Dumb phones come back to life

17-year-old Robin West is an exception to the rule among her peers: she doesn't own a smartphone. Instead of browsing apps like Tik Tok and Instagram all day, use one of what are now called "dumb phones". They are simple phones with very limited functionality compared to iPhones for example, as most of them only allow you to make a phone call or send text messages. And if you're lucky, you might be able to listen to radio stations or take rudimentary photos, but you certainly won't be able to use it to access the internet or download apps. These devices are similar to some of the first cell phones that people bought in the late 1990s. A photo of two cell phones taken in 2005, two years before Apple launched the first generation of iPhone phones and 11 years before the launch of the Tik Tok app West's decision to ditch his smartphone two years ago was impromptu. While looking for a replacement for her phone at a used phone shop, she was tempted by the low price of a "primitive" phone. The device she's currently using, made by French company Mobiwire, only cost her £ 8. And since it doesn't have smartphone functionality, she doesn't need to worry about paying an expensive monthly bill to browse the web and download data. "Before I had a rudimentary phone, I didn't realize how the smartphone was in control of my life," says West. "I had so many social apps on that phone and didn't work much because I was always on the phone." The London girl adds that she doesn't think she'll ever buy another smartphone. "I'm happy with my rudimentary phone and I don't think it's limiting me. I'm definitely more active now." The "dumb phones" have been coming to life for some time now. Google searches for them increased 89% between 2018 and 2021, according to software company SEMRush. While accurate sales figures are difficult to obtain, one report predicted that the number of "dumb phones" sold worldwide last year would reach one billion, up from 400 million in 2019. This compares with international smartphone sales. of 1.4 billion devices. last year, after a decline of 12.5% ​​in 2020. A study conducted by accounting group Deloitte in 2021 also showed that one in 10 cell phone users had a "dumb phone". "The fashion, nostalgia and the look of dumb phones in the videos on TikTok seem to have brought it back to life," says Ernest Duku, mobile expert at Uswitch.com price comparison site. We bought a laptop, so it's only natural that we feel a little nostalgic about those classics. " It was the 2017 re-release of the Nokia 3310 - which was first introduced in 2000 and was one of the best-selling mobile phones in history - that kicked off the renaissance, says Doku. He continues: "Nokia has marketed the 3310 as an affordable alternative in a world teeming with high-tech mobile phones." He adds that while "dumb phones" obviously can't compete with the latest luxury models from Apple or Samsung in terms of performance and functionality, "they can beat them in other things like battery life and durability." Five years ago, psychologist Prismik Olenichak swapped his smartphone for a Nokia 3310 because its battery lasts longer. But he soon discovered that there were other benefits to that phone. "Before, I was always on the phone, following anything, browsing Facebook or the news or any other fact that I didn't need to know," he says. "Now I have more time for my family and myself. One of the big benefits is that I am not addicted to liking, reposting, commenting or describing my life to others. Now I have more privacy." But Olinczak, who lives in the Polish city of لود ód, admits that the change was a challenge at first. "I used to look for information on things like restaurants and buses on my smartphone [before traveling]. But nowadays it's impossible, so I learned to do all these things before traveling and I got used to it." One of the manufacturers of "dumb phones" is the New York-based Light Phone. But its hardware is somewhat smarter, allowing users to listen to music and podcasts and plug them into Bluetooth headphones. But the company promises that its phones "will never have social media apps, misleading news headlines, emails, a web browser or anything else that stresses you out."