From my point of view, THIS is the best way to use a phone. Sure, dumbphones are great to avoid distractions but we live in a era where most of us need the services a smarphone provides: reliable maps, bank apps, etc. What a great approach! I hope more people follow it.
I think it is the easiest way to combine digital minimlaism without being outside of modern neccessities. It took me some time to get to this but I'm learning.
I've been using my iPhone SE 1st gen since I got it in 2017, and I am not going anywhere, I even bought a new refurbished one to have as a backup if mine dies for any reason. It does everything I could ever need, except use the Capital One banking app. I get about 2-2.5 days out of the battery. It's great. I wish I could get something it's size that was newer, and not iOS, but I will put up with it until I can find something this small (likely never).
This is so spooky. I am currently using a Nokia 6300 and considering buying an Apple iPhone SE to use as a smarter dumb phone! And you posted this 5 minutes ago. Fate.
I have an iPhone 5 as a 2nd phone and it works perfectly. I wish Apple continues with their mini series, I feel a smaller screen is less distracting and more focused into what I need to do. Since I cannot retire from social media (being a musician), I'm planning switching to the Z Flip 5 as I see a lot of reviews saying users use more the little screen than the main one which ends up in less screen time and has helped them with their addiction. Anyways, thanks for the video! I'm happy seeing this is becoming a trend.
I tried to find a 5 or 5s to use but I couldn't find one with a new battery. I think flip phones, even if they are smartphones, are a lot less enticing than the giant glass slabs. For me if the device fits in my pocket I will use it a lot less. Out of sight, out of mind I suppose 😅
@@LauraMalvoyante I got it from my ex mother in law, she used it for around 6 years and can you believe it has 93% battery? She used it a lot. Maybe she took care of the charging times. And yeah, when you need to do something it’s not usually on social media or shopping apps, so the rest can be done from the little screen.
@@sebastianduarteguitar wow that battery life is unbelievable. Maybe they made the batteries better in the older iphones too. After iPhone 6 they were programmed to slow down after a certain age so I'm sure the batteries were fabricated to die faster.
Have an iPhone 2016se and used it from 2021 through to 2023. Great handset and m y thumbs never felt so stress free with the gymnastics like using a bigger handset
Agree! I've found this phone really useful recently being setup as a dumbphone. For the apps you can't remove, hop into Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps, and you'll be able to get rid of things like Safari, Health, or FaceTime. I've also found it handy to turn on the "Increase Contrast" setting at the same time as you turn on greyscale, which makes screen easier to read.
i am 100% in on this .. i think its the best for digital minimalist… i tried all the actual dumb phone but it doesnt work when ur surrounding people use whatsapp just like sms/voice call… and also there are things that i actually need from smartphone like scanning documents,looking at documents smoothly… oh and dont forget in SEA Grab is the biggest E taxi hailing app… so yeah… iphone se 2016 is the best…. the only worry for me is Whatsapp making the old whatsapp on it disabled due to old iOS version
I use a PALM phone. It's a full smart phone, but it's super tiny. It has a short battery life and comes with an even "lighter" mode. You can access what you need to do with full modern convenience, but it is NOT convenient due to the small screen and battery that drains quickly when applications are used. Used the Q10 before this and loved it.
iphone se 2016 has the same camera sensor resolution as in the new iphone 15 lol. only difference is it doesnt have a gigantic lens on the back, doesnt use software to hallucinate image quality or stack multiple images. if you turn off all the privacy, seri, search, and gps (except when using maps), the battery when new has a standby duration of 2 weeks. usually charge my se once per week....
Think im addicted, it just dawned on me I have my iPhone playing this video, and then my pc with two monitors in front of me with another RUclips video and discord open and then my Nintendo switch loaded up and am playing a game
I buy my first smartphone ever, 4 months ago. It's a SE 2016 /128GB. Great phone, great small pocket size and more than usable for all my needs. But yeah, i'm not addicted with social media or games... Although I use Facebook and Instagram but I don't have needs to check it every few minuts and texting all the time. I mostly use my SE for spotify for music at work or in a car. Not for having the phone in my hand all the time and looking at the screen.
It's really a great phone. It does what a phone needs to do and it has greatly improved my relationship with smartyphones. I only use it for calls and that it. The size is perfect!
very interesting video im looking for more minimalism in all the aspects of my life and your vids is by far the most usefull vids on yt. Thanks a lot. +1 subscriber
Enjoy it! I agree about Android. It takes more technical tinkering to update. The SE is great and is my favorite Apple device as far as the design is concerned.
This seems the way to go. WhatsApp is so important to Europe. My family all uses it for messaging. Most dumb phones don't have a proper version of WhatsApp and yet a dumb phone should be about communication and having a few utilities would mean you're likely to keep using this phone. Payments are handy and maybe a parking app.
Same here in The Philippines, except it's Facebook Messenger (though Whatsapp is also common, usually for people in business). Most cellphones / dumbphones just aren't going to be a good choice because at least 80% of anyone you talk to really wants to talk to you through an app and not SMS. I'd really hope we could get somebody making third-party interfaces for Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger that will be supported on dumbphones, but then I'd argue that's just placing Android into a dumbphone-like body (which already exists with the Qin F21 Pro and F22 Pro, and so on). But that's why something like getting a semi-supported older but really small smartphone is a pretty good idea, indeed. Payment apps, banking app, parking app, perhaps even a door lock/home security app for some who live in apartments where that's what's installed: just impossible if you only rely on a dumbphone. It won't be the best idea for the people who truly cannot manage to reduce their social media or excessive app usage on anything that has a modern phone OS, but for the rest, it's a very elegant and cheap solution.
Not saying it is but you can make any phone a dumb phone if you remove all the apps you do want or need. A dumb phone can be an old smartphone, feature phone or a minimlaist phone. It just depends on your approach to using it.
I dumb down my iPhone and was so happy. Then I got a message to get in contact with family in Mexico. That part of my family told me to get on What’s App. So here I go. Back to square 1.
im also looking to buy iphone se1 or 5s ,for me personal best dizajn and im not addicted no more of social apps xd ,for just email and whatsapp or signal it great.For youtube,fb so on i have laptop to watch and chat
From my point of view, THIS is the best way to use a phone. Sure, dumbphones are great to avoid distractions but we live in a era where most of us need the services a smarphone provides: reliable maps, bank apps, etc. What a great approach! I hope more people follow it.
I think it is the easiest way to combine digital minimlaism without being outside of modern neccessities. It took me some time to get to this but I'm learning.
The only reviewer i have seen using it with a refurbished battery and not complaining about battery life! Great video!
I've been using my iPhone SE 1st gen since I got it in 2017, and I am not going anywhere, I even bought a new refurbished one to have as a backup if mine dies for any reason. It does everything I could ever need, except use the Capital One banking app. I get about 2-2.5 days out of the battery. It's great. I wish I could get something it's size that was newer, and not iOS, but I will put up with it until I can find something this small (likely never).
@@ZZeta83 it's a device that I always come back to. It's the best form factor for a smartphone in my opinion.
oh crap thanks for mentoning this.. probably my bank app wont work too… i might just need iphone se 2020
@laptoprelaks it really depends on the app. My bank apps work. My transport app does not. The SE 2020 is the better option for apps.
This is so spooky. I am currently using a Nokia 6300 and considering buying an Apple iPhone SE to use as a smarter dumb phone! And you posted this 5 minutes ago. Fate.
Haha. Great minds think alike!
I have an iPhone 5 as a 2nd phone and it works perfectly. I wish Apple continues with their mini series, I feel a smaller screen is less distracting and more focused into what I need to do.
Since I cannot retire from social media (being a musician), I'm planning switching to the Z Flip 5 as I see a lot of reviews saying users use more the little screen than the main one which ends up in less screen time and has helped them with their addiction.
Anyways, thanks for the video! I'm happy seeing this is becoming a trend.
I tried to find a 5 or 5s to use but I couldn't find one with a new battery. I think flip phones, even if they are smartphones, are a lot less enticing than the giant glass slabs. For me if the device fits in my pocket I will use it a lot less. Out of sight, out of mind I suppose 😅
@@LauraMalvoyante I got it from my ex mother in law, she used it for around 6 years and can you believe it has 93% battery? She used it a lot. Maybe she took care of the charging times.
And yeah, when you need to do something it’s not usually on social media or shopping apps, so the rest can be done from the little screen.
@@sebastianduarteguitar wow that battery life is unbelievable. Maybe they made the batteries better in the older iphones too. After iPhone 6 they were programmed to slow down after a certain age so I'm sure the batteries were fabricated to die faster.
Have an iPhone 2016se and used it from 2021 through to 2023. Great handset and m y thumbs never felt so stress free with the gymnastics like using a bigger handset
i switched se 1, 2 weeks ago, and I'm loving it
One of my favorite iphones. It's a great device!
It looks similar to the IPhone 5S, And I like them Both
Agree! I've found this phone really useful recently being setup as a dumbphone. For the apps you can't remove, hop into Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps, and you'll be able to get rid of things like Safari, Health, or FaceTime. I've also found it handy to turn on the "Increase Contrast" setting at the same time as you turn on greyscale, which makes screen easier to read.
Awesome, thanks for the tips!
i am 100% in on this .. i think its the best for digital minimalist… i tried all the actual dumb phone but it doesnt work when ur surrounding people use whatsapp just like sms/voice call… and also there are things that i actually need from smartphone like scanning documents,looking at documents smoothly… oh and dont forget in SEA Grab is the biggest E taxi hailing app… so yeah… iphone se 2016 is the best…. the only worry for me is Whatsapp making the old whatsapp on it disabled due to old iOS version
I use a PALM phone. It's a full smart phone, but it's super tiny. It has a short battery life and comes with an even "lighter" mode. You can access what you need to do with full modern convenience, but it is NOT convenient due to the small screen and battery that drains quickly when applications are used. Used the Q10 before this and loved it.
Thank you for this. I am always looking for smaller devices. This is the only way I stay off them.
i still use my iphone se since 2016 i have replaced the lcd and the battery already but it still works fine love it
It's a really solid phone and one of the best iphone designs
iphone se 2016 has the same camera sensor resolution as in the new iphone 15 lol. only difference is it doesnt have a gigantic lens on the back, doesnt use software to hallucinate image quality or stack multiple images. if you turn off all the privacy, seri, search, and gps (except when using maps), the battery when new has a standby duration of 2 weeks. usually charge my se once per week....
The SE battery is great. I charge mine once every 3 to 4 days. The camera is great and I think it's one of the best phones I have ever used.
Think im addicted, it just dawned on me I have my iPhone playing this video, and then my pc with two monitors in front of me with another RUclips video and discord open and then my Nintendo switch loaded up and am playing a game
That sounds about right. I was the same 😅
I buy my first smartphone ever, 4 months ago. It's a SE 2016 /128GB. Great phone, great small pocket size and more than usable for all my needs. But yeah, i'm not addicted with social media or games... Although I use Facebook and Instagram but I don't have needs to check it every few minuts and texting all the time. I mostly use my SE for spotify for music at work or in a car. Not for having the phone in my hand all the time and looking at the screen.
It's really a great phone. It does what a phone needs to do and it has greatly improved my relationship with smartyphones. I only use it for calls and that it. The size is perfect!
Thank you!! just looked into an SE with 128GB. gonna get it right now :)
It's a great phone! Enjoy 😊
Im still using the iPhone 5s. 10 years already
Love this!
very interesting video im looking for more minimalism in all the aspects of my life and your vids is by far the most usefull vids on yt. Thanks a lot. +1 subscriber
Thanks you for the kind words and thanks for subscriving too!
i still used it as my main device for years 😀
Please do a video showing the new Light Phone 3 and give us your thoughts on this newest minimal phone - thanks
Already in progress! Hopefully I’ll have it up tomorrow.
Hi I have the SE 2016 and tbh all the apps work except eBay at present 😊
Not bad. I love eBay but I usually use it on my laptop so I can zoom into pictures.
Did you preorder the Light Phone III?
I’m going to deep dive a bit more into the device before I decide. I’ll post a video tomorrow about it.
i dumped the idea on buying small android phone... too much tinkering needed to make it a digital minimalist phone.... my SE 2016 is on the way...
Enjoy it! I agree about Android. It takes more technical tinkering to update. The SE is great and is my favorite Apple device as far as the design is concerned.
I really want to do this with my iPhone 13 but my issue is I keep redownloading the apps. Any advice??
The same thing happened to me when I first started my digital minimalism journey. I had to use a Nokia before going back to any iPhone.
I have a 12 mini but I use the SE more because it is smaller than the mini. 😅
I used to have a 12 mini and it does feel large compared to the SE 😅
I'm currently using an iPhone 7, but I miss my 13 mini.
I miss my 12 mini too. They are a good size modern device. These massive modern phones are not convenient.
good idea with the screen time widget
Thanks
My dream phone. I can afford it now but I don't need it since I already have a phone. And I dont think owning a second phone is essential.
i'm still use this "little monster" for daily driver 😅
It's the best iPhone device in my opinion 🙌
Alright im confused, you've seem to have swapped 5 phones recently. Did you switch to the BlackBerry for real or it was just a video?
I’m always switching. I am still using my blackberry though. I wanted to give Apple users a dumb phone option.
Cool! I was motivated and ordered a BlackBerry Passport to start my journey.
Thank you. @@LauraMalvoyante
I hope you enjoy your Passport!
I’m still use Iphone se 2016 in 2024
This seems the way to go. WhatsApp is so important to Europe. My family all uses it for messaging. Most dumb phones don't have a proper version of WhatsApp and yet a dumb phone should be about communication and having a few utilities would mean you're likely to keep using this phone. Payments are handy and maybe a parking app.
Same here in The Philippines, except it's Facebook Messenger (though Whatsapp is also common, usually for people in business). Most cellphones / dumbphones just aren't going to be a good choice because at least 80% of anyone you talk to really wants to talk to you through an app and not SMS. I'd really hope we could get somebody making third-party interfaces for Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger that will be supported on dumbphones, but then I'd argue that's just placing Android into a dumbphone-like body (which already exists with the Qin F21 Pro and F22 Pro, and so on).
But that's why something like getting a semi-supported older but really small smartphone is a pretty good idea, indeed. Payment apps, banking app, parking app, perhaps even a door lock/home security app for some who live in apartments where that's what's installed: just impossible if you only rely on a dumbphone. It won't be the best idea for the people who truly cannot manage to reduce their social media or excessive app usage on anything that has a modern phone OS, but for the rest, it's a very elegant and cheap solution.
An iPhone 5s, even better.
The SE runs ios 15, it is in no way a dumb phone
Not saying it is but you can make any phone a dumb phone if you remove all the apps you do want or need. A dumb phone can be an old smartphone, feature phone or a minimlaist phone. It just depends on your approach to using it.
You’ve lost it now 🤣
I dumb down my iPhone and was so happy. Then I got a message to get in contact with family in Mexico. That part of my family told me to get on What’s App. So here I go. Back to square 1.
I have WhatsApp on my dumb iPhone. I turn off notifications and only check it on my terms.
im also looking to buy iphone se1 or 5s ,for me personal best dizajn and im not addicted no more of social apps xd ,for just email and whatsapp or signal it great.For youtube,fb so on i have laptop to watch and chat
@@tinruzic2245 it's the best design and the size is perfect.