Any experience with 'Dumb' Flip Phones? [Vanity]

[Jamestown1630]

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with 'dumb' flip phones, the kind they suggest for seniors.

My husband recently bought us fancy new 'smart' phones, and it's the first one I've had in ten years. It's huge and much more complicated than anything I've used before.

As I've been figuring it out, I've thought I'd like to supplement it with something smaller, simpler and faster when I'm out-and-about, something that just does phone calls, texts, and maybe has a radio, and fits in my pocket.

We've been looking at Jitterbug, Iris and some others; does anyone have experience with these and can share their opinions?

Thanks!

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: cellphones; phones; seniors; vanity

[Paul R.]

I do have my limits, however. I’ve never stuffed a bluegill into one of my pockets.

[minnesota_bound]

Try this Bluetooth Communicator....
https://the-gadgeteer.com/2016/07/13/star-trek-bluetooth-communicator-review/

[minnesota_bound]

#5 Doc offices now use apps to fill out forms and or a computer.

[jonrick46]

I have the IRIS. It has a membrane key pad and it is the worst that can be. You enter a number and does a double entry or not at all. The pad design makes one have an unreliable ability to accurately enter numbers and words on the key pad.

The phone does have and interned browser, but the images are too small and many times useless. Trying to get a map is a real chore, with poor control of the area you want to zoom in. The street numbers and names are missing unless you zoom in and are lucky to get them.

I have gone on the Free Republic with this phone. You need a magnifying glass to read the comments.

[EVO X]

It’s kind of scary that people have become so dependent on their phones...

I talked my computer illiterate elderly mom into getting an iPhone when she got a huge rebate some years ago for a refrigerator that couldn't be fixed under warranty and the replacement was worth less. Within a month or so she cancelled the L/L and moved the number to the iPhone. With the iPhone she actively participates with extended family members rather than maybe hearing something second hand from my dad. My mom also runs the household and much of the billing and contacting is done via texting and email these days. Another issue is the local paper and WSJ stopped delivering to my parents location, so we bought her a cheap Ipad with a bigger screen to read the online papers.

[Bullish]

Do yourself a favor. Take the time and effort and learn to use your new smart phone. You can thank me later.

[Bullish]

Gee I just posted the exact same advice, then I saw your reply.

kudos

[EVO X]

Do yourself a favor. Take the time and effort and learn to use your new smart phone. You can thank me later.

I don't think that is the problem. She is complaining about the size of the phone her husband bought her.

[equaviator]

While not the “Cadillac” of cell phones, the Go-Flip 5 seems like a happy medium.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116019607221?chn=ps&var=416170896129&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-166974-028196-7&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=416170896129_116019607221&targetid=2275367127251&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9016806&poi=&campaignid=22112131663&mkgroupid=172894995549&rlsatarget=pla-2275367127251&abcId=10163259&merchantid=107439474&geoid=9016806&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22112131663&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh94XZI6Qs5xfrJuysdMRMdkP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw4mEp46QkwMVyDfUAR0sfAFlEAQYBCABEgI-uPD_BwE

[Yardstick]

How about a professionally refurbished iPhone SE First Gen for $35:

https://ebay.us/m/yZsQdu

Tiny compared to every other iPhone. Easily fits in a pocket. Also happens to be the most beautiful iPhone ever made. Turn off all the features you don’t want but they’re there if you ever need them (like internet and map which can be handy).

Apple is still providing software updates for this model because there’s a diehard fanbase that still uses it, mainly because they love how small it is.

Recent tech review of 1st Gen SE discussing whether it’s still viable today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkbi-bOB5U4

[redfreedom]

There’s nothing “dumb” about a flip phone. I ditched my smart phone years ago for security reasons and realized the current flip phone can still access the internet and text among other things. It’s just that it is not as easy to do with a flip phone, but I never use those features anyway.

I’m also not one that has to receive a text or call every 5 minutes in order to maintain my mental health. Seriously, a shrink told me a few years ago that she treats young clients that get clinically depressed if they do not receive texts every so often.

Three things annoy the hell out of me regarding cell phones:

1. Some jerk stopping a check out line in a store because he’s on the phone.

2. A jerk texting while driving, staying stopped at a stop sign or swerving all over the road.

3. The other is a person on the phone in a public place talking in an elevated voice so the whole store can hear what’s said.

[GingisK]

Smart phones can never overcome stupid people. That is why we need the Cyborg 9 Series HKs.

[maddog55]

Last Thursday I finally got rid of the home phone after 38 years. Kids would call on it and some long time friends otherwise it was useless with the cellphones so we paid for it for the most part to have it sit there.

Cellphones suck but I guess there’s a need. Mine is mostly used for music in the car and garage via Bluetooth or android auto.

[GingisK]

That in itself is odd. Women in general lug huge purses around into which the biggest phone could be lost forever.

[MotorCityBuck]

🤣

[EVO X]

I mostly leave my iPhone at home unless I am traveling. I’ll take it with me if I think I’ll have some wait time during a local appointment. That said the last Costco jeans I bought have bottomless pits for front pockets. I don’t have to worry about loosing a cell phone or being pickpocketed.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I worked in the industry selling them and repairing them for 10 years back in the 90s.

If you could find one, it probably wouldn't wok on today's digital systems. They were analog (AMPS vs. digital TDMA) back then. They did for a few years to allow the analog phones to operate but now? They've all been replaced though attrition.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Or...gauging by some of the responses here...perhaps not. 🤔

[bert]

Learn to answer the phone you have. Learn to make a call on the phone you have. It is actually quite easy.

Don’t bother to try learning what the phone can do.

Forget that the phone is a computer with infinite uses beyond the limited application of communicating by voice.

[trebb]

Just get someone, maybe a grandchild, to configure what you want to use and put those icons on the home screen - even the flip-phones with some streaming/picture capabilities are severely limited in function.