When HN users recommended it
3 HN users recommended this between 2019 and 2020, in 3 comments.
20072026
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
3 HN users recommended this between 2019 and 2020, in 3 comments.
Each tall tick is one HN user's first recommendation. A short tick is the same user again. Click a tick to jump to the comment.
Not a dumb phone, but I would recommend the Unihertz Atom[1]. It packs Android into the same form factor as a flip phone. The advantage is that it supports most carrier bands, including Verizon, and modern standards like VoLTE, Wifi calling (dumb phones are generally carrier specific and rely on 2G/CDMA bands for calling).
The great thing about this form factor is that browsing and extended typing are very difficult, so you end up using your phone to get notified and for utilities like navigation, music playing.
Privacy-wise it does not solve your concern because it runs Android and it does not track the latest security updates as well as the Google branded phones.
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Unihertz-Smallest-Smartphone-Android-...
Unihertz Atom, The Smallest 4G Rugged Smartphone in The World, Android 9.0 Pre Unlocked Smart Phone with 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KP8J8YN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ZA...
I have one of these and it actually works pretty well. It’s my “phone break” phone as it’s small enough that you don’t want to use it a lot but you can use it if you need to for Spotify, maps or whatever.
If you're an Android user looking for a small phone, I feel your pain.
I've had one of these for about 6 months and I absolutely love it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KP8J8YN
Disclaimer: I have NO affiliation with this company at all. I'm just a happy user.
Pros:
- built-in rugged case. I've thrown it around the office with no issues
- incredibly small. It fits in the watch pocket (fifth pocket) of your jeans comfortably
- waterproof. Because it fits in my jeans pockets so well, I accidentally washed it with my jeans after a spill. The only piece of clothing in that wash cycle was my jeans, and the phone fell out at some point. It must have banged around in there for 15 minutes; but after the wash was done, I grabbed the phone and unlocked it with my fingerprint. No worries.
- some of the best BT and GPS I've experienced in an Android phone. (And I've owned Nokia, Motorola, and Sony Xperia phones).
- reasonable battery life for a phone of this size
- everyone tells me speakerphone sounds great
Cons:
- the camera is literally a potato. Don't buy this to take photos with.
- good luck typing on this incredibly tiny screen. But instead I use Android's voice-to-text which works great.
I took a chance and it is an absolute marvel.