The rise of dumb phones: Why some people are ditching their smartphones for simpler devices

In response to this, there is a weak but growing underground movement of young people opting to put their smartphones aside for dumb phones instead. These phones can only make calls, send text messages, and perform simple tasks, but they offer a refreshing change. According to the BBC, Google searches for the term “dumb phone” have jumped by 89% between 2018 and 2021. The global purchase of dumb phones hit 1 billion units last year, and this number is expected to increase in the future.

Experts suggest that younger people prefer simpler phones because smartphones always want to grab their attention with notifications and updates, which can be overwhelming and agitating. Dumb phones might offer a return to simpler times, leaving more time to fully concentrate on a single task and engage with it more purposefully.

One of the modern dumb phone options is the New York company Light Phone. It recorded its strongest financial performance in 2021 with sales up 150% compared to 2020. The Light Phone is more capable than an old Nokia, as it can play music and podcasts and link by Bluetooth to headphones. Initially, the company was expecting buyers to be much older, but millennials are its main customers.

The rise of dumb phones begs the question of whether the essential need for a smartphone in the modern world is mostly an illusion. While smartphones have revolutionized the way we live, there is an argument that we can live just fine without them, as people used to do 15 years ago.