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To Smartphone Or Not To Smartphone?
Calica
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
My first-gen Pixel phone seems to be on its way out. That is, the phone app - the one that actually makes and receives calls - has stopped working reliably. Restarting helped for a bit, but lately that stopped working. So now I'm faced with the prospect of replacing it. The thing is, I both love and hate having a smartphone. It's a terrible form factor for actually making calls, for one thing. For another, easy access to the internet, games, etc. is dangerously addicting and thus a huge time sink (for me; ymmv). At the same time, being able to access the internet in a pinch when I'm out in the world and away from both my PC and without wifi is incredibly helpful sometimes, and something I'm loathe to give up.
And then, of course, there's how everything from my bank to my wifi-enabled smart lightbulbs assumes I have a smartphone that can run their apps.
But let's assume for the moment that I can do all my computing/internet heavy tasks at a stationary computer. The functionality I need in a portable communications device, then, is the following:
Is it possible to get all of that in a flip phone? Have any of you given up your smartphone, and, if so, how'd it go?
And then, of course, there's how everything from my bank to my wifi-enabled smart lightbulbs assumes I have a smartphone that can run their apps.
But let's assume for the moment that I can do all my computing/internet heavy tasks at a stationary computer. The functionality I need in a portable communications device, then, is the following:
- reliable voice calling
- reliable SMS and MMS
- Google Hangouts (wifi when available; data otherwise)
- Google maps
- Basic internet access/browser for emergencies. Doesn't have to be fast or convenient, but it does need to be functional.
- Ideally, $40 or less per month (<$40 is what I pay right now for all of that and more with Google Fi; how much less depends on how much data I use)
Is it possible to get all of that in a flip phone? Have any of you given up your smartphone, and, if so, how'd it go?
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My suggestion is to get a new pixel (since migration is easy and it'll be familiar), stick with Google fi, and use the screen time.monitoring features to check your (understandable and common) impulses.
I don't think a flip phone can do that for you.
Which seems like a pretty good deal, to me
I would get a cricket phone and get a free smartphone with the 30 dollar a month plan.
Mint is cheap too.
I was gonna suggest the Razr, but considering its flagship pricing I figured it's probably not a great replacement for a Pixel 1, especially for someone who's suggesting they're looking for less screen time.
That said if the flip isn't working out, you could always get a 1st gen Razr smartphone after the 3rd gens are likely to come out in September. They're likely to be cheaper, but I've heard the 2020 model didn't have a great folding screen, so a used one may end up with a drastically shorter lifespan then you'd want for the money.