On Dumbphones

My iPhone 15 Pro takes gorgeous pictures and can access any part of my (digital) life whenever I want. It’s also heavy and a distraction when I’m with my kids.

To minimize the negative aspects I’ve disabled everything except the bare necessities using Foqos. I haven’t read a full news article in about a week. My AI Agent sends me the headlines every morning and that’s it. I also block search engines. The phone is barely worth picking up anymore. Now that its weight and size aren’t set off by its usefulness it feels ridiculous to carry around.

That’s why I’ve been on the hunt for an alternative phone. One that’s small and basic but allows me to stay connected; it’s impossible to be completely offline if you have kids.

The Setup

I’m currently running a Punkt MP02 as my daily driver. It’s beautifully designed and feels like a deliberate statement against modern smartphones.

Like any phone it can place calls and send text messages. It’s a step up from dumbphones in that it has 4G LTE, can tether that connection and offers its own implementation of Signal — called Pigeon.

What makes this setup work for me is adding my Apple Watch. I can leave the iPhone at home, enable tethering on the Punkt and use the Apple Watch for essential notifications and contactless payments.

It’s a compromise that feels liberating.

In Reality

The Punkt itself is stunning. It feels premium, the keyboard is satisfying to type on and the tiny screen is appealing to look at. I find myself holding it in my hand for no reason but to feel it.

But there are trade-offs.

Battery life is disappointing. The Punkt barely lasts a full day, which feels backwards for a device that’s supposed to be simpler. If I tether a lot I can turn it into a paperweight in mere hours.

Then there’s typing. Using Pigeon to respond to Signal messages is… not great. The keyboard is tiny, the interface is clunky, and you quickly realize how much you take for granted when you have a full-size touchscreen.

What’s Next

I’ve ordered a Mudita Kompakt in hopes that it’ll solve the battery issue. It’s another privacy-focused phone with a similar philosophy but hopefully better power management. It also has an e-ink display that I’m looking forward to seeing in action.

It’s confronting how cumbersome it feels to walk around with a phone that doesn’t offer much assistance when you’re out and about. The Mudita provides a few extra lifelines: it has a map, a basic camera, flashlight and can even side-load some apps.