below 1GHz.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C, and the guide is blunt that the port takes nothing else. Charges in about 140 minutes.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. The manual tells you to connect a USB Type-C earphone or a Type-C conversion cable, which is also what the FM radio uses as its aerial.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is nowhere to get it from. The main menu is a fixed twelve-item list, there is no Google Play and no Play Services, and the manual documents no way to install anything.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "Messaging is S! Mail on the SoftBank 902KC, MMS on Y!mobile's 903KC, plus SMS and PC mail. There is no app store to install WhatsApp from and no Play Services to run it on.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Messaging is MMS and SMS. SoftBank's +Message, Japan's carrier RCS app, is not listed for this model and does not appear anywhere in the manual, and there is no Google Messages or Play Services either.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "A closed SoftBank build with no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "Carrier mail, the way every Japanese keitai has it.", "battery_mah": 1700, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IPX5/IPX8 and IP5X", "weight_g": 131, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "SoftBank sold the 902KC and Y!mobile the identical 903KC. Its LTE bands are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8, so in the US you are on band 2 and band 4 only, with nothing below 1GHz. Expect indoor and rural coverage to be poor. VoLTE here is SoftBank and Y!mobile VoLTE, so calls depend on a US carrier being willing to provision an uncertified handset.", "countries": "Japan; exported", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://www.kyocera.co.jp/prdct/telecom/consumer/lineup/digno-keitai3/", "buy_links": "eBay Japan sellers; Kyoex", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Contrary to the import guides, SoftBank publishes a full English user guide and the menus run in English. The main menu is a fixed twelve items with no store and no way to add one. USB-C is the only port, and the manual is blunt that nothing else goes in it.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/kyocera-digno-902kc.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/kyocera-digno-902kc/" }, { "slug": "kyocera-duraxa-equip", "name": "Kyocera DuraXA Equip (E4831)", "brand": "Kyocera", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "The carrier-flexible Kyocera rugged flip, with push to talk.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (rugged)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Kyocera still sells it unlocked from their own store. Check their service provider compatibility list before you buy.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2022, "introduced_note": "Kyocera's spec sheet for the phone is dated March 2022, and both it and the user guide carry a 2022 copyright. Their newsroom has no launch release for this model.", "price_usd_min": 149.99, "price_usd_max": 215.99, "price_note": "Kyocera lists an MSRP of $215.99 and advertises it direct at $179.98, though their store dates that sale price to the end of August 2026. Cell2Get sells it new and unlocked at $149.99. Kyocera's own remanufactured units were $129.99 but are sold out and Kyocera says they will not be restocking.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "AOSP (proprietary Kyocera build)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 2.6, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.6\" QVGA TFT 240x320 internal + 1.08\" monochrome OLED 102x90 sub-display", "network": [ "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "LTE CAT 4 plus a UMTS radio that has nothing left to connect to in the US.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Kyocera's product page and store listing both say 4G Voice-over-LTE cellular calling with HD voice.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Single nano-SIM plus a microSDXC slot for cards up to 512GB. The spec sheet lists a pre-installed SIM in the box, but the unlocked units Kyocera sells direct come without one.", "bands": "LTE CAT 4 B2, B4, B5, B12, B14, B66; UMTS B1, B2, B4, B5", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "High-speed USB 3.1 Type-C, or charging contacts on the back for a drop-in cradle.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "A 5-pole headset jack with a camlock collar that screws accessories down. The FM radio needs an earphone plugged in to act as the antenna.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no app store on the phone. The music player reads files you copy onto it or onto a microSD card.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store and no Google services, so there is no way to put WhatsApp on it.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Messaging is SMS and MMS only. RCS in practice means Google Messages with Play Services, and this phone has neither.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Kyocera builds this on AOSP with no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1770, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68, MIL-STD-810H", "weight_g": 193, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Sold unlocked and for the US only. Kyocera's own compatibility list marks AT&T, T-Mobile, UScellular, Consumer Cellular, Boost Mobile, Cricket, Metro and Mint Mobile as compatible, and Verizon and Visible as not. Consumer Cellular and Mint need a pre-activated SIM.", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://www.kyoceramobile.com/rugged-devices/duraxa-equip", "buy_links": "eBay; cell2get.com", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Kyocera's own compatibility list rules out Verizon and Visible, and anywhere outside the US. Push to talk needs a subscription on top. There is no app store behind Kyocera's menu.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/kyocera-duraxa-equip.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/kyocera-duraxa-equip/" }, { "slug": "kyocera-duraxe-epic", "name": "Kyocera DuraXE Epic", "brand": "Kyocera", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "The AT&T-flavored rugged Kyocera. Secondary market only now.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (rugged)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "Kyocera's own page for the phone now reads that the device is no longer available. Secondary market only.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2021, "introduced_note": "AT&T launched it in April 2021 at $270. The FCC granted the E4830 in February 2021.", "price_usd_min": 80, "price_usd_max": 269.99, "price_note": "AT&T launched it at $270 in April 2021. It only turns up secondhand now, so what you actually pay varies.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "AOSP (proprietary Kyocera build)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 2.6, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.6 inch QVGA TFT, 240 by 320, inside, plus a 1.08 inch monochrome 102 by 90 sub-display on the lid. Kyocera's product page calls that sub-display OLED and its printed spec sheet calls it FTSN.", "network": [ "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "LTE CAT 4 on AT&T and FirstNet, with band 14. There is a UMTS radio too, but AT&T switched off 3G in 2022.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Kyocera never prints a VoLTE line for this model. The one mention in any of its documents is the assisted GPS row, which reads SUPL 2.0 for VoLTE E911, and the user guide does not mention VoLTE anywhere. Treat it as unconfirmed.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Single nano-SIM (4FF), plus a microSDXC slot for cards up to 512GB.", "bands": "LTE CAT 4 B2, B4, B5, B12, B14, B66; UMTS B1, B2, B4, B5", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C, or charging contacts on the back for a drop-in cradle.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "A 3.5mm 5-pole headset jack with a camlock collar that twists accessories tight to the body. It doubles as the push-to-talk accessory port, and an earphone is the FM radio antenna.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no app store on the phone. The music player reads files you copy onto it or onto a microSD card.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store and no Google services, so there is no way to put WhatsApp on it.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Messaging is SMS and MMS only. RCS in practice means Google Messages with Play Services, and this phone has neither.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Kyocera builds this on AOSP with no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "partial", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1770, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68, MIL-STD-810H", "weight_g": 193, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att" ], "carriers": "AT&T and FirstNet. Band 14 and FirstNet Ready, built around AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk.", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://www.kyoceramobile.com/rugged-devices/duraxe-epic-att", "buy_links": "eBay; specialist resellers", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Band 14 and FirstNet Ready, with a push-to-talk key and a programmable SOS key. A camera-free version was sold for sites that ban cameras. Kyocera's own menu has no app store behind it, and this is a secondary-market buy now.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/kyocera-duraxe-epic.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/kyocera-duraxe-epic/" }, { "slug": "kyocera-duraxv-extreme-plus", "name": "Kyocera DuraXV Extreme+ (E4811)", "brand": "Kyocera", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "The ultra-rugged Verizon flip. Washable, drop-proof, and winding down.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (ultra-rugged)", "availability_status": "limited", "availability_note": "Kyocera's product page for it now returns a 404, and Verizon has dropped the camera version and the prepaid listing. Verizon still sells the camera-free Extreme+ new at $250, Express Pickup in store only. Also new from specialist resellers, plus a used market.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2022, "introduced_note": "FCC granted the E4811 in October 2022 and Kyocera launched it on Verizon at the end of that year. The camera-free version followed in February 2023.", "price_usd_min": 80, "price_usd_max": 250, "price_note": "$250 new from Verizon for the camera-free version, Express Pickup only; ~$190 new from specialist sellers; ~$80-$160 used/open-box", "price_recurring": "", "os": "AOSP (proprietary Kyocera build)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 2.6, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.6 inch QVGA TFT, 240 by 320, inside. A 1.08 inch monochrome OLED on the lid shows the time, signal and notifications.", "network": [ "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE on Verizon. The FCC grant covers a WCDMA radio on the 850 and 1900 bands too, but no US carrier still runs a UMTS network for it, so it does nothing here.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Kyocera lists Wi-Fi calling with HD Voice, and the FCC grant shows an LTE and WCDMA radio with no CDMA, so LTE is the only way this phone places a call on Verizon. Wi-Fi calling is switched on under Call settings.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Single nano-SIM, plus a microSD slot under the battery for cards up to 512GB.", "bands": "LTE B2, B4, B5, B12, B13; WCDMA B2, B5", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "Hotspot needs its own subscription on Verizon.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C. The manual warns to use a Type-C charger and cable only.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "A camlock headset jack that screws the headset down so it stays put. It takes 5-pole headsets with a push-to-talk button.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no app store on the phone, so there is nothing to install it from. The music player reads files you copy onto the phone or a microSD card.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store and no Google services, so there is no way to put WhatsApp on it.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Messaging is SMS and MMS only. RCS in practice means Google Messages with Play Services, and this phone has neither.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Kyocera builds this on AOSP with no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "partial", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1770, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68, MIL-STD-810H", "weight_g": 193, "kosher": "yes", "kosher_note": "Kosher Signal sells a filtered version alongside the ordinary carrier phone.", "carrier_support": [ "verizon" ], "carriers": "Verizon, including Verizon Frontline. Verizon's postpaid and prepaid listings both now read that the product is no longer available.", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://www.kyoceramobile.com", "buy_links": "eBay; cell2get.com; electronicsforce.com; specialist resellers", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Washable with mild dish soap and certified non-incendive for hazardous locations, which is why it turns up on job sites. Hotspot, SOS and Push To Talk each need their own subscription. A camera-free version is sold for places that ban cameras.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/kyocera-duraxv-extreme-plus.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/kyocera-duraxv-extreme-plus/" }, { "slug": "kyocera-ky-42c-digno-keitai-r", "name": "Kyocera KY-42C (Digno Keitai R)", "brand": "Kyocera", "category": "Enthusiast imports and alternatives", "tagline": "A Japanese rugged keitai that actually works on US LTE.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (rugged keitai)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Import. Sold new and used by Japanese exporters", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2023, "introduced_note": "docomo put it on sale on March 10, 2023.", "price_usd_min": 220, "price_usd_max": 310, "price_note": "Kyoex, the Japanese exporter, sells it new and SIM-unlocked for $285 with free shipping. Prices from other import sellers vary with condition, so treat the range as a guide.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android-based docomo feature-phone build: docomo does not publish a version, the exporter lists it as Android 10. Menus switch between Japanese and English.", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.4-inch 480x854 FWVGA TFT main screen, plus a 0.9-inch OLED sub-display on the lid.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE up to 150Mbps down and 50Mbps up. The 3G and GSM bands are for travel only, and docomo shut its own 3G network off on April 1, 2026.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "VoLTE in all three docomo flavours, including HD+ wideband. It is a docomo handset, so VoLTE on a foreign network is down to whether that carrier will provision an uncertified device.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One nano-SIM, no dual SIM and no eSIM. A microSDHC slot takes up to 32GB.", "bands": "LTE 1, 3 and 19 in Japan; LTE 1, 3, 5 and 12 abroad. 3G on band 1 and band 5, GSM on 850, 900, 1800 and 1900. No band 2, 4, 13, 66 or 71.", "hotspot": "unknown", "hotspot_note": "USB tethering is listed. Wi-Fi tethering is not.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C, USB 2.0 High Speed, with MTP, PTP and USB tethering. No Quick Charge and no Power Delivery, and no wireless charging.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack at all: docomo lists the earphone jack as absent. Wired listening means a USB-C headset or an adapter, and the FM radio needs one as its aerial.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no store on the phone and no Play Services. You would be sideloading an APK onto a 3.4-inch keypad phone over a PC cable, which is possible and entirely unsupported.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "Nothing on the phone as docomo shipped it will install WhatsApp. An APK can be pushed on from a PC, but no maker or seller says it runs.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "docomo lists its own +Message app, which is Japan's carrier RCS service, as not supported on this model. There is no Google Messages and no Play Services, so there is no RCS of any kind.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "A closed docomo build with no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "Carrier mail, the way every Japanese keitai has it.", "battery_mah": 1500, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IPX5/IPX8 and IP5X", "weight_g": 125, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Sold by NTT docomo, not au. The KY-42C is a docomo handset, and exporters sell it SIM-unlocked. Overseas LTE is bands 1, 3, 5 and 12, which reaches T-Mobile's band 12 and AT&T's bands 5 and 12; there is no band 2, 4, 13 or 66, so Verizon is not worth trying. The real question on any import is whether the carrier will provision VoLTE for an uncertified device.", "countries": "Japan; exported worldwide via specialist sellers", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://www.kyocera.co.jp/prdct/telecom/consumer/lineup/ky-42c/", "buy_links": "Kyoex; eBay Japan sellers; y2kphones", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Bands are the whole game with an import. LTE 1, 3 and 19 at home and 1, 3, 5 and 12 abroad, so band 12 is what makes T-Mobile plausible and there is no band 2, 4, 66 or 71. USB-C is the only port, so wired listening needs an adapter.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/kyocera-ky-42c-digno-keitai-r.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/kyocera-ky-42c-digno-keitai-r/" }, { "slug": "kyocera-kyf42-gratina", "name": "Kyocera KYF42 (Gratina)", "brand": "Kyocera", "category": "Enthusiast imports and alternatives", "tagline": "A tidy au flip that dropped Japan's 3G, so calls there are VoLTE or nothing.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (keitai)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "Import. New and refurbished from specialist sellers", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2021, "introduced_note": "au put it on sale on August 13, 2021, as part of its 2021 summer line. The earlier GRATINA, the KYF39, had a camera flash and this one does not.", "price_usd_min": 148, "price_usd_max": 202, "price_note": "Y2KPHONES sell it at GBP 109.99 refurbished and GBP 149.99 new in a sealed box, roughly $148 to $202, with free worldwide shipping and a 120-day warranty. Both variants were in stock when I checked.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 10 (custom Japanese build)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.4-inch 854x480 FWVGA TFT, about 16.7 million colors, plus a single-color 0.9-inch OLED sub-display on the lid.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE only in Japan, up to 150Mbps down and 50Mbps up, with no 3G fallback there at all. Abroad it roams on GSM, UMTS or LTE, and there is a setting that drops it to 3G when the local 4G is poor.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "au VoLTE, and it is the only way to make a call in Japan. Kyocera states the handset cannot use 3G there at all. On another carrier's SIM au guarantees nothing.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One nano-SIM (au's Nano IC Card 04 LE), plus a microSDHC slot up to 32GB.", "bands": "GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | LTE | CDMA 850/1900/2000 1xEV-DO", "hotspot": "unknown", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C, charged in about 130 minutes with au's Type-C adapter. It is the only port on the phone.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. Kyocera's own footnote tells you to buy their 3.5mm-to-Type-C cable if you want to plug earphones in.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No Spotify. au's manual states outright that the handset cannot use Google Play, and the only store on it is au Smart Pass, which needs an au ID and a Japanese line. Importers say they preinstall APKPure so an APK can be sideloaded, but that is the seller's claim, not the maker's.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "Not available on the phone as au sells it. Importers preinstall APKPure so the APK can be sideloaded, which is unsupported and unverified.", "rcs": "partial", "rcs_note": "au ships its +Message app, which is Japan's carrier RCS service, and KDDI lists it as supported. It only works on a Japanese carrier line. On an imported handset with a foreign SIM there is no RCS at all. No Google Messages, no Play Services.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "A closed au build with no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "Carrier mail, the way every Japanese keitai has it.", "battery_mah": 1500, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IPX5/IPX8 and IP5X", "weight_g": 125, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Sold by au (KDDI) in Japan and unlocked by exporters. Abroad it roams on GSM, UMTS or LTE, but neither Kyocera nor KDDI ever published its band list, and KDDI says it guarantees nothing on another operator's SIM. Treat any US or European network as unverified until the seller confirms the band table.", "countries": "Japan; exported worldwide", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://www.kyocera.co.jp/prdct/telecom/consumer/lineup/kyf42/", "buy_links": "y2kphones.com; eBay Japan sellers", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "au's manual says flatly that the phone cannot use Google Play, and apps come from au Smart Pass, which wants an au ID and a Japanese line. It is 4G only in Japan with no 3G fallback. Nobody ever published the band list, which is the one thing you need before importing it.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/kyocera-kyf42-gratina.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/kyocera-kyf42-gratina/" }, { "slug": "light-flip", "name": "Light Flip", "brand": "Light", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "Light's take on a flip phone, with T9 and a real hinge. Ships 2027.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (clamshell)", "availability_status": "preorder", "availability_note": "Pre-order. Light's store says batch one (April 2027) and batch two (late April 2027) are sold out; batch three ships May 2027 and batch four late May 2027.", "prerelease": true, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Announced 21 Jul 2026", "price_usd_min": 299, "price_usd_max": 299, "price_note": "$299 unlocked. Or $39 a month for the phone with a two-year Light Service plan of 1GB data and unlimited calls and texts, $69 a month for unlimited data. Light limits that contract offer to US customers.", "price_recurring": "from $39/mo on a two-year Light Service plan (optional)", "os": "LightOS (custom)", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "2.8in OLED, 480x640, matte finish. No screen on the outside of the lid, just a small notification light.", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "esim", "physical" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM plus eSIM. One model in six colors with no regional split, carrying the same 4G and 5G band list Light publishes for the Light Phone III.", "bands": "4G LTE: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B14, B17, B18, B19, B20, B25, B26, B28, B29, B30, B38, B40, B41, B42, B48, B53, B66, B71. 5G: N1, N2, N3, N5, N7, N8, N12, N14, N20, N25, N26, N28, N29, N30, N38, N40, N41, N48, N53, N66, N70, N71, N77, N78", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C 2.0, listed on Light's spec page alongside the 3.5mm jack.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack. Light's spec page gives the port as USB-C 2.0 plus a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the Flip announcement makes a point of it.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No streaming apps. Light says there is no music streaming tool for platforms like Spotify. The Music tool plays files you upload to the phone; podcasts download over the air.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No. Light says there is no way to call or message through other platforms like Signal or WhatsApp on the Flip.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "No RCS. LightOS is Light's own operating system with no Google Play services, and Light's switching guide tells you to disable RCS on your old phone before you move the number over, because it is not supported on non-smartphones.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "LightOS has no Google services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1800, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP54", "weight_g": 160, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Sold unlocked on the same 4G and 5G band set as the Light Phone III, so Light's compatibility checker routes the two to the same table of about 80 countries, including the UK, most of Europe, Japan, India, Mexico and Australia. In the US it lists Light, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Mint, Noble Mobile and US Mobile on its Light Speed plan only, with Sprint, Google Fi, Cricket, Xfinity, Tracfone and most other MVNOs out. In Canada it lists only TELUS and Koodo. Light says the Flip will be certified with the FCC, PTCRB, CE and the major US carriers before it ships.", "countries": "Pre-ordered from Light's own store, which lists 80 countries at checkout, from the US and Canada through the UK, most of Europe, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, India, Australia and the Gulf. One model in six colors, with no regional split.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "latam", "global" ], "website": "https://www.thelightphone.com/shop/products/light-flip", "buy_links": "", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "https://www.thelightphone.com/shop?ref=slowerliving", "fave": false, "notes": "Ships in 2027, so none of this is confirmed by hardware yet. Light has opened a developer program for community-built tools, which no other Light phone has.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/light-flip.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/light-flip/" }, { "slug": "light-phone-ii", "name": "Light Phone II", "brand": "Light", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "E Ink, tiny, and still supported. Where a lot of people started.", "form_factor": "touch-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (touch)", "availability_status": "limited", "availability_note": "Light still lists it at $299 and says it has no plans to stop producing or supporting it, but both colors show sold out on Light's own store as of 16 September 2026. Refurbished units are in stock there at $175, North America only.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2019, "introduced_note": "2019", "price_usd_min": 299, "price_usd_max": 299, "price_note": "$299 new in either color, the same figure for the North American and International models. Light also prices refurbished units at $175 and open box at $225, each with a one-year warranty, though both sit on unlisted store pages rather than in the shop itself.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "LightOS (custom, Android-based)", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2.84, "screen_tech": "eink", "screen_note": "E Ink, black and white, no backlight, with a screen light that comes on automatically in low light.", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE (FDD) with VoLTE. 5G SIM cards work in it, at 4G speeds.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Light's own spec sheet gives the network as 4G LTE (LTE FDD + VoLTE).", "sim": [ "physical" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM", "bands": "North American model: B2, B4, B12, B13, B17, B25, B26. International model: B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B20, B28", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "Hotspot arrived in a firmware update, not at launch.", "usb_c": "no", "usb_c_note": "Micro USB. Light ships a Micro USB cable and a SIM pin in the box, and no wall adapter.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack, listed on Light's own spec sheet.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No streaming apps. Light says a Spotify tool would need a deeper collaboration with the platform and gives no timeline. The Music tool only plays files you load onto the phone yourself.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No. Light names WhatsApp among the platforms that would need a deeper collaboration before a tool could exist, with no timeline.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "SMS and MMS only. Light's own switching guide tells you to disable RCS before you move your number over, because RCS is not supported on non-smartphones.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "LightOS has no Google services.", "maps": [ "builtin" ], "camera": "no", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 950, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IPX3", "weight_g": 78, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Unlocked, in two regional models. In the US Light lists AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (no prepaid, no Numbershare), Ting, Mint, US Mobile and its own Light plan; Sprint, Google Fi, Cricket, Spectrum, Xfinity, Consumer Cellular, US Cellular, Metro, Straight Talk, Tracfone and Visible are out, along with most other MVNOs. In Canada, Telus, Public Mobile and Koodo.", "countries": "Two models. The North American one covers the US and Canada; the International one has listed carriers in 51 countries across Europe, Asia, Australasia and parts of South America. Light's own store ships to 80 countries.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "latam", "global" ], "website": "https://www.thelightphone.com/shop/products/light-phone-ii-black", "buy_links": "", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "https://www.thelightphone.com/shop?ref=slowerliving", "fave": true, "notes": "Light says it has no plans to stop making or supporting this one. The interface is English only, and the APN cannot be edited on this model, which matters on some prepaid carriers.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/light-phone-ii.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/light-phone-ii/" }, { "slug": "light-phone-iii", "name": "Light Phone III", "brand": "Light", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "The minimalist flagship. OLED, a scroll wheel, and nothing to scroll.", "form_factor": "touch-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (touch)", "availability_status": "preorder", "availability_note": "Shipping to owners since March 2025, but Light's store now takes new orders as reservations: the only sellable variant is labelled pre-order, with delivery estimated late December.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "Announced Jun 2024; shipping began 27 Mar 2025", "price_usd_min": 899, "price_usd_max": 899, "price_note": "899 dollars unlocked from Light; the FAQ notes the pre-order price does not include tax or shipping. Light also sells it on a two-year Light Service contract, 59 dollars a month with 1GB of data or 89 dollars a month unlimited. It launched in March 2025 at 599 dollars.", "price_recurring": "Optional: from $59/mo (1GB) or $89/mo (unlimited) bundles the phone with a two-year Light Service contract. Light's standalone service plan is contract-free from $25/mo.", "os": "LightOS (custom, Android-based)", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 3.92, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "3.92\" AMOLED 1080x1240, monochrome UI, matte glass", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Light does not publish a VoLTE line for the Light Phone III. The FAQ prints LTE FDD + VoLTE only against the Light Phone II, and the string appears in none of Light's support articles. Light's carrier page does list the III as working on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in the US.", "sim": [ "esim", "physical" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM plus eSIM. eSIM arrived in LightOS v550 and Light still labels it beta: it works on AT&T and T-Mobile, is not yet certified for Verizon, and is not yet offered on Light's own service plan.", "bands": "4G LTE: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B14, B17, B18, B19, B20, B25, B26, B28, B29, B30, B38, B40, B41, B42, B48, B53, B66, B71. 5G: N1, N2, N3, N5, N7, N8, N12, N14, N20, N25, N26, N28, N29, N30, N38, N40, N41, N48, N53, N66, N70, N71, N77, N78", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "Hotspot is one of the tools in LightOS.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C 2.0. It doubles as the headphone port and is how you pull photos off the phone: Settings, Preferences, USB Preferences, Media Transfer.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. Light says the USB-C port can be used for wired USB-C headphones, and LightOS v582 fixed volume being too quiet through USB-C to 3.5mm adapters.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No streaming apps. Light says a Spotify tool would need a deeper collaboration with the platform and gives no timeline. The Music tool only plays files you load onto the phone yourself.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No. Light says there is no way to call or message through platforms like Signal or WhatsApp, and that such a tool would need the platform's cooperation first.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "SMS and MMS only. Light's own switching guide tells you to disable RCS before you move your number over, because RCS is not supported on non-smartphones.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "LightOS has no Google services.", "maps": [ "builtin" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1800, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP54", "weight_g": 124, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Unlocked. In the US Light lists AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (no prepaid, no Numbershare), Ting, Mint, US Mobile Light Speed, Noble Mobile and its own Light plan; Sprint, Google Fi, Cricket, Spectrum, Xfinity, Consumer Cellular, US Cellular, Metro, Straight Talk, Tracfone, PureTalk and most other MVNOs are not supported. In Canada, TELUS and Koodo only.", "countries": "Light ships from the US to 80 countries. Its carrier checker lists compatible networks in about 80 countries and territories, among them the US, Canada, the UK, most of Europe, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and the Gulf states.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "latam", "global" ], "website": "https://www.thelightphone.com/shop/products/light-phone-iii", "buy_links": "Light sells it directly. Dumb Wireless lists the phone but says they do not currently stock it because of supply shortages, and point you back to Light. Light's own store also carries a Noble Mobile variant, currently unavailable.", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "https://www.thelightphone.com/shop?ref=slowerliving", "fave": true, "notes": "The tools are a fixed list you add from Light's dashboard website, not an app store. Fingerprint unlock is still switched off in LightOS, and the NFC chip is there for a wallet Light has not shipped yet.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/light-phone-iii.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/light-phone-iii/" }, { "slug": "megalife-zen", "name": "Zen F1", "brand": "Megalife", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "A rugged Android flip with an approved-apps list and no browser at all.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip with a keypad, an inner touchscreen and a 1.44 inch outer display", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "On sale from the maker's own store and from US dealers. Dealer listings still carry a beta warning, though the maker's FAQ now says the phone is past that stage.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "A US dealer listed it in September 2025 and a second in October 2025. The maker opened its own direct store in February 2026.", "price_usd_min": 348.95, "price_usd_max": 359.99, "price_note": "$350 flat from the maker's own store. Dealers vary: Kosher Signal $348.95, Megalife USA $349.99 for Zen with banking or email and $359.99 for the bundle that adds filtered WhatsApp, Kosher Cell $350. The cheaper Core software tier on the same flip hardware is $330 direct and $335 at Kosher Cell.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Zen Mega OS on Android 13", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8 inch IPS touchscreen inside and a 1.44 inch display on the lid. The keypad is lettered in English and Hebrew.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "Sold unlocked on 4G LTE and described as working worldwide. The only 2G and 3G bands a dealer publishes are 900/1800 and 850/900/2100, which are not North American ones.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One physical SIM only, plus a microSD slot for cards up to 256 GB.", "bands": "Only a US dealer publishes one: 2G 900/1800; 3G 850/900/2100; 4G B1/2/3/4/57/8/12/13/17/20/28/66/72. The same dealer's Core F1 listing, the same hardware on a cheaper software tier, carries an identical spec block but ends the 4G list at 66/71. The run-together 57 appears in both and is likely bands 5 and 7, so treat the 4G list as approximate. Megalife's own store publishes no band list.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "Mega OS permanently blocks the hotspot, and a factory reset does not lift it.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C charging port, and a USB-C charger comes in the box.", "headphone_jack": "unknown", "headphone_jack_note": "", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "The approved media list is 24Six, Zing, Naki Go and other religious audio apps plus an MP3 player. The only store on the phone is Megalife's own approved one, and Spotify is not in it.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "partial", "whatsapp_note": "A filtered WhatsApp, on the Zen tier only. Text, voice notes and voice or video calls work; photos, video, Status and Channels are blocked.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Google Messages is one of the built-in apps and the build is Android 13 with Google Mobile Services, which is what RCS needs. Megalife never mentions RCS by name.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Mega OS blocks the app store.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "partial", "email_note": "Sold as a configuration: dealers list a Zen with banking or email alongside the plain one.", "battery_mah": 2000, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68", "weight_g": 224, "kosher": "yes", "kosher_note": "Kosher Signal and Kosher Cell both stock it, in configurations that add banking, email or filtered WhatsApp.", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Sold unlocked and described as working with all carriers worldwide.", "countries": "Sold through US dealers in New York and New Jersey and, with ILS pricing and a Hebrew site, in Israel. It ships configured for Israel, the US, Canada, the UK, France and South Africa, and setup asks which of those regions you want apps for.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "global" ], "website": "https://mymegalife.com/shop/zen-f1-flip-phone", "buy_links": "Megalife USA, Kosher Signal and Kosher Cell all stock it, shop.megalifephones.com is the maker's own checkout, and there are walk-in dealers across New York and New Jersey.", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Mega OS permanently blocks the browser, the app store, social apps and the hotspot, and a factory reset does not lift any of it. The Zen tier adds a filtered WhatsApp that allows text, voice notes and calls but blocks photos, video, Status and Channels. The maker offers $500 to the first person who installs an unapproved app.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/megalife-zen.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/megalife-zen/" }, { "slug": "mind-phone-2-pro", "name": "Mind Phone 2 Pro", "brand": "Mindphone", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "A flagship-shaped keypad Android with the browser and app store taken out.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar with a 4.1 inch touchscreen above a physical T9 keypad", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping since August 2026. The first shipment sold out, so the maker and its retailers are now taking back-orders for the next run, with shipping estimated September 2026. The maker says production is limited.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Pre-orders opened on 23 April 2026 at a launch price of $342. The first units shipped on 11 August 2026, after a delay the maker blamed on battery supply.", "price_usd_min": 394.99, "price_usd_max": 394.99, "price_note": "$394.99 direct from the maker and from Greentouch's own store; Kosher Cell and The Wireless list it at $395. It opened at a $342 pre-order price in April 2026 and rose to $394.99 on 1 July. The maker says the price may move again with electronics supply constraints.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 15, curated", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 4.1, "screen_tech": "unknown", "screen_note": "4.1 inch touchscreen at 1280 by 720. The maker calls it color-true and glare-resistant but never says which panel type it is.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "No 5G. The 4G band list is broad and covers the main US LTE bands.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Single SIM, plus a microSD slot that takes cards up to 512 GB. No eSIM is mentioned.", "bands": "2G B2/B3/B5/B8; 3G B2/B5/B8; 4G B2/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B25/B26/B30/B41/B66/B71", "hotspot": "unknown", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "The maker's spec sheet lists fast charging as 9V/2A over USB-C and puts a USB-C cable in the box. Qi wireless charging is built in as well.", "headphone_jack": "unknown", "headphone_jack_note": "", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "The app list is fixed, with no store and no sideloading, so the built-in music player is as far as it goes.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "Not among the curated apps, and the maker says there are no third-party app installs.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Google Messages is one of the curated apps and the build is Android 15 with Google services signed in, which is what RCS needs. Mind never mentions RCS by name.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "unknown", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Blocked, and the maker says it cannot be bypassed or altered. The filtering is certified by L'Maaseh.", "browser": "no", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2400, "removable_battery": "unknown", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": null, "kosher": "yes", "kosher_note": "Kosher Cell stocks it, and the software is locked down before it leaves the maker.", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Kosher Cell lists it under T-Mobile and Verizon. The maker's own June 2026 update describes fixing voice notes and picture messages on Verizon.", "countries": "Sold direct in the continental US and through US retailers in Brooklyn, Monroe and Lakewood. The maker also lists two hands-on dealers in Montreal, Canada.", "regions": [ "us", "ca" ], "website": "https://mindphone.co/products/mind-phone-2-pro-pre-order", "buy_links": "greentouchstore.com (Greentouch's own store) and koshercell.org, both taking back-orders; thewireless.us lists it but shows out of stock.", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The filtering is certified by L'Maaseh and the maker says it cannot be bypassed or altered. Video playback is blocked across the whole device and Gemini is disabled system-wide. The keypad is lettered in English and Hebrew.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/mind-phone-2-pro.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/mind-phone-2-pro/" }, { "slug": "minimal-phone", "name": "Minimal Phone (MP01)", "brand": "The Minimal Company", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "E Paper screen, physical QWERTY, full Play Store. You supply the willpower.", "form_factor": "qwerty", "form_factor_detail": "Bar + QWERTY", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "The Minimal Company ended sales and production in September 2026. Only accessories and support remain on its store; the maker says software updates continue.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "Announced and crowdfunded on Indiegogo in 2024; production and first shipments ran into 2025. The maker calls it the 2024 phone.", "price_usd_min": 449.99, "price_usd_max": 549.99, "price_note": "$449.99 for 6GB/128GB and $549.99 for 8GB/256GB, in Onyx, Pebble or Fusion. Early 2025 buyers paid $399 and $499. The Minimal Company stopped selling it new in September 2026, so any price you see now is a retailer or secondhand one.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 14 with Minimal Launcher: full Google Play Store", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 4.3, "screen_tech": "eink", "screen_note": "4.3\" E Paper 600x800, ~230ppi, 4:3", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE only, no 5G", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Dual SIM + microSD", "bands": "", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "plus 15W Qi wireless charging", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The phone runs Android 14 with the full Play Store, so the ordinary Spotify app installs. The black-and-white E Paper panel is built for static content, so album art arrives in grayscale and scrolling lags.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "The Google Play Store is installed, so the ordinary WhatsApp app runs. Photos and video are a compromise on an E Paper screen.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Android 14 ships with Google Play Services, so Google Messages and RCS work as on any Play-certified Android phone.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 3000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 165, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "US: Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T all described as covered", "countries": "Was sold direct worldwide from The Minimal Company in Southern California, shipping free. Second-hand only now.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://minimalcompany.com/", "buy_links": "", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The Minimal Company stopped making this one in September 2026 and now sells accessories and support for it. It says software updates continue.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/minimal-phone.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/minimal-phone/" }, { "slug": "minimal-phone-2", "name": "Minimal Phone 2", "brand": "The Minimal Company", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "The sequel drops E Ink for AMOLED and keeps the keyboard. Pre-order for December.", "form_factor": "qwerty", "form_factor_detail": "Bar + QWERTY", "availability_status": "preorder", "availability_note": "Pre-order direct from the maker, scheduled to ship December 2026. Cancellable for a full refund any time before it ships.", "prerelease": true, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Launched on Kickstarter in 2026. RAM, battery and the keyboard were all revised during the campaign, and the production specification was published in September 2026.", "price_usd_min": 599, "price_usd_max": 699, "price_note": "$599 for 12GB/256GB and $699 for 12GB/512GB in the pre-order window, against list prices of $699 and $799. Every pre-order ships with 12GB of RAM; the maker says the 256GB model goes back to 8GB once pre-orders end.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Minimal OS (Android-based)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 4, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "4\" AMOLED 1080x1240, 90Hz, capacitive multi-touch under a PC and PMMA composite cover with 2.5D curved edges. Launch coverage quoted it as 3.92\".", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "2G, 3G, 4G LTE and 5G. The maker publishes bands in three regional groups: US, EU and UK, and a rest of world set that it says covers most of Asia and Australia.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "The maker publishes no VoLTE list. It asks buyers to check their country, carrier and the services they need, VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling among them, before ordering.", "sim": [ "physical", "esim" ], "sim_note": "One physical SIM plus eSIM. No microSD slot, so choose 256GB or 512GB at checkout.", "bands": "US: LTE B2/4/5/12/13/66/71, 5G n41/n71/n77. EU/UK: LTE B1/3/7/20/28, 5G n1/n3/n28/n78. Rest of world: LTE B1/3/8, 5G n78. WCDMA bands 2/4/5 and quad-band GSM.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "27W wired charging, USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 data, DisplayPort 1.4 output and USB OTG. 15W Qi wireless charging too.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm analogue out, with USB-C audio as the digital alternative.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Ships Google-certified with the Play Store and Play Services, so the normal Android app installs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Installs from the Play Store like any other Android app. The maker warns that how an app handles the short screen and the keyboard varies.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "The stock build is Google-certified with Play Services, so Google Messages and RCS work as on any Play-certified Android phone. The promised de-Googled ROM would drop that.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 3600, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 158, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "The maker will not promise activation. It asks for your country, carrier and the services you need before you order.", "countries": "Sold direct from The Minimal Company. US shipping is a flat $10 per order and international shipping is $29 per shipment to supported destinations.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://minimalcompany.com/pages/minimal-phone-2", "buy_links": "Pre-order direct at minimalcompany.com/products/minimal-phone-2; originally funded on Kickstarter.", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "A different product from the original Minimal Phone, sharing none of its specifications. The stock software is Google-certified with the Play Store, and the maker has promised a de-Googled ROM you flash yourself.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/minimal-phone-2.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/minimal-phone-2/" }, { "slug": "mudita-kompakt", "name": "Mudita Kompakt", "brand": "Mudita", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "A 4.3 inch E Ink phone with offline maps and a hardware privacy switch.", "form_factor": "touch-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "In stock at Mudita's own store in both the global and the North American version, and stocked in the US by Dumb Wireless. Mudita's outlet sometimes lists used units.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Kickstarter went live 29 October 2024 and funded in under four hours. The global version began shipping April 2025 and the North American version in May 2025.", "price_usd_min": 339, "price_usd_max": 399, "price_note": "List price is $399 at Mudita's own store and at Dumb Wireless. Both are running a back-to-school discount to the end of September 2026: $339.15 from Mudita, $339 from Dumb Wireless. It went on general sale at $439 in May 2025 when pre-orders closed, and Mudita has cut the list price since. Mudita's outlet has carried used units at $288.15.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "MuditaOS K: de-Googled Android-based", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 4.3, "screen_tech": "eink", "screen_note": "4.3 inch E Ink touchscreen, 800x480, about 216 ppi, under matte mineral glass rated 8H. There is a cool-white front light with adjustable brightness that you can switch off from the control panel.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Both the global and the North American version list Voice over LTE and Wi-Fi calling.", "sim": [ "esim", "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One dedicated nano-SIM slot plus a hybrid slot that takes either a second nano-SIM or a microSD card. eSIM works as well, but using it disables the second SIM slot; microSD still works.", "bands": "Global version: 2G GSM 850/900/1800; 3G UMTS B1/B5/B8; 4G LTE FDD B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B18/B19/B20/B26; 4G LTE TDD B34/B38/B39/B40/B41. North American version: 2G GSM 850/900/1900; 3G UMTS B2/B4/B5/B8; 4G LTE FDD B2/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B13/B17/B18/B19/B25/B26/B66/B71; 4G LTE TDD B34/B38/B40/B41.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C charging at up to 10 W, and it charges wirelessly too, though Mudita's store says 10 W wireless while Mudita's own support article says 2.5 W. Sideloading apps also runs over the USB-C cable.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "A 3.5 mm jack on the phone itself, alongside the ACC speaker and Bluetooth 5.0.", "spotify": "sideload", "spotify_note": "Nothing streaming ships and there is no store, but the real Spotify app sideloads and runs. Owners say it works and drags, and that Spotify Lite is the smoother option. Mudita's own community manager points people at APKMirror or a sideloaded Aurora Store. The built-in music player only plays files you copy across.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "sideload", "whatsapp_note": "Nothing ships on the phone and there is no store, but the WhatsApp APK sideloads and runs. Owners update it from whatsapp.com or a sideloaded Aurora Store, and Mudita's own community manager walks people through it. Owners warn that it drains the battery noticeably and that pictures and video are miserable on the E Ink screen.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Mudita says outright that the Kompakt does not support RCS and that it has no plans to add it. MuditaOS K is AOSP with no Google services, so there is no Google Messages either, and Mudita's own messaging app sends SMS and MMS only.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "MuditaOS K is de-Googled, so there are no Play services to run it.", "maps": [ "builtin" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "partial", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Runs from the Mudita Center desktop app over a USB-C cable, added in MuditaOS K 1.2.0. There is still no way to uninstall a sideloaded app.", "browser": "sideload", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 3300, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IP54", "weight_g": 164, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Sold unlocked in two variants. Mudita says it tested the global version on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in Chicago, Detroit and Orlando. Dumb Wireless lists US compatibility as T-Mobile, AT&T and MVNOs such as Mint and Noble Mobile, and says Verizon works only if you already have an active physical Verizon SIM. Canadian compatibility is Rogers, Telus and their sub-carriers.", "countries": "Mudita ships the North American version to the United States and Canada, and the global version to 39 countries. The whole EU plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://store.mudita.com/store/mudita-kompakt-global", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com ($339); Amazon", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/mudita-kompakt", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": true, "notes": "The Offline+ switch cuts the modem and the microphones in hardware, and emergency calls stop working while it is on. Sideloading runs from Mudita's desktop app, and nothing you sideload can be uninstalled afterwards. The battery is glued in and only Mudita replaces it.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/mudita-kompakt.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/mudita-kompakt/" }, { "slug": "mudita-pure", "name": "Mudita Pure", "brand": "Mudita", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "The E Ink keypad phone that came before the Kompakt. Secondhand only.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "Out of production. Mudita's founder said in July 2025 there were no plans to revive it and Mudita repeated in June 2026 that production will not restart. Both Mudita product pages read Sold Out, but Mudita's own outlet store still lists used Pures in both colors, and owners resell them on Mudita's forum.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2021, "introduced_note": "Kickstarter Sep 2019; pre-orders 2020; shipped from 2021", "price_usd_min": 250, "price_usd_max": 369, "price_note": "Kickstarter backers paid $221 to $295 and Mudita's stated retail price after launch was $369. It is out of production now: Mudita's outlet lists used units at $263.49 against a $309.99 reference price, and owner resales in Europe have run around EUR 250.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "MuditaOS (open source)", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2.84, "screen_tech": "eink", "screen_note": "2.84 inch E Ink, 600x480 at 270 ppi, 16 grays, scratch-resistant and non-touch. You drive it from the keypad. There is a front light you can switch on and dim in settings.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "Global LTE, UMTS/HSPA+ and GSM/GPRS/EDGE coverage. No Wi-Fi at all and no mobile data on the phone itself. The only route online is tethering a computer over the cable.", "volte": "partial", "volte_note": "Mudita shipped VoLTE as a beta for Poland in MuditaOS 1.9.0 in October 2023, relabelled it experimental and added Germany in 1.10.0 that November, then added Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada and Austria in 1.11.0 in December 2023. It never left the experimental stage and the US was never on the list.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots, but only one can be active at a time. You pick which one in settings.", "bands": "GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, plus LTE. Mudita never published an LTE band list.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "No Wi-Fi at all. The only route online is tethering a computer over the cable.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C handles charging, tethering and talking to the Mudita Center desktop app. MuditaOS 1.10.0 turned off the USB MTP protocol, so files now go onto the phone through Mudita Center's file manager. Tethering runs over the cable to a computer only.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "A 3.5 mm jack. Speaker, earpiece and microphone are by Harman, and the player handles MP3, WAV and FLAC.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No app store, no Wi-Fi and no mobile data on the phone, so no streaming of any kind. The music player reads files you copy across with Mudita Center.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "MuditaOS runs no third-party apps at all. Mudita's own answer is that users cannot install apps the way they would on a smartphone.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "A purpose-built system with no Google services and no data connection of its own. Mudita says the Pure sends plain SMS only (no MMS, no group threads), so RCS was never on the table.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "MuditaOS is not Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "no", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "Mudita answers this one directly in its help centre: there is no mail client.", "battery_mah": 1600, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 140, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Unlocked and global by design, but in the US only T-Mobile works. The low-SAR antenna could not pass the extra over-the-air tests AT&T and Verizon require, so neither will certify it, though the phone can still roam on their networks with a foreign SIM.", "countries": "Shipped from Poland", "regions": [ "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://mudita.com/products/phones/mudita-pure/", "buy_links": "Mudita's own outlet store sells used units; otherwise owner resales on Mudita's forum", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The headline feature was a patented antenna with unusually low radiation, and the certified SAR figures bear that out. Buy with a caution, though: long-running owner reports on Mudita's own forum describe dropped signal, texts failing to send and calls not connecting. Mudita's store does not stock a spare battery for it.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/mudita-pure.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/mudita-pure/" }, { "slug": "nokia-200-4g", "name": "Nokia 200 4G", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "HMD's first keypad phone with a front camera, for video calls on a keypad.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping. On sale in China since 29 May 2026, announced internationally on 3 July 2026 and released from August", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Launched in China on 29 May 2026 at 199 yuan; announced internationally on 3 July 2026", "price_usd_min": 30, "price_usd_max": 30, "price_note": "Launched in China on 29 May 2026 at 199 yuan, about 30 dollars. That is the only number anyone has attached to it. HMD publishes no price on its own pages, and there is no United States listing at all, since hmd.com's US addresses redirect to the international site.", "price_recurring": "Optional: $2.99/year for the Sikey AI assistant after a 180 day free trial ($3.99/year in the EU), bought from a smartphone", "os": "Series 30+ with Sikey AI assistant button", "os_family": "s30", "screen_size_in": 2.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.4 inch 240x320 QVGA LCD", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "The Chinese launch coverage says it takes VoLTE on all four Chinese carriers, including China Broadnet. HMD prints no VoLTE row in its own specification table for any variant, so treat it as confirmed for the Chinese model and unconfirmed everywhere else.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Dual nano-SIM, and HMD lists microSD support to 32GB. The Chinese launch calls it dual SIM, dual standby, with both SIMs holding a 4G connection at once.", "bands": "GSM 3, 5, 8 and WCDMA 1, 5, 8 on every variant. LTE 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 (full band) in Europe and the rest of the world; 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 in China, where band 41 is 120MHz only. Nothing on band 2, 4, 12 or 66. Models TA-1781, TA-1785 and TA-1786.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "No Wi-Fi radio, so anything online goes over 4G.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, USB 2.0. The international box has a charger with the USB-C cable built into it; the Chinese box ships without a charger and you request one free from customer service.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5 mm jack. The FM radio has a wired and a wireless mode, so you can listen without plugging anything in.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No Spotify. Series 30+ has no app store, so nothing new goes on. There is an MP3 player, a microSD slot and an FM radio that works without headphones; the Chinese version also supports Ximalaya and Migu Music.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No WhatsApp. Series 30+ has no app store. HMD's answer is Xpress chat, its own messenger, which the person at the other end runs as a free app from Google Play or the App Store.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Series 30+ with a plain SMS app and no Play Services. HMD's own alternative is Xpress chat, its own messenger, which is not RCS.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Series 30+ is not Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Series 30+ is a feature-phone OS with no app installation of any kind.", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 92, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked, and the band list splits into a Europe, a rest-of-world and a China variant, so check the model number. None of them carry band 2, 4, 12 or 66, so it is a poor phone for American networks even as an import.", "countries": "China first, then Europe, India, South Africa and the Middle East. No United States retail.", "regions": [ "eu", "import" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/nokia-200-4g", "buy_links": "", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The camera situation is unusual. HMD lists a VGA front camera and no rear camera at all, so it takes selfies and Xpress chat video calls but no photographs of anything in front of you. The AI assistant is free for 180 days and then $2.99 a year, and HMD's own footnote says you need a smartphone to buy that subscription.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-200-4g.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-200-4g/" }, { "slug": "nokia-210-4g", "name": "Nokia 210 4G", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A 2.4 inch keypad phone with a VGA camera on each face, for Xpress chat video calls.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping. Listed by HMD's own India store, though both colors were out of stock when checked in September 2026", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Announced 3 Jul 2026", "price_usd_min": 31, "price_usd_max": 31, "price_note": "HMD's own India store lists it at 2,999 rupees, about 31 dollars, against a 3,699 rupee list price, about 39, though both colors were out of stock when checked. No European or United States price has been published.", "price_recurring": "Optional: $2.99/year for the Sikey AI assistant after a 180 day free trial ($3.99/year in the EU), bought from a smartphone", "os": "Series 30+ with Sikey AI assistant button", "os_family": "s30", "screen_size_in": 2.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.4 inch QVGA, 240 x 320. HMD does not print the panel type for this model, where the 2.8 inch 215 and 235 are listed as IPS.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "HMD does not print VoLTE anywhere in this model's specification table, in any locale, and no carrier or retailer sheet states it either way.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots (4FF plus 4FF), plus a separate microSD slot to 32GB. All three sit under the battery.", "bands": "GSM B3, 5, 8 and WCDMA B1, 5, 8 everywhere. LTE B1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 in Europe and the rest of the world; B1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 in China and India. Models TA-1783, TA-1787 and TA-1789.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "No Wi-Fi radio, so anything online goes over 4G.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, USB 2.0, and HMD puts a charger with an integrated USB-C cable in the box.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5 mm jack, listed by HMD.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "Series 30+ has no app store, so there is nothing to install Spotify with. HMD lists no music player for this one either, and no FM radio line, which its three siblings all get.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No WhatsApp. Series 30+ installs nothing. HMD's answer is Xpress chat, its own messenger, which the person at the other end runs as a free app from Google Play or the App Store.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Series 30+ with a plain SMS app and no Play Services. HMD's own alternative is Xpress chat, its own messenger, which is not RCS.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Series 30+ is not Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Series 30+ is a feature-phone OS with no app installation of any kind.", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 93, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "HMD publishes two band sets, one for Europe and the rest of the world and one for China and India, so the model number matters: TA-1783, TA-1787 or TA-1789. Neither set carries the LTE bands United States carriers lean on, so treat this as a phone for the markets HMD sells it in rather than an import.", "countries": "India, Europe, South Africa, China and the Middle East. No United States retail.", "regions": [ "eu", "import" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/nokia-210-4g", "buy_links": "", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The rear camera is VGA, so treat it as a note-taker rather than a camera. Launch coverage says all four of HMD's 2026 keypad phones have FM radio, but HMD's own spec sheet prints an FM line for the other three and none for this one. The Cloud Phone portal appears only on HMD's India, UAE and Saudi store pages, so treat it as regional rather than something every 210 comes with.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-210-4g.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-210-4g/" }, { "slug": "nokia-215-4g-2nd-edition", "name": "Nokia 215 4G 2nd Edition", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A 2026 keypad Nokia with a front camera and a long standby.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping. On sale in Thailand since August 2026 through the marketplaces and authorised dealers", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Announced 3 Jul 2026", "price_usd_min": 48, "price_usd_max": 48, "price_note": "1,590 baht in Thailand, about 48 dollars, confirmed by four Thai hands-on reviews, sold there through Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop and authorised dealers with a one-year warranty. HMD publishes no price of its own on any of its regional pages, and there is no United States listing: hmd.com's US address falls back to the international site.", "price_recurring": "$2.99/year for the Sikey AI assistant after a 180 day free trial ($3.99/year in the EU), bought from a smartphone", "os": "Series 30+ with Sikey AI assistant button", "os_family": "s30", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8 inch IPS, 240x320 QVGA, about 143ppi", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Two Thai hands-on reviews of retail units report VoLTE calling. HMD does not print VoLTE in its own specification tables, including the Thai one, so check the variant if you are buying outside that market.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Dual nano-SIM, with a separate microSDHC slot to 32GB. Both SIMs take 4G.", "bands": "GSM 3, 5, 8; WCDMA 1, 5, 8; LTE 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41. Model TA-1743.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "There is no Wi-Fi, so anything online goes over 4G.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, with a 2.75W charger and cable in the box.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5 mm jack on HMD's specification sheet. The FM radio runs in wired and wireless dual mode, but a hands-on review found you have to plug headphones in to scan for stations before you can listen over the speaker.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "Nothing installs on Series 30+, so there is no Spotify app. Music means the built-in MP3 player, the FM radio, or YouTube Music streamed through the Cloud Phone portal.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No WhatsApp. Series 30+ installs nothing. HMD's answer is Xpress chat, its own messenger, which the person at the other end runs as a free app from Google Play or the App Store.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Series 30+ with a plain SMS app and no Play Services. HMD's own alternative is Xpress chat, its own messenger, which is not RCS.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Series 30+ is not Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Series 30+ is a feature-phone OS with no app installation of any kind.", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 104, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Dual nano-SIM with both slots on 4G LTE. Sold through HMD's own marketplace stores in Thailand rather than through carriers.", "countries": "Thailand, Europe, India, South Africa, China and the Middle East. No United States retail.", "regions": [ "eu", "import" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/nokia-215-4g-2nd-edition", "buy_links": "HMD's official Thailand storefronts on Shopee (go.hmd.com/9ww), Lazada (go.hmd.com/2aj) and TikTok Shop (go.hmd.com/q04), plus authorised dealers nationwide.", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "A VGA front camera and no rear camera at all, so selfies yes and photographs of anything else no. There is no Wi-Fi, so anything online goes over 4G. The Cloud Phone portal is a remote browser run on CloudMosa's servers, from a fixed set of widgets, with nothing installed locally and nothing working offline.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-215-4g-2nd-edition.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-215-4g-2nd-edition/" }, { "slug": "nokia-225-4g", "name": "Nokia 225 4G (2024)", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A keypad Nokia with USB-C and an FM radio. Under seventy dollars.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping, but through retailers rather than HMD itself - HMD's own shops in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands all show a banner saying the product is no longer available from the HMD shop, with no price and no buy button, and the Irish store lists it out of stock.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "Released 30 Apr 2024 (succeeds the 2020 original)", "price_usd_min": 39, "price_usd_max": 70, "price_note": "HMD publishes no price of its own for this phone anywhere. Its United Kingdom, French, German, Italian and Spanish stores all mark it Discontinued and say it is no longer available from the HMD shop, the India page is gone, and the Australia page carries no price at all, only links out to JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, BIG W and Officeworks. So every number is a retailer's, running from roughly 39 dollars in the cheaper Asian markets to about 70 in the United States and western Europe. America only ever gets the imported international version, and that listing was out of stock on Amazon when this was checked.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Series 30+", "os_family": "s30", "screen_size_in": 2.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.4\" TFT LCD 240x320, 256K colors, ~167ppi", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE (GSM / WCDMA / LTE)", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots (4FF plus 4FF), with a separate microSDHC slot to 32GB, so a memory card does not cost you a SIM.", "bands": "HMD publishes one list, scoped to Europe, AMEA and the rest of APAC: GSM 3, 5, 8; WCDMA 1, 5, 8; LTE 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41. Nothing is published for the Americas. Models TA-1610, TA-1625 and TA-1689.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "No Wi-Fi radio, so anything online goes over 4G.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "the 2024 model; the 2020 original was microUSB", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5 mm jack on HMD's own specification sheet. The FM radio is listed as wired and wireless, so it plays through headphones or without them.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "Nothing installs on Series 30+. Music here is the built-in MP3 player, the FM radio or a Bluetooth speaker.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "Series 30+ cannot install apps and HMD ships no WhatsApp client on this model.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Series 30+ has a plain SMS app and nothing else. HMD's user guide shows one Messages screen with New message and a recipient, no Google Messages and no Play Services, so no RCS.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Series 30+ is not Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Series 30+ is a feature-phone OS with no app installation of any kind.", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 90, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked GSM. HMD publishes one set of bands, for Europe, AMEA and the rest of APAC, and none for the Americas, so check the bands against your network before importing one.", "countries": "Sold across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, which is the scope of the only band list HMD publishes. HMD has no American store page for it, so it reaches the United States as an import.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/nokia-225-4g-2024", "buy_links": "Amazon; general retail", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The Cloud Apps portal is worth understanding before you buy on the strength of it. It is a remote browser that renders news, weather and YouTube Shorts on a server and paints the result on the screen, with nothing installed on the phone. HMD's user guide for this one has no internet chapter at all.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-225-4g.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-225-4g/" }, { "slug": "nokia-235-4g", "name": "Nokia 235 4G (2024)", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A slightly bigger keypad Nokia with dual SIM and a 2MP camera.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "Released May 2024", "price_usd_min": 42, "price_usd_max": 42, "price_note": "HMD sells this one directly in India, at 3,999 rupees including tax, marked down from a 4,999 rupee list price. About 42 dollars at the rate on the day this was checked. HMD does not sell it in its United States, United Kingdom or German stores. The European listings that do exist come from small resellers and run well above the India price, so treat those as imports rather than retail.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Series 30+", "os_family": "s30", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8 inch 240x320 QVGA LCD, about 143ppi. HMD does not say what panel it uses. it reserves the IPS label for the 2nd Edition.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "2G, 3G and 4G, with 4G the top speed. GSM 850/900/1800 and UMTS 850/900/2100 on every variant; the LTE set varies by regional model.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "HMD says yes in the FAQ on its India product page, which lists 4G calling and VoLTE over compatible networks, and its international environmental profile for this model lists the power draw of a VoLTE call, so the feature is not India-only. VoLTE is in none of HMD's specification tables, so check the variant against your carrier before buying.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano-SIM slots (HMD lists the SIM size as 4FF plus 4FF), and microSD card support up to 32GB.", "bands": "GSM 3, 5, 8 and WCDMA 1, 5, 8 on every variant. LTE splits by region: Vietnam, Myanmar and Nepal get 1, 3, 5, 8; Europe, AMEA and the rest of APAC get 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41; India and China get 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41. HMD's user guide covers models TA-1612, TA-1614, TA-1616 and TA-1622.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "No Wi-Fi radio, so anything online goes over 4G.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C, listed by HMD for both the data connection and charging.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5 mm jack, listed by HMD. HMD also lists the FM radio as wired and wireless dual mode.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "Series 30+ has no app store, so there is nothing to install Spotify with. HMD's own pitch for music on this phone is Bluetooth or the FM radio.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "Series 30+ cannot install apps and HMD ships no WhatsApp client on this model.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Series 30+ ships a plain text messaging app and no Google Messages or Play Services, so there is nothing to carry RCS.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Series 30+ is not Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Series 30+ is a feature-phone OS with no app installation of any kind.", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 120, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked. HMD publishes different LTE band sets by region, so check the variant against your network before buying.", "countries": "Global, but check the model number against your region's bands", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/nokia-235-4g-2024", "buy_links": "Amazon; general retail", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "No front camera on this one, though the 2nd Edition has one. The Cloud Apps portal is a set of widgets rendered on a remote server and streamed to the handset, and HMD's footnote says it is not available on European or Chinese variants.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-235-4g.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-235-4g/" }, { "slug": "nokia-235-4g-2nd-edition", "name": "Nokia 235 4G 2nd Edition", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "The 2026 refresh adds a front camera and an assistant button you may not want.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping. On sale through European retailers since late July 2026", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Announced 3 Jul 2026; released August 2026", "price_usd_min": 81, "price_usd_max": 108, "price_note": "European retail only. Austrian shops start at about 70.50 euros, roughly 81 dollars, and mainstream European retailers charge 87 to 94 euros, about 100 to 108 dollars. HMD publishes no price of its own and does not sell the phone in the United States.", "price_recurring": "Optional: $2.99/year for the Sikey AI assistant after a 180 day free trial ($3.99/year in the EU), bought from a smartphone", "os": "Series 30+ with a Sikey AI assistant on a long press of the scroll key", "os_family": "s30", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8 inch IPS, 240x320 QVGA, about 143ppi", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "HMD does not list VoLTE in the specification table for this model, and no carrier or retailer sheet states it either way.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Dual nano-SIM, with microSD card support up to 32GB.", "bands": "GSM 3, 5, 8; WCDMA 1, 5, 8; LTE 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41. Model TA-1745.", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "No Wi-Fi radio, so anything online goes over 4G.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C for charging, with a charger and a USB-C cable in the box.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5 mm jack on HMD's specification sheet. HMD lists the FM radio as wired and wireless dual mode.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "Nothing installs on Series 30+. For music there is the FM radio or a Bluetooth 5.0 speaker.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No WhatsApp. Series 30+ installs nothing. HMD's answer is Xpress chat, its own messenger, which the person at the other end runs as a free app from Google Play or the App Store.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Series 30+ with a plain SMS app and no Play Services. HMD's own alternative is Xpress chat, its own messenger, which is not RCS.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Series 30+ is not Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Series 30+ is a feature-phone OS with no app installation of any kind.", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 106, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked", "countries": "Europe, India, South Africa, China and the Middle East. No United States retail.", "regions": [ "eu", "import" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/nokia-235-4g-2nd-edition", "buy_links": "Sold by European retailers including Gomibo in Germany, Austria and France. No United States seller.", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The VGA front camera is what makes Xpress chat video calling possible on a keypad phone. The AI assistant is free for 180 days and then $2.99 a year, $3.99 in the EU, and HMD's own footnote says you need a smartphone to buy that subscription.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-235-4g-2nd-edition.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-235-4g-2nd-edition/" }, { "slug": "nokia-2760-flip", "name": "Nokia 2760 Flip", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "The 2780's older sibling. A slightly bigger screen on a slower chip.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (dual screen)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "HMD has dropped it. The product page is gone and it is not in HMD's feature phone line-up as of September 2026.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2022, "introduced_note": "Launched March 2022", "price_usd_min": 69.99, "price_usd_max": 69.99, "price_note": "~$69.99 as a Tracfone prepaid unit", "price_recurring": "", "os": "KaiOS 3.1", "os_family": "kaios", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8 in internal screen at 320x240 QVGA plus a 1.77 in 160x128 QQVGA external one. HMD does not publish the panel type.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE with VoLTE, and HMD also lists GSM and WCDMA bands underneath it.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "HMD advertises VoLTE 4G HD calling, with the caveat on its own page that whether you get it depends on your carrier.", "sim": [ "physical" ], "sim_note": "Single nano-SIM, in a holder under the removable battery. HMD quotes all its talk and standby figures for single-SIM use.", "bands": "GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA 2/4/5 | LTE B2, B4, B5, B7, B12, B13, B17, B41 (HPUE), B66, B71", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C on the phone, though HMD's box contents list oddly says Micro USB charger.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no Spotify app. HMD's own user guide describes only a music player for MP3 files already on the phone.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "KaiOS says WhatsApp is not available on KaiOS 3.0 and above, and this runs 3.1. KaiOS links that notice straight from the phone's own listing.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "SMS and MMS only. Neither HMD's spec sheet, its product page nor its user guide mentions RCS.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "KaiOS is not Android.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "KaiOS packages apps for the KaiStore, not as APKs. Developer tooling can push one, but there is no ordinary route.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 131, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Widely sold as a Tracfone prepaid device", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/support/nokia-2760-flip-user-guide", "buy_links": "Amazon; Tracfone", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "A slower chip than the 2780 and a slightly larger inner screen. The KaiStore is there but WhatsApp and Spotify are not, and HMD has dropped it from the line-up.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-2760-flip.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-2760-flip/" }, { "slug": "nokia-2780-flip", "name": "Nokia 2780 Flip", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "The default US flip phone. KaiOS, VoLTE, and a removable battery.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (dual screen)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "HMD has dropped it. The product page is gone and it is not in HMD's feature phone line-up as of September 2026; big retailers show it unavailable or open-box only.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2022, "introduced_note": "Announced 3 Nov 2022; released 15 Nov 2022", "price_usd_min": 89.99, "price_usd_max": 89.99, "price_note": "$89.99 at launch; street prices vary widely", "price_recurring": "", "os": "KaiOS 3.1", "os_family": "kaios", "screen_size_in": 2.7, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.7 in internal LCD at 320x240 QVGA plus a 1.77 in 160x128 QQVGA external screen", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "LTE Cat 4, 150Mbps down and 50Mbps up. HMD also publishes GSM and WCDMA bands, though it is sold and marketed as a 4G phone.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "VoLTE supported; KaiOS markets HD voice on this model", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Single nano-SIM. HMD quotes every talk and standby figure for single-SIM use.", "bands": "GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | WCDMA 2/4/5 | LTE B2, B4, B5, B7, B12, B13, B17, B25, B26, B41 (HPUE), B66, B71", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C on the phone. HMD's own box contents list confusingly reads Micro USB Charger, but the connectivity row says Type-C.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack, and there is an FM radio to use it with.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "KaiOS says WhatsApp is not available on KaiOS 3.0, and this phone runs KaiOS 3.1.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "SMS and MMS only. HMD's spec sheet never mentions RCS and the user guide covers nothing but plain text messages, so texts to Android and iPhone stay green.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "KaiOS is not Android.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "KaiOS packages apps for the KaiStore, not as APKs. Developer tooling can push one, but there is no ordinary route.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 131, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Launched through AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile; also sold unlocked", "countries": "United States", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/support/nokia-2780-flip-user-guide", "buy_links": "Amazon; US Mobile ($94 upfront); carrier stores", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "KaiOS 3.1 gives you the KaiStore and a browser with a real address bar, but WhatsApp never came to this generation of KaiOS. HMD has dropped it from the line-up. The box contents list says Micro USB and the port is Type-C.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-2780-flip.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-2780-flip/" }, { "slug": "nokia-3210-4g", "name": "Nokia 3210 4G (2024)", "brand": "HMD / Nokia", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "The 2024 remake of the classic. Snake included, Wi-Fi left out.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "HMD still sells it in India, where the store has all three colors in stock at INR 4,299, and the international product page is live. Its European stores have dropped it: the UK, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch pages each show a disabled Discontinued button and say the phone is no longer available, while the Irish page still lists it at EUR 79.99 but offers no buy button.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "Released 7 May 2024", "price_usd_min": 45, "price_usd_max": 95, "price_note": "HMD lists it at INR 4,299 in India, where it is in stock, and at EUR 79.99 in Ireland, where it shows as sold out. Its UK store carried it at GBP 74.99. HMD publishes no US price, so American buyers are paying import prices.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Series 30+ (S30+)", "os_family": "s30", "screen_size_in": 2.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.4 in, QVGA. HMD does not publish the panel type or a refresh rate.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "GSM/GPRS 900/1800, WCDMA and LTE Cat 1, with a top speed of 4G. The LTE band set changes by region.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "HMD's own environmental profile measures a VoLTE call on this phone at 1,976 mW. Its 2G-only models carry no such row, so the figure is specific to this radio. HMD names no certified carriers.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Dual nano-SIM. HMD lists the slots as 4FF+4FF and quotes talk time for dual-SIM use.", "bands": "GSM 3/5/8 | WCDMA 1/5/8 | LTE 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 (Europe, AMEA, most of APAC); LTE 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 (India and China); LTE 1, 3, 5, 8 (Vietnam, Myanmar, Nepal)", "hotspot": "no", "hotspot_note": "Snake included, Wi-Fi left out.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C for both data and charging.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack, and the FM radio works through the speaker as well as through headphones.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "S30+ runs no third-party apps and there is no store to get one from. Audio is the built-in MP3 player, the FM radio or Bluetooth.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "S30+ has no app platform, so there is nothing to install WhatsApp onto.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "S30+ has no app platform and HMD's spec sheet lists no RCS, so there is no way to get chat features onto it.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Series 30+ is not Android.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Series 30+ is a feature-phone OS with no app installation of any kind.", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "No Wi-Fi, no browser and no mail client.", "battery_mah": 1450, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 87, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked, and HMD runs no US store for it. Its LTE bands are the European and Asian sets, with no band 2, 4, 12, 13, 66 or 71, so an import is a poor fit for a US line.", "countries": "Sold across Europe, the UK, Ireland, India, Australia and the Middle East. HMD no longer runs a US site. Its US pages redirect to the international ones, so there is no US listing or price.", "regions": [ "global" ], "website": "https://www.hmd.com/en_int/nokia-3210", "buy_links": "Amazon; general retail", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The LTE bands are the European and Asian sets, with no band 2, 4, 12, 13, 66 or 71, so check it against your carrier first. Snake is preloaded, and so is a Cloud Apps portal for news and weather that HMD does not offer in Europe or China.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/nokia-3210-4g.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/nokia-3210-4g/" }, { "slug": "punkt-mc02", "name": "Punkt. MC02 (5G)", "brand": "Punkt.", "category": "Locked-down smartphones", "tagline": "A privacy-first Android alternative from Punkt. A smartphone, but a careful one.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "In stock direct from Punkt at the time of checking. Punkt now sells the newer MC03 alongside it at $745.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2023, "introduced_note": "Revealed Nov 2023; available from end of January 2024", "price_usd_min": 499, "price_usd_max": 499, "price_note": "$499 from Punkt's US store, down from the $749 launch price, with 12 months of Apostrophy included. Renewal after that is CHF 11.99 a month, or CHF 9.99 a month billed annually. Earlier reviews quote CHF 14.99, which Punkt has since cut.", "price_recurring": "CHF 11.99/mo Apostrophy subscription after the first 12 months, or CHF 9.99/mo billed annually", "os": "Apostrophy OS (AphyOS), based on AOSP 13", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 6.67, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "6.67\" IPS 2400x1080, 60Hz, 394ppi, up to 400 nits", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "2G GSM and 3G WCDMA as well as 4G LTE and 5G sub-6.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "A hands-on review reports VoLTE working alongside 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. Punkt publishes no per-carrier US VoLTE table for this model, unlike the MP02, so carrier-by-carrier behavior is not documented.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Hybrid tray: one nano-SIM slot plus a second that takes either a nano-SIM or a microSD card, so dual SIM and expandable storage are an either/or.", "bands": "2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | 3G WCDMA B1/2/4/5/8 | 4G FDD-LTE B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/20/25/26/28/30/66/71 | 4G TDD-LTE B38/41/42/48 | 5G sub-6 NR n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/25/28/41/48/66/71/77/78/79", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C 2.0, 18W wired and 18W wireless", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm CTIA jack on the body, alongside USB-C 2.0 with OTG.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Runs once you use Punkt's GMS Wizard to add the Play Store, which lands the app on the sandboxed Piazza side of the system rather than the private Domus side.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Same route as Spotify, through the GMS Wizard onto the sandboxed side. Punkt bundles Threema as the private alternative.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Apostrophy OS is AOSP 13 with Google stripped out, so no Google Messages and no Play Services out of the box. The optional GMS Wizard puts the Play Store in a sandbox rather than making it the system messaging stack, and Punkt does not claim RCS anywhere.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Apostrophy OS ships without Google Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "partial", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 5500, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 230, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Unlocked. Punkt publishes no US carrier compatibility table for the MC02, unlike the MP02, though the band list covers the main US LTE and 5G bands.", "countries": "Punkt's own store sells to 63 countries: the US and Canada, the UK and most of Europe, plus Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Israel, South Africa and the Gulf states. No Latin America, India or mainland China. Also on Amazon in the US and Europe.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://www.punkt.ch/products/mc02-5g-secure-phone", "buy_links": "Amazon; shop.techdefenders.com ($399.99 certified refurbished), the partner store behind the refurbished button on Punkt's own MC02 page for the US", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "A privacy phone more than a distraction-free one. The subscription is the sticking point: Punkt says that if you cancel it, the Apostrophy services on the phone stop working. Punkt commits to security updates until April 5, 2028.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/punkt-mc02.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/punkt-mc02/" }, { "slug": "punkt-mp02", "name": "Punkt. MP02 (4G)", "brand": "Punkt.", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "Jasper Morrison design, Signal-based messaging, no camera. A tool, plainly.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (keypad)", "availability_status": "limited", "availability_note": "Still a current product, but every color is sold out on Punkt's own store, which shows a notify-me form and sends US buyers to Amazon.com instead.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2018, "introduced_note": "2018 (current 4G 'New Generation' revision)", "price_usd_min": 299, "price_usd_max": 319, "price_note": "Black is $299, light gray and light blue are $319 on Punkt's US storefront. The Swiss store lists the same figures in francs, CHF 299 and CHF 319. Sold out direct at the time of checking, so Punkt sends US buyers to Amazon.com.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Apostrophy OS (APHY 1.3)", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2\" VA TFT transflective, 320x240 QVGA, 4:3, non-touch. Gorilla Glass 3 with an oleophobic coating, recessed, and readable in sunlight.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "2G / 3G / 4G LTE. Punkt describes the New Generation revision as having global roaming.", "volte": "partial", "volte_note": "AT&T verified; T-Mobile not supported; Verizon not supported (Punkt's own table)", "sim": [ "physical" ], "sim_note": "Single Nano-SIM (4FF), unlocked", "bands": "2G 850/900/1800/1900 | 3G WCDMA 1,2,4,5,6,8,19 | 4G FDD-LTE 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,17,19,20", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "Tethering runs over USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C for charging and for the bundled 3.5mm adapter. Tethering runs over USB, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. No charger in the box, only a 50cm USB-A to USB-C cable.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "USB-C to 3.5mm adapter in box", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No app store and no browser. The only apps Punkt lists are Pigeon, Personalise and DailyView, so there is no way to add a music service.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "no", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "The MP02 runs Punkt's own Apostrophy build with a fixed set of apps, Pigeon, Personalise and DailyView, and no store or browser to add more. Pigeon is the only messenger it has.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Punkt lists messaging as SMS with T9 and MMS, plus its own Pigeon app for encrypted chat. There is no Google Messages and no store to install one, so nothing on the phone can carry RCS.", "group_text": "no", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Apostrophy OS has no Google services.", "maps": [ "none" ], "camera": "no", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "no", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1280, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IP52", "weight_g": 100, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Unlocked. Punkt publishes US support as: AT&T supported/VoLTE verified; T-Mobile supported/VoLTE not supported; Verizon not supported.", "countries": "Sold direct (Switzerland) and via Amazon.com in the US", "regions": [ "us", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://www.punkt.ch/products/mp02-4g-minimalist-phone", "buy_links": "Amazon.com", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Punkt says the last Android and vendor security update was August 5, 2021, with no more planned. Messaging is Punkt's own Pigeon app, built on the Signal protocol.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/punkt-mp02.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/punkt-mp02/" }, { "slug": "samsung-galaxy-folder-2", "name": "Samsung Galaxy Folder 2", "brand": "Samsung", "category": "Enthusiast imports and alternatives", "tagline": "A touchscreen Android flip from 2017. Charming, and out of security updates.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (touchscreen Android)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "Import. Refurbished and open-box; long out of production", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2017, "introduced_note": "Announced in Korea on June 22, 2017 at KRW 297,000 (about $260).", "price_usd_min": 72, "price_usd_max": 232, "price_note": "~GBP 105 refurbished; $72-$232 across eBay and US resellers", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with Google Play pre-installed; some units later updated to Android 7.1.1 Nougat", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.8\" WVGA 480x800 TFT LCD touchscreen", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "GSM / HSPA / LTE", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "The G160N takes one nano-SIM, the G1650 takes two in dual standby. Either way the microSD slot is its own, so a card does not cost you a SIM.", "bands": "2G GSM 900/1800/1900. 3G 850/900/1900/2100. 4G LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 plus TDD 38, 39, 40 and 41. One US reseller's own listing drops band 5 and adds 2G 850, so the edges are unconfirmed.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "no", "usb_c_note": "Micro USB 2.0. It is a 2017 phone and it charges like one.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "A 3.5mm jack, normal for a 2017 phone. Samsung's own page for it is gone, so this comes from retailer spec sheets.", "spotify": "partial", "spotify_note": "Spotify needs Android 7.0 or above, so it depends which variant you get. The G1650 runs Android 7.1.1 and takes the ordinary Play Store app; the G160N is on Android 6.0.1 and falls short, and sellers offer an APKPure setup on that one so you can fetch a build that still installs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Play Store access", "rcs": "unknown", "rcs_note": "Not published. Google Play is pre-installed, but this is Android 6.0.1 from 2017 and sellers push an APKPure install for apps Play will no longer serve, so do not count on Google Messages or RCS.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Android 6.0.1 is below the Android 8.0 that Android Auto now needs.", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1950, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 160, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Sold unlocked by resellers; originally Korea and China. The LTE list has none of the bands US carriers lean on (2, 4, 12, 13, 66, 71) and VoLTE is not published, so a US network is a gamble.", "countries": "Korea and China originally; exported worldwide", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://www.samsung.com/sec/support/model/SM-G160NZKSKOO/", "buy_links": "y2kphones.com; eBay; cell2get.com; cellphonebeast.com", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Android 6.0.1 with no security updates, so plenty of current apps will not install and sellers point buyers at APKPure for older builds. The LTE bands miss everything US carriers lean on. This is the Galaxy Folder line, not the Galaxy Z Flip foldable.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/samsung-galaxy-folder-2.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/samsung-galaxy-folder-2/" }, { "slug": "schok-classic-flip", "name": "Schok Classic Flip", "brand": "Schok", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "An Android flip that is mostly known for being loud.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "Out of production. Schok's own store now sells the VoltFlip in its place, and the Amazon, Charity Mobile and Planet Cell listings have all gone, so it is a secondhand hunt.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2019, "introduced_note": "", "price_usd_min": null, "price_usd_max": null, "price_note": "Schok's own store has replaced it with the VoltFlip, and the shops that listed the Classic are out of stock: Amazon shows it as currently unavailable and Planet Cell lists it sold out at $150. Expect to hunt secondhand.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 8 (Go edition)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.2, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.2\" 480x800 internal LCD plus a 2\" 176x220 outer display", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "The user guide lists the phone's communication standards as 4G LTE, VoLTE and ViLTE.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Single nano-SIM, plus a microSD slot that takes up to 64GB.", "bands": "LTE 2/4/5/12/13/17/25/26/28(A&B)/30/41/66/71", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "Lock Control can hide Wi-Fi and mobile data behind a passcode.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, and a charging dock comes in the box.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "The phone ships a fixed set of apps and no store, so there is nowhere to install it from.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store on the phone, so no way to install it.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "No Google Play Services on board, so messaging is SMS and MMS only.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Android Go here ships without the Play Store.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1650, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 135, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Sold unlocked for US GSM and LTE networks.", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://schokgear.com/", "buy_links": "Listed on Amazon and Planet Cell, both currently out of stock.", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The 1.2W amplifier is the point of it, and Schok pitches it as unusually loud for a flip. A real browser is on board, with a virtual mouse pointer you summon by holding the OK key. Lock Control hides Wi-Fi, mobile data and the camera behind a passcode, which is 0000 until you change it.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/schok-classic-flip.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/schok-classic-flip/" }, { "slug": "sharp-aquos-keitai-3-805sh", "name": "Sharp AQUOS Keitai 3 (805SH)", "brand": "Sharp", "category": "Enthusiast imports and alternatives", "tagline": "A Sharp keitai for Japan, Europe, or the look. Skip it for a US line.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (keitai)", "availability_status": "secondhand", "availability_note": "Import. Refurbished from specialist sellers. Y2KPHONES had both colors sold out when I last checked.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2019, "introduced_note": "SoftBank's user guide for the 805SH is dated April 2019, and Y!mobile put the identical 806SH on sale on April 12, 2019.", "price_usd_min": 162, "price_usd_max": 202, "price_note": "Y2KPHONES list it at GBP 119.99 in black and GBP 149.99 in green, roughly $162 to $202, refurbished with APKPure preinstalled. Both colors were sold out when I checked, so treat those as the going rate rather than a price you can pay today.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 8.1 (custom Japanese build), APKPure pre-installed", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.4-inch 540x960 QHD TFT main screen and a 0.9-inch 36x128 OLED sub-display on the lid.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "GSM, 3G and 4G LTE, with SoftBank's world roaming service. LTE runs on bands 1, 2, 3 and 8, so it roams far better in Europe than in the US, where band 2 is the only one it has.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "VoLTE, but it is SoftBank VoLTE on a SoftBank handset. Whether a foreign carrier will provision an uncertified import is a different question.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One SIM slot under the battery cover, sharing the compartment with a microSD/microSDHC slot that takes up to 32GB.", "bands": "2G GSM 900/1800/1900 abroad. 3G on bands 1, 2 and 8. 4G LTE on bands 1, 2, 3 and 8. Note what is missing: no band 4, 5, 12, 66 or 71, which is why US-compatibility guides write the AQUOS keitai off for American networks.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "no", "usb_c_note": "Micro USB, not Type-C. It is also the only port on the body.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack anywhere on the body. Hands-free means a Bluetooth headset or a mic-equipped set through the micro USB port.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "Nothing SoftBank shipped will run it. The main menu is twelve fixed items and there is no Google Play or Play Services. Importers preinstall APKPure and a pointer app so an APK can be sideloaded, which is unsupported and unverified.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "Messaging is S! Mail, SMS and PC mail. There is no store on the stock firmware; importers add APKPure, but no maker or seller says WhatsApp actually runs on it.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "SoftBank's +Message, Japan's carrier RCS app, is not listed for this model and does not appear in the manual. No Google Messages and no Play Services either, so there is no RCS at all.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "A closed SoftBank build with no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "partial", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "No store on the stock menu; importers add APKPure and a pointer app so you can install APKs.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "Carrier mail, the way every Japanese keitai has it.", "battery_mah": 1680, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IPX5/IPX8/IP5X", "weight_g": 123, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Sold by SoftBank as the 805SH and by Y!mobile as the 806SH, and unlocked by exporters. LTE bands 1, 2, 3 and 8 mean band 2 is your only US option and there is no US low band at all, so the band list makes an American line impractical.", "countries": "Japan; exported worldwide", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://jp.sharp/products/aquos-keitai3/spec.html", "buy_links": "y2kphones.com; eBay Japan sellers", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Micro USB rather than Type-C, and there is no headphone jack anywhere on the body. LTE bands 1, 2, 3 and 8 mean no band 4, 12, 66 or 71, so this is a phone for Japan, Europe or the look rather than a US line. Importers add APKPure and a pointer app to sideload past the fixed menu.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/sharp-aquos-keitai-3-805sh.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/sharp-aquos-keitai-3-805sh/" }, { "slug": "sidephone-sp-01", "name": "Sidephone SP-01", "brand": "Sidephone", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "Swap the keypad tile and the phone changes character. T9 comes in the box.", "form_factor": "keypad-bar", "form_factor_detail": "Bar with swappable keypad tiles", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping (retail listing live after a Founders Edition run)", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Announced April 2025; retail listing 2026", "price_usd_min": 299, "price_usd_max": 299, "price_note": "$299 with Classic T9 keypad included; extra tiles $29 each", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Custom AOSP 12: no Google Play Store, no Google Mobile Services, no Play Integrity", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8in LCD touchscreen at 480x640. The keypad tiles are not backlit.", "network": [ "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE, both FDD and TDD, with VoLTE. WCDMA bands are published too, though 3G is switched off in most places. No 5G.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Listed in the spec sheet as 4G LTE FDD plus VoLTE. Sidephone warns that on uncertified carriers VoLTE and data speeds can be limited.", "sim": [ "physical" ], "sim_note": "One nano SIM slot. No eSIM, which Sidephone flags as a problem for travel data providers. A physical SIM and an ejector tool ship in the box.", "bands": "WCDMA 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 19; LTE FDD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28A, 28B; LTE TDD 39, 40, 41. Bands 13, 66 and 71 are absent.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, and the only port. Sidephone notes there is no fast charging.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. The spec sheet lists USB-C as the only port.", "spotify": "sideload", "spotify_note": "Not in Sidephone's App Library. Sidephone's own list of community-tested apps says it works when sideloaded, and third-party installs are allowed, but the maker does not ship or support it.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "In the Messaging App Pack in the on-device App Library, alongside Signal and Telegram.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Sidephone says RCS is not supported yet and that it is working on it.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "AOSP with no Google Play Store.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Allowed, but the phone is de-Googled, so anything needing Play Services will not run.", "browser": "yes", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "Not rated. Sidephone states the phone has no IP rating", "weight_g": 120, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Sidephone USA says T-Mobile and its MVNOs are fully supported and that AT&T works, though coverage can be limited in places. Verizon and Verizon MVNOs are not supported. No PTCRB and no carrier certifications, and LTE bands 13, 66 and 71 are missing. Sidephone USA also sells its own optional plans, Sidephone Mobile, which run on T-Mobile's network, and a Sidephone SIM ships with the US retail phone. The maker recommends it as the simplest setup, but it is not required.", "countries": "Sold from a US store and an international store that ships to 60+ countries and regions, not everywhere", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://usa.sidephone.com/products/sidephone", "buy_links": "usa.sidephone.com for US orders; sidephone.com for everywhere else", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "No carrier certification, and LTE bands 13, 66 and 71 are missing, so Verizon is out and coverage can thin elsewhere. It is de-Googled, so anything needing Play Services will not run. The keypad is a magnetic tile you can swap for QWERTY, a media wheel or a game pad.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/sidephone-sp-01.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/sidephone-sp-01/" }, { "slug": "sleke-phone", "name": "Sleke Phone", "brand": "SLEKE.", "category": "Locked-down smartphones", "tagline": "An upcycled Pixel running a custom OS built around answers rather than feeds.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "limited", "availability_note": "Sold in numbered batches. Batch 20 is capped at 50 orders and ships by late October 2026. dumbwireless stocks the Pixel 8 build separately.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "2025", "price_usd_min": 444, "price_usd_max": 690, "price_note": "SLEKE prices by the donor handset: $444 on a Pixel 7, $499 on a Pixel 8, $690 on a Pixel 9. dumbwireless sells the Pixel 8 build at $499. No subscription.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "OdysseyOS: a de-Googled AOSP build with optional microG", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 6.2, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "6.2 inch Actua OLED, 1080 x 2400, 60 to 120 Hz, the Pixel 8 panel.", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "Pixel 8 hardware", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Not published. SLEKE only says the phones are carrier unlocked and work on most US networks, and dumbwireless adds that Google Fi is excluded.", "sim": [ "esim", "physical" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM tray plus eSIM. The manual walks through both, including toggling eSIM support on in Settings then scanning the carrier QR code.", "bands": "Pixel 8 bands", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C. SLEKE's manual says to charge with a USB-C cable and recommends a USB PD adapter for fast charging.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The real Spotify app is in SLEKE's curated store, along with Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music. Music and audio is one of SLEKE's allowed categories.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "The real WhatsApp app is in the curated store and the manual says it can be downloaded. SLEKE's preferred option is Beeper, which bridges WhatsApp plus 13 other networks into one inbox.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "OdysseyOS is de-Googled and uses microG rather than Google Play Services, so the phone cannot register for RCS. SLEKE's own switching guide tells buyers to turn RCS off before moving their SIM, warning that iOS 18 silently drops non-RCS people from upgraded group chats.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "OdysseyOS is a de-Googled AOSP build.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Blocked. Anything not in the curated store is simply unavailable.", "browser": "partial", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": null, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IP68", "weight_g": 187, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "Carrier unlocked and working on most US networks per SLEKE; dumbwireless adds most major carriers and MVNOs worldwide, excluding Google Fi.", "countries": "Sold direct in the US by SLEKE; dumbwireless handles orders outside it.", "regions": [ "us", "global" ], "website": "https://sleke.io/", "buy_links": "sleke.io (US direct, by batch); dumbwireless.com", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/sleke-phone-beta-test", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "There is no ordinary browser. Search goes through Perplexity, links open in a filtered browser you cannot replace, and sideloading is blocked, so anything outside the curated store is unavailable. Play Services is replaced by microG, so the phone cannot register for RCS at all. SLEKE's own switching guide tells you to deregister before you move.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/sleke-phone.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/sleke-phone/" }, { "slug": "sonim-xp3", "name": "Sonim XP3plus", "brand": "Sonim", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A budget rugged flip with a no-camera option for restricted workplaces.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (rugged)", "availability_status": "limited", "availability_note": "Still listed by Sonim, but thin on the ground: AT&T has dropped the 4G model and sells the XP3plus 5G instead, and Verizon Business lists the XP3plus out of stock. Sonim points buyers at Crossover Distribution for unlocked North America stock and Logic Wireless for Australia, New Zealand and Asia, and specialist resellers still have unlocked units.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2021, "introduced_note": "XP3plus announced 13 September 2021 and on sale at T-Mobile that month. Unlocked North America and Europe versions followed on 9 March 2022. The earlier XP3 (XP3800) dates from early 2019 and is a different, smaller phone.", "price_usd_min": 84.99, "price_usd_max": 159.99, "price_note": "No published list price. Sonim's distributors quote per order, AT&T's page says the 4G model is no longer available and Verizon Business lists it out of stock, so the live prices are at specialist resellers: about $85 for an unlocked XP3plus at y2kphones, about $160 for the Verizon-unlocked version at Cellphone Beast, and about $100 for the older XP3800.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Sonim Proprietary OS (based on AOSP Android 11)", "os_family": "feature", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8-inch TFT, 240x320, 262K colors, with a 1.3-inch 240x240 IPS display on the lid. The user guide says it is rated for outdoor visibility.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE with 3G UMTS and 2G GSM underneath, and a preferred-network setting that lets you pick. Wi-Fi is dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with a hotspot for up to eight devices.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Sonim lists VoLTE as standard, and there is a VoLTE switch under Network and Internet that the manual tells you to leave on.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One nano-SIM tray under the battery, with a separate microSD tray beside it for cards up to 256GB.", "bands": "LTE B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B12/B13/B14/B25/B26/B30/B39/B40/B41(HPUE)/B66/B71 | UMTS B1/B2/B4/B5 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900. There is a separate Europe and rest-of-world unlocked model with its own band set.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "Dual-band Wi-Fi with a hotspot for up to eight devices.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, plus exposed charging pins on the back for drop-in docks. Sonim warns the port cannot power accessories, cannot carry audio and power at once, and does not work with 3.5mm adapters.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "A Sonim SecureAudio 3.5mm connector rather than a plain socket. Sonim and Klein headsets twist into it for a connection that will not shake loose. The FM radio needs a wired headset for its antenna.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no app store on the phone and no way to add one. The only music software is Sonim's own player, which plays files off the microSD card, plus FM radio.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store and no way to install one. Messaging on this phone is SMS and MMS.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "SMS and MMS only. The OS is Sonim's own feature-phone build with no Google Play services and no Google Messages, so there is nothing for RCS to run on.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "The Sonim build has no Play services.", "maps": [], "camera": "partial", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2300, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "IP68", "weight_g": 220, "kosher": "yes", "kosher_note": "Kosher Signal sells a filtered version alongside the ordinary carrier phone.", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Carrier builds exist for AT&T and FirstNet, Verizon, T-Mobile, Bell and Telus. Sonim says the unlocked North America model is authorised for AT&T and Cricket.", "countries": "United States and Canada, with distributors for Australia, New Zealand and Asia. A Europe and rest-of-world version launched in 2022, but Sonim lists no European seller now.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "global" ], "website": "https://www.sonimtech.com/products/phones/xp3plus", "buy_links": "Crossover Distribution (unlocked US and Canada); Logic Wireless (Australia, New Zealand and Asia); Verizon Business (listed but out of stock); y2kphones.com; cellphonebeast.com", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "These specs are the XP3plus, the model Sonim still sells. The original XP3 is a smaller, older phone that Sonim no longer lists. CSA certification for hazardous locations is why it turns up on rigs and refineries, and a camera-free variant is sold for sites that ban cameras.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/sonim-xp3.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/sonim-xp3/" }, { "slug": "sunbeam-f1-horizon", "name": "Sunbeam F1 Horizon", "brand": "Sunbeam Wireless", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "Sunbeam's cheaper flip. Same idea, smaller battery, lower res screen.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (small external display)", "availability_status": "limited", "availability_note": "Every one of the twelve Horizon configurations was out of stock direct from Sunbeam when this was checked, and Sunbeam now points buyers at the F1 Pro instead. Resellers still had stock: Dumb Wireless had the Bluebird and the Eagle, and SafeCell listed six of the models.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "On sale since early 2024, replacing the original F1 line (Dandelion, Daisy and Orchid) with a bigger battery, USB-C and a stronger vibrate.", "price_usd_min": 250, "price_usd_max": 309, "price_note": "Sunbeam's own price is $279 for ten of the twelve configurations and $309 for Eagle and Falcon, the two with text-only email, though all twelve were out of stock there. Resellers run from $250 to $309. An optional Sunbeam Premium subscription adds voice-to-text, hourly weather and radar, points of interest in navigation and NumberLink. Sunbeam has moved sign-up off its own site and no longer publishes a price for it, while a retailer quotes about $3.50 a month. The phone works without it.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "BasicOS", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8-inch inner display at 240x320, about 43mm by 58mm, plus a small external display on the lid. Touch input on most configurations, but Robin, Chickadee and Blue Jay are keypad only.", "network": [ "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "3G WCDMA/UMTS on bands 2 and 5, 4G LTE on bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 20 and 71. The big US networks have all switched their 3G off, so calls ride on LTE at home and the 3G radio only really matters when roaming.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "VoLTE works and is what carries calls on the US networks now that their 3G is off. Sunbeam's international roaming tables track VoLTE registration carrier by carrier and show the phone placing VoLTE calls on many networks abroad, but inbound VoLTE roaming is carrier-dependent: Sunbeam flags Serbia as having none at all, which leaves the phone unable to call there because it lacks European 2G and 3G bands, and VoLTE on SaskTel needs a handset bought in November 2024 or later. Wi-Fi calling is not officially supported, though it works on several carriers once it is enabled on the plan and under Settings, Connectivity, WLAN, Wi-Fi Preferences, Advanced.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One nano-SIM (4FF). No eSIM and no dual-SIM slot. There is a microSD slot that takes cards up to 32GB.", "bands": "3G WCDMA/UMTS: B2, B5. 4G LTE: B2, B3, B4, B5, B12, B13, B20, B71. Sunbeam warns the phone will not work in much of Europe, Africa and Asia because it lacks the LTE bands used there.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "A hotspot connection is unfiltered, so whatever uses it does its own filtering.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C charging port, which is one of the things that changed from the original F1. The box has the phone, a battery, a USB-C wall charger, a charging dock and a cable.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm stereo headset jack on the side of the phone.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no app store, no browser and no way to install anything, so Spotify is out. The configurations that have a music player only play files you copy onto the phone or onto a microSD card.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "no", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store and no sideloading, so WhatsApp cannot be installed. Messaging is SMS and MMS only, and the stricter configurations drop picture messaging too.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Sunbeam says plainly that its phones cannot send or receive RCS, and warns that anyone in an RCS group chat has to switch that thread to MMS or the messages will never arrive.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "BasicOS has no Google services.", "maps": [], "camera": "partial", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "partial", "email_note": "Two of the twelve configurations, Eagle and Falcon, carry text-only email.", "battery_mah": 1750, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 152, "kosher": "yes", "kosher_note": "Sunbeam builds for observant buyers: every configuration is filtered, and you pick how far.", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Unlocked. Works on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile in the US and on Bell, Rogers, Telus and Videotron in Canada, along with most of their MVNOs. Sunbeam's own compatibility table marks Safelink, Spectrum, Visible, Xfinity and US Cellular as not working.", "countries": "Sold to customers in the United States and Canada. Sunbeam's stated policy is North America only, because a warranty claim has to come back to North America; the phone is built for the Americas and lacks the bands needed in much of Europe, Africa and Asia.", "regions": [ "us", "ca" ], "website": "https://sunbeamwireless.com/f1-horizon-feature-flip-phone/", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com (Bluebird $279, Eagle $309); thesafecell.com ($250-$280)", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/sunbeam-f1-horizon", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": true, "notes": "Twelve bird-named builds differ only in what is switched on, and four of them have no camera. Every configuration was out of stock when this was checked, and Sunbeam now steers buyers to the F1 Pro.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/sunbeam-f1-horizon.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/sunbeam-f1-horizon/" }, { "slug": "sunbeam-f1-pro", "name": "Sunbeam F1 Pro (Oak / Aspen / Juniper / Cypress)", "brand": "Sunbeam Wireless", "category": "Cold turkey devices", "tagline": "A rugged flip with a real menu of software builds. Pick how dumb you want it.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (rugged)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "All thirteen F1 Pro configurations were in stock direct from Sunbeam when this was checked. Pro units bought after the first of July 2026 come with a two-year warranty.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "On sale since early 2024. The F1 Pro series succeeds the original F1 line and is the rugged, higher-priced sibling of the F1 Horizon.", "price_usd_min": 330, "price_usd_max": 389, "price_note": "Sunbeam sells direct at $359 for eleven of the thirteen configurations and $389 for Juniper and Spruce, the two with text-only email. Dumb Wireless matches that at $359 for Aspen and $389 for Juniper, and other resellers list the Pro from about $330. An optional Sunbeam Premium subscription covers voice-to-text, hourly weather and radar, points of interest in navigation and NumberLink. Sunbeam has moved sign-up off the site and does not publish what it costs, and the phone works without it.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "BasicOS (Sunbeam's own)", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8-inch inner display at 480x640, about 43mm by 58mm. Touch input on most of the configurations, but Birch, Cedar and Willow are keypad only.", "network": [ "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "3G WCDMA/UMTS on bands 2 and 5, 4G LTE on bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 20 and 71. The big US networks have all switched their 3G off, so calls ride on LTE at home and the 3G radio only really matters when roaming.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "VoLTE works and is what carries calls on the US networks now that their 3G is off. Sunbeam's own carrier tables show the phone registering VoLTE at home and on many networks abroad, but inbound VoLTE roaming is carrier-dependent and a few lines never get it. Wi-Fi calling is not officially supported, though it works on several carriers once it is switched on for the plan and under Settings, Connectivity, WLAN, Wi-Fi Preferences, Advanced.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One nano-SIM (4FF). No eSIM and no dual-SIM slot. There is a microSD slot that takes cards up to 32GB, and Sunbeam sells a 32GB card with map data already on it.", "bands": "3G WCDMA/UMTS: B2, B5. 4G LTE: B2, B3, B4, B5, B12, B13, B20, B71. Sunbeam warns the phone will not work in much of Europe, Africa and Asia because it lacks the LTE bands used there.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "A hotspot connection is unfiltered, so whatever uses it does its own filtering.", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C charging port. The box has the phone, a battery, a USB-C wall charger, a charging dock and a cable.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm stereo headphone jack. The earpiece is rated up to 85 dB.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no app store, no browser and no way to install anything, so Spotify is out. The configurations that have a music player only play files you copy onto the phone or onto a microSD card.", "podcasts": "no", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "no", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store and no sideloading, so WhatsApp cannot be installed. Messaging is SMS and MMS only, and the stricter configurations drop picture messaging too.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Sunbeam says plainly that its phones cannot send or receive RCS, and warns that anyone in an RCS group chat has to switch that thread to MMS or the messages will never arrive.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "BasicOS has no Google services.", "maps": [], "camera": "partial", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "no", "email": "partial", "email_note": "Two of the thirteen configurations, Juniper and Spruce, carry text-only email.", "battery_mah": 2200, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 187, "kosher": "yes", "kosher_note": "Sunbeam builds for observant buyers: every configuration is filtered, and you pick how far.", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Unlocked. Works on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile in the US and on Bell, Rogers, Telus and Videotron in Canada, along with most of their MVNOs. Sunbeam's own compatibility table marks Safelink, Spectrum, Visible, Xfinity and US Cellular as not working.", "countries": "Sold to customers in the United States and Canada. Sunbeam's stated policy is North America only, because a warranty claim has to come back to North America; the phone is built for the Americas and lacks the bands needed in much of Europe, Africa and Asia.", "regions": [ "us", "ca" ], "website": "https://sunbeamwireless.com/f1-pro-rugged-dumbphone/", "buy_links": "dumbwireless.com; thesafecell.com; planetcellny.com", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/sunbeam-f1-pro-1", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Thirteen software builds differ only in what is switched on, from Oak with no media or camera down to Willow, which is calls and texts. Eight of them block calls and texts to AI numbers. A hotspot connection is unfiltered, so whatever uses it does its own filtering.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/sunbeam-f1-pro.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/sunbeam-f1-pro/" }, { "slug": "tcl-classic", "name": "TCL CLASSIC", "brand": "TCL", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "An AT&T Android flip with email and hearing aid support. Cheap on the used market.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (dual screen)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2022, "introduced_note": "Certified by the FCC as model 4058C in February 2022. TCL has never published a launch date for it.", "price_usd_min": 59.99, "price_usd_max": 74.99, "price_note": "$74.99 full retail at AT&T, who still list it. Around $59.99 unlocked on the secondary market.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 11 (AOSP)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 2.8, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.8\" internal LCD, 240x320, 262K colors, plus a 1.44\" TFT color outer display", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "HD Voice capable", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM", "bands": "LTE 2, 4, 5, 12, 14 | UMTS 850/1700/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (quad-band world phone)", "hotspot": "unknown", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, which is not a given on a flip this cheap.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "An AOSP build with no app store, so there is nowhere to get it from.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No app store on the phone, so no way to install it.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "AOSP 11 with no Google Play Services, so messaging is SMS and MMS only.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "AOSP with no Google Play Store.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "none", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "Email and a browser are on board, and there is no app store of any kind.", "battery_mah": 1850, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 140, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att" ], "carriers": "AT&T, and Cricket sells the same hardware. TCL ships a Cricket user manual with it. LTE band 14 makes it FirstNet Ready. The Boost, T-Mobile and Tracfone flips are sibling models, not this one.", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://us.tcl.com/products/tcl-classic", "buy_links": "AT&T; eBay", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "AT&T's spec sheet claims 1GB and 8GB, but that sheet covers the whole flip family and TCL's own page gives the smaller numbers, with about 1.7GB actually free. Email and a browser are on board, and there is no app store of any kind.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/tcl-classic.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/tcl-classic/" }, { "slug": "tcl-flip-4-5g", "name": "TCL FLIP 4 5G", "brand": "TCL", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A 5G KaiOS flip with a big battery. Has a browser, so bring some discipline.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (dual screen)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping (carrier-locked); dumbwireless listing sold out", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Launched on May 22, 2025 and on sale at Metro by T-Mobile that same day. TCL's first flip phone with 5G.", "price_usd_min": 80, "price_usd_max": 99, "price_note": "Metro by T-Mobile lists it at $80, and at launch many customers could get it free through a promotion. Refurbished T-Mobile-locked units were $99 at Dumb Wireless and are sold out.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "KaiOS 4.0", "os_family": "kaios", "screen_size_in": 3.2, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3.2\" internal LCD 240x320 + 1.77\" external 128x160", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "5G + 4G LTE", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Sold by T-Mobile and Metro as a 5G and LTE phone with dual-mic noise cancellation and HD Voice. TCL's spec sheet lists both VoLTE and VoWiFi, so Wi-Fi calling works too.", "sim": [ "physical", "esim", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Nano-SIM (4FF) plus an embedded eSIM. The SIM manager has an Add eSIM step, and TCL tells you to check with your carrier whether it is offered. One tray on the side edge holds both the SIM and a microSD card up to 1TB, so a card does not cost you the SIM.", "bands": "5G n25, n41, n66, n71 | LTE 1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 | WCDMA 1, 2, 4, 5 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C. TCL says a flat battery is full again in under two hours.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack on the left edge, so wired headphones work without an adapter.", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "There is no Spotify build for KaiOS and nothing in the KaiStore. Music on this phone means the local player or FM radio.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "WhatsApp was pulled from the KaiStore and support for KaiOS ended in early 2025, months before this phone went on sale.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "KaiOS handles messages with SMS and MMS. There is no Google Messages and no Play Services underneath, so no RCS.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "KaiOS is not Android.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "KaiOS packages apps for the KaiStore, not as APKs. Developer tooling can push one, but there is no ordinary route.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 3000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 155, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://us.tcl.com/products/flip-4-5g", "buy_links": "T-Mobile; Metro by T-Mobile; Walmart; dumbwireless", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/tcl-flip-4-5g", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "KaiOS 4.0 ships with Google Search, a cut-down Maps, YouTube and a web browser, so this is dumber by platform than by design. Metro and T-Mobile units are carrier-locked and will not take another network's SIM.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/tcl-flip-4-5g.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/tcl-flip-4-5g/" }, { "slug": "tobiphone", "name": "TobiPhone", "brand": "TobiPhone", "category": "Locked-down smartphones", "tagline": "A managed iPhone. iMessage and FaceTime stay, the App Store and the browser go.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (managed iPhone 17e or 17 Pro)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping. Membership sold direct only, with a 14-day full-refund window and no minimum term.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "No launch date published; TobiPhone's subscription terms are effective 13 Feb 2026.", "price_usd_min": 675, "price_usd_max": 1235, "price_note": "$675 set-up and activation on the iPhone 17e tier, $1,235 on the iPhone 17 Pro tier, plus $18 a month either way. Putting a compatible iPhone you already own under management is $199 plus the same $18 a month. Wireless service is not included.", "price_recurring": "$18/mo membership (required); optional TobiCare cover is $10/mo on the 17e tier and $14/mo on the 17 Pro", "os": "iOS under Apple's MDM device management, sealed from user override", "os_family": "ios", "screen_size_in": 6.1, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "6.1 inch Super Retina XDR OLED on the iPhone 17e tier; the iPhone 17 Pro tier is 6.3 inches.", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "5G sub-6 and LTE on Apple's C1X modem in the 17e. Apple's sheet also lists UMTS/HSPA+ and GSM/EDGE fallback.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Apple lists VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling on both the 17e and the 17 Pro, and TobiPhone says the phone works on Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and their prepaid and MVNO partners.", "sim": [ "esim" ], "sim_note": "eSIM only. Apple lists the iPhone 17e as not compatible with physical SIM cards, with dual eSIM and eight or more stored profiles; US iPhone 17 Pro models have no tray either. TobiPhone's own FAQ says a standard SIM card or an eSIM, but on these handsets it is eSIM.", "bands": "iPhone 17e (A3575): 5G NR FDD n1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/66/70/71/75 | 5G NR TDD n38/40/41/48/53/77/78/79 | LTE-FDD B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/66/71 | LTE-TDD B34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53 | UMTS/HSPA+ 850/900/1700-2100/1900/2100 | GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C on both the iPhone 17e and the iPhone 17 Pro.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5 mm jack; Apple lists USB-C as the only connector on both handsets.", "spotify": "partial", "spotify_note": "Spotify is on TobiPhone's 'Available' list, not its included list. It is added during onboarding after they talk you through the tradeoffs. TobiPhone's own note flags the podcast section and the messaging features, and points at Apple Music as the calmer option.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "partial", "whatsapp_note": "WhatsApp is on TobiPhone's 'Available' list, added on request rather than installed by default. TobiPhone's own note calls the Channels feature its biggest content-leak worry.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "RCS is built into Messages from iOS 18 on, and AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon all support it on iPhone, so it works here as on any iPhone. TobiPhone itself only ever describes Messages as iMessage and SMS, and not every small MVNO carries RCS, so check yours.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "This is an iPhone, so the car standard is CarPlay.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "iOS installs from the App Store only; there is no APK to sideload.", "browser": "no", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "Apple Mail is on the phone, but the MDM profile decides what stays.", "battery_mah": null, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IP68", "weight_g": 169, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Unlocked. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and their prepaid and MVNO partners including Mint Mobile, Cricket and Visible; most people keep their existing number and plan.", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://www.tobiphone.com/memberships", "buy_links": "Sold direct at tobiphone.com; dumbwireless links to it rather than stocking it, with a referral offering 3 months free", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/tobi-phone", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "A managed iPhone rather than a purpose-built device. Tobi keeps ownership while the membership runs, and cancelling takes the management profile off and leaves the phone yours, unlocked. Apps outside the installed set get added after a conversation about the tradeoff.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/tobiphone.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/tobiphone/" }, { "slug": "unihertz-jelly-2e", "name": "Unihertz Jelly 2E", "brand": "Unihertz", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "The cheapest Jelly, and Android 12 is the last version it will ever run.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (mini slab)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "In stock direct from Unihertz in US, EU, CA and UK/AU/NZ/Asia versions.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2022, "introduced_note": "Listed on Unihertz's own store in November 2022.", "price_usd_min": 159.99, "price_usd_max": 159.99, "price_note": "$159.99 direct from Unihertz, marked down from $169.99. Amazon marketplace sellers were asking several times that when this was checked.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 12", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3 inch 480x854 LCD under Gorilla Glass.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "2G, 3G and 4G, no 5G. The LTE list has no band 13, 66 or 71, where the Jelly 2 and Jelly Star at least carry 13 and 66.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Unihertz publishes no VoLTE line for this model, and there is none in the Jelly 2E manual either. Its AT&T notice says only the Jelly 2 and Titan 2 are authorized on AT&T and Cricket, and tells owners of every other model to switch to T-Mobile or Verizon.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano SIM slots, the second shared with microSD, so it is two SIMs or one SIM plus a card of up to 512GB. No eSIM.", "bands": "2G GSM: 2/3/5/8 | 3G WCDMA: 1/2/4/5/8 | 3G CDMA2000: BC0/BC1 | 4G FDD-LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/25/26 | 4G TDD-LTE: 34/38/39/40/41", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C, 10W charging. Unlike the other Jellies, this one does not do USB OTG.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack, and Unihertz makes a point of it on the product page.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The Google Play Store is installed, so the ordinary Spotify app runs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "The Google Play Store is installed, so the ordinary WhatsApp app runs.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Full Android 12 with the Google Play Store, so Google Messages and its RCS chat features work as they do on any Android phone with Google's apps on it. Unihertz never mentions RCS itself.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 110, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Sold unlocked. Unihertz's AT&T notice puts only the Jelly 2 and Titan 2 on AT&T's whitelist and tells owners of every other model to switch to T-Mobile or Verizon. Unihertz also says its phones are not certified by Verizon, so a new Verizon SIM has to be activated in another handset first. The Amazon listing sells the US version as T-Mobile and Verizon only.", "countries": "Direct from Unihertz in US, EU, CA and UK/AU/NZ/Asia versions, plus Unihertz's own Amazon and eBay storefronts.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://www.unihertz.com/products/jelly-2e", "buy_links": "Unihertz store; Unihertz's official Amazon and eBay storefronts", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Full Android with the Play Store, so this is a small phone rather than a simple one. Unihertz warns on the product page that it cannot receive further OS upgrades, and some owners report Google Pay failing on it.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/unihertz-jelly-2e.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/unihertz-jelly-2e/" }, { "slug": "unihertz-jelly-max", "name": "Unihertz Jelly Max", "brand": "Unihertz", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A full Android phone shrunk until scrolling stops being comfortable.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (mini slab)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "In stock direct from Unihertz in all five regional versions.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "Kickstarted in July 2024 and listed on Unihertz's own store that August.", "price_usd_min": 339.99, "price_usd_max": 339.99, "price_note": "$339.99 direct from Unihertz for the 8GB/256GB version. Android Police reviewed the 12GB version at the same $340 retail price. Amazon marketplace sellers were asking far more than that when this was checked.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 15", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 5.05, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "5.05 inch 720x1520 LCD at 60Hz.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "2G, 3G, 4G and sub-6 5G. No mmWave bands are listed, and there is no band 71 or N71, so T-Mobile's 600MHz low band is not covered.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Unihertz publishes no VoLTE line for the Jelly Max. What it does say is that only the Jelly 2 and Titan 2 are on AT&T's whitelist, that owners of other models should use T-Mobile or Verizon, and that a new Verizon SIM has to be activated in another handset first because the phone is not Verizon-certified.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano SIM slots, the second shared with microSD, so it is two SIMs or one SIM plus a card. No eSIM.", "bands": "2G GSM: 2/3/5/8 | 3G WCDMA: 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 | 3G CDMA2000: BC0/BC1 | 4G FDD-LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/28A/28B/66 | 4G TDD-LTE: 34/38/39/40/41/42/48 | 5G NR: N1/2/3/5/7/8/20/25/28/38/40/41/48/66/77/78 | 5G NR 4x4 MIMO: N1/3/38/41/48/77/78", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C with 66W charging and USB OTG. The 66W charger is in the box and fills it in about forty minutes.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No 3.5mm jack. Unihertz's own comparison table shows the Jelly Star had one and the Jelly Max does not. The product page lists a headphone jack adaptor among the things it works with, so a USB-C dongle is the workaround.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The Google Play Store is installed, so the ordinary Spotify app runs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "The Google Play Store is installed, so the ordinary WhatsApp app runs.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Near-stock Google Android with Play Services, so Google Messages and its RCS chat features work as on any other Play-certified phone. Unihertz does not advertise it.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 4000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 180, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Sold unlocked. Unihertz's own Amazon listing sells the US version as T-Mobile and Verizon only, and its AT&T notice puts just the Jelly 2 and Titan 2 on AT&T's whitelist. Unihertz also warns the phone is not Verizon-certified, so a new Verizon SIM has to be activated in another handset first.", "countries": "Direct from Unihertz in US, EU, CA, JP and UK/AU/NZ/Asia versions, plus Unihertz's own Amazon and eBay storefronts.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://www.unihertz.com/products/jelly-max", "buy_links": "Unihertz store; Unihertz's official Amazon and eBay storefronts", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The warning is software support. Android Police found no meaningful update policy, so buy it expecting to keep the Android version it arrives with. The screen runs at 60Hz rather than 120, and there is no headphone jack.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/unihertz-jelly-max.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/unihertz-jelly-max/" }, { "slug": "unihertz-jelly-star", "name": "Unihertz Jelly Star", "brand": "Unihertz", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A credit-card-sized Android with a see-through back and a headphone jack.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Bar (mini slab)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "In stock direct from Unihertz in blue and black; the red version is sold out. The Gadget Green special edition Unihertz made with Dumb Wireless in July 2025 was exclusive to that shop and is sold out at $219.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2023, "introduced_note": "Crowdfunded and listed on Unihertz's own store in July 2023.", "price_usd_min": 219.99, "price_usd_max": 219.99, "price_note": "$219.99 direct from Unihertz, marked down from $229.99. Dumb Wireless listed it at $219 and is sold out.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 13, upgradable to Android 16", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "3 inch 480x854 LCD under Panda Glass.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "2G, 3G and 4G. No 5G, whatever some listings say. There is no band 71 either, so T-Mobile's 600MHz low band is not covered.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Unihertz publishes no VoLTE line for the Jelly Star and its spec table has no VoLTE row. It lists T-Mobile and Verizon as the US carriers its phones work on, and both carry voice only over LTE, but the maker never says so outright, so treat it as unconfirmed. AT&T and Cricket accept only whitelisted Unihertz models, which means the Jelly 2 and Titan 2, not this one.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano SIM slots, the second shared with microSD, so it is two SIMs or one SIM plus a card. No eSIM.", "bands": "2G GSM: 2/3/5/8 | 3G WCDMA: 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 | 3G CDMA2000: BC0/BC1 | 4G FDD-LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/28A/28B/66 | 4G TDD-LTE: 34/38/39/40/41", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C, 10W charging, USB OTG supported.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "3.5mm jack, which Unihertz calls out on the product page with its own section. The newer Jelly Max drops it. Its spec sheet reads 3.5mm Headphone Jack: No.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The Google Play Store is installed on a Google-certified build, so the ordinary Spotify app runs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "The Google Play Store is installed on a Google-certified build, so the ordinary WhatsApp app runs.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Unihertz says the Jelly Star holds Google certification and ships with the Play Store, so Google Messages and its RCS chat features work as on any other Play-certified phone.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 2000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 116, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Sold unlocked. Unihertz's own US compatibility list names T-Mobile and Verizon outright, marks AT&T as working only with whitelisted models (the Jelly 2 and Titan 2, not this one), and flags most US MVNOs as varying by region and city. Because the phone is not Verizon-certified, Unihertz says a new Verizon SIM has to be activated in another handset first. It also refuses returns over carrier compatibility.", "countries": "Direct from Unihertz in US, EU, CA, JP and UK/AU/NZ/Asia versions, plus Unihertz's own Amazon and eBay storefronts.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://www.unihertz.com/products/jelly-star", "buy_links": "Unihertz store; Unihertz's official Amazon and eBay storefronts; Dumb Wireless (sold out)", "dumbwireless_url": "https://dumbwireless.com/products/jelly-star", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Full Android with the Play Store, so this is a small phone rather than a simple one. It keeps the headphone jack that the newer Jelly Max drops, and Unihertz began rolling out Android 16 for it at the end of August 2026.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/unihertz-jelly-star.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/unihertz-jelly-star/" }, { "slug": "unihertz-titan-2", "name": "Unihertz Titan 2", "brand": "Unihertz", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A square-screen Android with a physical QWERTY. More BlackBerry than dumbphone.", "form_factor": "qwerty", "form_factor_detail": "Slab + QWERTY", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "In stock direct from Unihertz in all five regional versions. The Titan 2 Elite and Elite Pro are separate, newer models and are shipping too.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Announced and crowdfunded in 2025; listed on Unihertz's own store in July 2025.", "price_usd_min": 489.99, "price_usd_max": 489.99, "price_note": "$489.99 direct from Unihertz. It started at $269 on Kickstarter, but on 23 March 2026 Unihertz raised the retail price to $489.99, blaming a global surge in memory prices. The store shows it struck through from $499.99. The Titan 2 Elite and Elite Pro are separate, newer models at $489.99 and $579.99.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 15 (Android 16 update available)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 4.5, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "4.5 inch 1440x1440 square LCD, plus a 2 inch 410x502 rear display for the clock and notifications.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "2G, 3G, 4G and 5G, sub-6 only. Unihertz sells a General version and a US version: bands 20 and N20 are General only, bands 71 and N71 are US only.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Unihertz does not publish a VoLTE line. It does say the Titan 2 was tested and is officially authorized on AT&T and Cricket, and AT&T has carried voice only over LTE and 5G since it shut down 3G, so the phone has to be doing VoLTE to make calls there. T-Mobile and Verizon carry voice the same way.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual" ], "sim_note": "Two physical nano SIM slots. No eSIM and no microSD. The eSIM and the hybrid card slot are on the newer Titan 2 Elite, not on this model.", "bands": "2G GSM: 2/3/5/8 | 3G WCDMA: 1/2/4/5/6/8/19 | 3G CDMA2000: BC0/BC1 | 4G FDD-LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/28A/28B/66/71 | 4G TDD-LTE: 34/38/39/40/41/42/48 | 5G NR: N1/2/3/5/7/8/20/25/26/28/38/40/41/48/66/71/77/78 | 5G NR 4x4 MIMO: N1/3/38/41/48/77/78. Bands 20 and N20 are General version only; bands 71 and N71 are US version only.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C with 33W charging and USB OTG. It is the only port on the bottom edge.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "Unihertz's spec sheet says no 3.5mm jack. The only port on the bottom edge is USB-C.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "The Google Play Store is installed, so the ordinary Spotify app runs.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "The Google Play Store is installed, so the ordinary WhatsApp app runs.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Full Google Android with Play Services, so Google Messages and its RCS chat features work the way they do on any other Play-certified phone. Unihertz does not advertise it as a feature.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 5050, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 235, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "Sold unlocked. Unihertz says the Titan 2 was tested and is officially authorized on AT&T and Cricket, and that it now appears on AT&T's public whitelist. T-Mobile and Verizon work too, though Unihertz warns the phone is not Verizon-certified, so a new Verizon SIM has to be activated in another handset first.", "countries": "Direct from Unihertz in US, EU, CA, JP and UK/AU/NZ/Asia versions, plus Unihertz's own Amazon and eBay storefronts.", "regions": [ "us", "ca", "uk", "eu", "global" ], "website": "https://www.unihertz.com/products/titan-2", "buy_links": "Unihertz store; Unihertz's official Amazon and eBay storefronts; originally Kickstarter", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "A full Android phone with a keyboard rather than a dumbphone. Nearly 90 mm across, so it is wide in a pocket. Unihertz has committed to security updates through 2030 and upgrades as far as Android 19, and got it onto AT&T's whitelist, which is rare for the brand.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/unihertz-titan-2.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/unihertz-titan-2/" }, { "slug": "unnecto-snap", "name": "Unnecto Snap", "brand": "Unnecto", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A clamshell with a full QWERTY keyboard for under seventy dollars.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip + QWERTY", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "FCC certified in June 2025 under model number USN01.", "price_usd_min": 69.99, "price_usd_max": 69.99, "price_note": "$69.99", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Cloud Phone", "os_family": "feature", "screen_size_in": 2.51, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.51 inch LCD. Unnecto's spec sheet calls it VGA but their own Amazon listing says 240 by 240, so treat the resolution as unpublished.", "network": [ "2g", "3g", "4g" ], "network_note": "2G, 3G and LTE radios, though only LTE is any use on the US carriers it supports. Unnecto says it will not work on AT&T or its affiliates, or on Verizon.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "The manual has a VoLTE switch for each of the two SIMs.", "sim": [ "physical", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two nano SIM slots, but standby only: the manual says that while one card is in use the other drops to no service. No SIM in the box. microSD up to 32GB.", "bands": "GSM 850/1900 | WCDMA B2/B4/B5 | LTE B2/4/5/12/13/17/66", "hotspot": "unknown", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "Type-C 2.0, per Unnecto's own spec list.", "headphone_jack": "unknown", "headphone_jack_note": "", "spotify": "no", "spotify_note": "No Spotify. Cloud OS serves a fixed menu of apps from the server and there is no music streaming app on it. Unnecto's own spec sheet lists 48MB of RAM and 128MB of storage, so almost nothing runs on the handset itself.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "no", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "no", "whatsapp_note": "No WhatsApp. Unnecto's own FAQ answers it directly: the Snap does not support it. The Cloud Phone menu is a fixed list rendered on a server, so there is no way to add it.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "A cloud feature phone with no Google Play Services, so messaging is SMS and MMS.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "Cloud Phone is not Android.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "yes", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1000, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": null, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Unlocked GSM. Unnecto lists T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Mint, Ultra, Ting, Boost and Consumer Cellular, and says it does not work on AT&T or its affiliates or on Verizon.", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://unnecto.com/products/unnecto-snap", "buy_links": "Amazon.com (same $69.99 as direct)", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "The Cloud Phone menu is a fixed list of apps rendered on a server and streamed to the screen, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and X among them, so this is a small internet phone rather than a quiet one. Unnecto also warns that it does not thread text messages by contact.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/unnecto-snap.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/unnecto-snap/" }, { "slug": "vortex-v3-flip", "name": "Vortex V3 Flip", "brand": "Vortex", "category": "Cheap entry points", "tagline": "A Razr homage for forty dollars. Reviews are blunt about what you get.", "form_factor": "flip", "form_factor_detail": "Flip (dual screen)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Listed by Vortex and H2O Wireless during 2025.", "price_usd_min": 25, "price_usd_max": 40, "price_note": "About $40. A deal post had it at $39.99 on Amazon in July 2025, and H2O Wireless has sold it for as little as $25 on a prepaid plan. Vortex's own Amazon listing is out of stock as of September 2026.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 11 (Go edition)", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 2.4, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "2.4\" IPS 320x240 inside plus a 1.2\" 128x96 outer display", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "4G LTE, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio and GPS.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Vortex's own listing says VoLTE is supported.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Single SIM, with a card slot that takes microSD up to 64GB.", "bands": "", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C, charging at 5V/700mA.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "No jack at all. Bluetooth or nothing.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "It is Android 11 Go, so the app itself would run. Whether you can install it depends on whether your unit has the Play Store, and Vortex do not say.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Same story as Spotify: the OS can run it, but Vortex publish no app list and the Play Store is not confirmed.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Vortex never mention RCS and no Google Messages is listed, so assume SMS and MMS.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "unknown", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "unknown", "sideloading": "unknown", "sideloading_note": "", "browser": "unknown", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 1000, "removable_battery": "yes", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": null, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile" ], "carriers": "Vortex's Amazon listing says it is designed for the T-Mobile network. Also sold through H2O Wireless, which runs on the AT&T network; unlocked units circulate on eBay and Amazon.", "countries": "US", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://www.h2owireless.com/product-details/VTXFL3", "buy_links": "H2O Wireless; Amazon; eBay", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "No headphone jack at all, which Vortex's own listing says in as many words. Reviews are blunt about unrefined hardware and software and the tinkering it takes to make it behave. Vortex publishes no app list and never mentions the Play Store. Vortex's Amazon listing gives a 1.5GHz quad-core chip, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, plus the microSD slot.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/vortex-v3-flip.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-17", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/vortex-v3-flip/" }, { "slug": "wisephone-ii", "name": "Wisephone II", "brand": "Techless", "category": "Locked-down smartphones", "tagline": "A Samsung locked down by WiseOS. Modern hardware, curated tools, monthly fee.", "form_factor": "slab", "form_factor_detail": "Slab (touch)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2024, "introduced_note": "2024", "price_usd_min": 399, "price_usd_max": 438, "price_note": "$399 new for the A15, A16 or A17 build, plus a one-time $39 activation fee that Techless bills as a WiseOS software fee. Open-box tiers run $359 to $399 when they are in stock. Every Wisephone also needs a WiseOS subscription on top: $14.99/mo alongside your own carrier, or $164.88 a year.", "price_recurring": "$14.99/mo WiseOS subscription (required), or $164.88/yr", "os": "WiseOS: locked-down Android on Samsung Galaxy A-series hardware", "os_family": "custom", "screen_size_in": 6.7, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "1080 x 2340 FHD+ Super AMOLED at 90Hz. Samsung measures the panel at 6.7 inches corner to corner, or 6.5 once you allow for the rounded corners.", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "Techless publishes a band table for the A15 build that includes 2G and 3G, but US carriers have retired both, so in practice this is a 4G and 5G phone. The A16 build is listed as 5G and LTE only.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Techless does not publish VoLTE for the Wisephone II. The VOLTE line on its carrier page describes the original Wisephone, not this one. Verizon postpaid is listed as compatible, which normally needs VoLTE, but nobody says so on the record. Wi-Fi calling is a separate, known problem: the help center says VoWiFi is broken and being looked into.", "sim": [ "physical", "esim", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Nano SIM, plus a microSD slot Techless rates to 1.5TB. Every order ships with a free Wisephone SIM card, also sold on its own for $15. Techless's eSIM guide says the A16 and A17 builds take eSIM profiles through Samsung's SIM manager; the A15 build does not.", "bands": "Techless publishes one table for the Wisephone II, not one per build: 2G 850/900/1800/1900; 3G 850/900/1700 (AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66; 5G 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 26, 28, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 (SA/NSA/sub-6). It omits the US bands 13, 14, 25, 30, 48 and 71 that Charity Mobile lists for the A16 hardware.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB-C running USB 2.0, and the only wired audio port on the phone.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "USB-C wired, or USB-C to 3.5mm adapter", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Available from the opt-in Tool Drawer, not pre-installed. Techless strips it down. Thumbnail artwork is hidden and video podcasts are disabled.", "podcasts": "unknown", "apple_music": "unknown", "mp3": "unknown", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "In the Tool Drawer. Techless suggests WhatsApp or Signal over Wi-Fi when you want to send photos or video at full quality.", "rcs": "yes", "rcs_note": "Techless tells you to set Google Messages as the default messaging app, which is what turns RCS on. A Google apps package can be switched on from the Wisephone Portal.", "group_text": "unknown", "android_auto": "no", "android_auto_note": "WiseOS locks the phone to its own short list of apps.", "maps": [], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "curated", "sideloading": "no", "sideloading_note": "Techless ships thirteen fixed tools plus an opt-in Tool Drawer, and no sideloading.", "browser": "no", "email": "unknown", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 5000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "IP54", "weight_g": null, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [ "att", "tmobile", "verizon" ], "carriers": "AT&T, T-Mobile and postpaid Verizon (no prepaid, no NumberShare). Ting, Tello, US Mobile on Dark Star, Patriot Mobile and Charity Mobile are listed compatible; Mint, Cricket and Metro as likely. US Cellular is not supported, and Google Fi and Red Pocket are limited. Techless also sells its own plans at $24.99 to $69.99 a month, or $22.90 to $64.15 on an annual term.", "countries": "US only (Canada and Australia on a waitlist)", "regions": [ "us" ], "website": "https://wisephone.com/products/wisephone-ii", "buy_links": "charitymobile.com (Wisephone II A16, promotional $299)", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Techless layers WiseOS on Samsung hardware, and which Galaxy you get depends on stock, so check before you buy. Let the subscription lapse and the phone drops to emergency calls and texts; after 90 days Techless unenrolls it and wipes it.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/wisephone-ii.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/wisephone-ii/" }, { "slug": "zinwa-q25", "name": "Zinwa Q25 / Q25 Pro", "brand": "Zinwa", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "A real BlackBerry Classic shell with modern guts inside. A keyboard cult favorite.", "form_factor": "qwerty", "form_factor_detail": "Bar + QWERTY (BlackBerry Classic shell)", "availability_status": "shipping", "availability_note": "Shipping. Zinwa says orders leave the same day or the same week at the latest, and take two to three weeks to arrive.", "prerelease": false, "year_introduced": 2025, "introduced_note": "Announced in June 2025. Zinwa aimed to ship the first hundred orders by the end of August 2025 and to reach volume production in mid-September.", "price_usd_min": 400, "price_usd_max": 400, "price_note": "$400 for the assembled phone, which is a good-condition Q20 Classic with the new board fitted, free shipping included. $300 for the board kit alone if you already own a BlackBerry Classic. Two spare-parts bundles are sold at $50 each, one of batteries and one of cameras and USB-C flex cables.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 14", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.5, "screen_tech": "lcd", "screen_note": "The Classic's original 3.5 inch 720x720 square panel, about 294ppi, reused as it is.", "network": [ "4g" ], "network_note": "All-band LTE with VoLTE. 4G is the ceiling on every Q25. There is no 5G version.", "volte": "yes", "volte_note": "Zinwa's spec sheet lists all-band LTE with VoLTE.", "sim": [ "physical", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "One nano-SIM. The Classic's separate microSD tray is kept and takes cards up to 512GB.", "bands": "All-band LTE. Zinwa publishes no band table.", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C in place of the Classic's micro-USB, and it takes 33W charging.", "headphone_jack": "yes", "headphone_jack_note": "The BlackBerry Classic's original 3.5mm jack is kept.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Google services are on board, so the ordinary Android Spotify app installs and runs. Zinwa also builds the phone without the Google package, so check which one you are buying.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Google services are on board, so the ordinary Android WhatsApp app installs and runs. Zinwa also builds the phone without the Google package, so check which one you are buying.", "rcs": "no", "rcs_note": "Zinwa never claims RCS. The community setup guide for the Q25 only gets RCS, Google Pay and banking apps working once the bootloader is unlocked and the phone is rooted, which points to the stock build failing Google's Play Integrity check.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 3000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": null, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "All-band LTE with VoLTE per Zinwa, but no published band table and no 5G, so check your carrier's LTE bands first.", "countries": "Sold direct by Zinwa, which ships worldwide free by air freight with unstated exceptions. India has been one of them. In December 2025 Zinwa canceled and refunded every Indian order, because a hand-assembled device cannot get the Bureau of Indian Standards certification India requires on imported handsets. Outside China you pay your own customs, duties and VAT.", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://zinwa.com/product/q25-full-device/", "buy_links": "zinwa.com. $400 assembled, or the $300 board kit at https://zinwa.com/product/q25-pro-kit/", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Zinwa's own graphic says the SIM tray has to be prised out at an angle rather than pushed straight in, because forcing it damages the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS part of the board. The community setup guide only gets banking apps, Google Pay and RCS working after the bootloader is unlocked and the phone is rooted, which suggests the stock build does not pass Play Integrity.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/zinwa-q25.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/zinwa-q25/" }, { "slug": "zinwa-q27", "name": "Zinwa Q27", "brand": "Zinwa", "category": "Hardware-induced friction", "tagline": "Zinwa's own QWERTY design on Android 16. Pre-order, production depends on demand.", "form_factor": "qwerty", "form_factor_detail": "Bar + QWERTY", "availability_status": "preorder", "availability_note": "Pre-order, payment taken at checkout. Zinwa has no ship date and says it is hoping to start in December. The size of the production run is being set by the number of pre-orders.", "prerelease": true, "year_introduced": 2026, "introduced_note": "Announced in September 2025, prototype photos and video in November, pre-orders opened at the end of July 2026.", "price_usd_min": 420, "price_usd_max": 480, "price_note": "$420 for 256GB and $480 for 512GB on Zinwa's early-bird pre-order listing, with the full amount taken at checkout. Zinwa has not said what it will cost once the early-bird run ends.", "price_recurring": "", "os": "Android 16", "os_family": "android", "screen_size_in": 3.92, "screen_tech": "oled", "screen_note": "Just under 4 inches, AMOLED, 1080x1240, 90Hz, a touchscreen sitting above the keyboard.", "network": [ "4g", "5g" ], "network_note": "5G all-band per Zinwa, on a Dimensity 7300. No band list has been published.", "volte": "unknown", "volte_note": "Zinwa never mentions VoLTE. The listing and its images stop at 5G all-band and dual SIM plus eSIM, and nothing has shipped, so nobody has tested one.", "sim": [ "physical", "esim", "dual", "microsd" ], "sim_note": "Two SIM slots plus an eSIM, and Zinwa lists a TF/SD card slot for expansion. The maker's drawing shows a single tray on the right edge.", "bands": "", "hotspot": "yes", "hotspot_note": "", "usb_c": "yes", "usb_c_note": "USB Type-C 2.0 with 33W PD wired charging, plus Qi2 wireless at 15W.", "headphone_jack": "no", "headphone_jack_note": "Zinwa's spec list says there is no 3.5mm jack. The bottom edge carries the USB-C port and the speaker grilles and nothing else.", "spotify": "yes", "spotify_note": "Zinwa says the Q27 ships with full Google services, so the normal Android Spotify app installs from the Play Store.", "podcasts": "yes", "apple_music": "yes", "mp3": "yes", "whatsapp": "yes", "whatsapp_note": "Zinwa says the Q27 ships with full Google services, so the normal Android WhatsApp app installs from the Play Store.", "rcs": "unknown", "rcs_note": "Zinwa says the Q27 ships with full Google services, which is what Google Messages needs for RCS, but nothing has shipped and nobody has tested one, so this stays unknown for now.", "group_text": "yes", "android_auto": "yes", "android_auto_note": "", "maps": [ "google", "here", "waze" ], "camera": "yes", "app_store": "full", "sideloading": "yes", "sideloading_note": "Ordinary Android with Google Play, so installing from unknown sources is available in settings.", "browser": "yes", "email": "yes", "email_note": "", "battery_mah": 4000, "removable_battery": "no", "ip_rating": "", "weight_g": 192, "kosher": "unknown", "kosher_note": "", "carrier_support": [], "carriers": "All-band 5G per Zinwa, but no band table has been published and nothing has shipped yet, so check your carrier's bands before you pre-order.", "countries": "Sold direct by Zinwa, which ships worldwide with unstated exceptions, free by air freight. China counts as domestic at 3 to 7 days and everywhere else is 7 to 30, and Zinwa says international buyers may owe customs, duties and VAT on top.", "regions": [ "import" ], "website": "https://zinwa.com/product/zinwa-q27-physical-keyboard-smartphone-12gb-ram-5g-android-16-early-birds/", "buy_links": "Zinwa direct, pre-order only", "dumbwireless_url": "", "affiliate_url": "", "fave": false, "notes": "Zinwa's first phone of its own rather than a rebuilt BlackBerry. The pre-order risk is real: payment is taken at checkout, there is no ship date beyond a hope of starting in December, and the production run is being sized to the number of orders.", "image": "https://slowerliving.club/images/phones/zinwa-q27.webp", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://slowerliving.club/phones/zinwa-q27/" } ] }