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Dumbphones are becoming the solution du jour to the nationwide screen addiction issue. Search interest in the device -- whose primary capability is calling and texting (and not much else) -- has skyrocketed in the past year, according to data from Google Trends.
Clearly, there's a heightened interest among tech enthusiasts and haters alike in an alternative to the endless pings, distractions, and social media doom readily accessible through their smartphones.
Also: I replaced my iPhone with a premium dumbphone - here's my verdict
If you're willing to spend some extra money on a phone with minimal communication and connectivity capabilities, there are a few dumbphones currently on the market. These include the $700 Lightphone, the $400 Minimal Phone, and the $370 Mudita Kompakt. That's a lot of money for a device that strips most of the functionalities of everyday life away from you. But is another phone really the solution to our smartphone problem?
An alternative could already be around your wrist. You can easily turn your smartwatch, whether it's an Apple Watch, Pixel Watch, Garmin, or Galaxy Watch, into a dumbphone. This idea comes from TikToker Ethan Garland, who made a video about how he used his Apple Watch as a pseudo-dumbphone to curb his phone addiction -- and it worked.
How to turn your smartwatch into a dumbphone
All you have to do is enable cellular on your smartwatch to continue receiving texts and calls on your smartwatch in the absence of your phone. Right now, your Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch is connected to your smartphone, enabling you to receive texts and calls while in the same vicinity as your phone. Once it's farther away, your smartwatch won't have those capabilities until it's connected to Wi-Fi. Paying for cellular on your smartwatch will help you go phone-free.
Like dumbphones, smartwatches can take calls, send messages, connect to music sources, and navigate with maps, but it's far harder to perform the addictive activities, like checking social media or every app imaginable.
If you're ready to ditch those phone distractions (whether it's TikTok, news alerts, or pings from irrelevant apps) that keep you unfocused, spike your stress, and increase your reliance on the digital world, convert your smartwatch into a dumbphone and thank me later.
Also: The best smartwatches you can buy: I've tested dozens
The Apple Watch has several notification features I enjoy using to keep messages and pings at a minimum. For example, every day at 9 a.m., Apple Watch turns on Work Mode, which stops me from receiving text messages or random app pings. And every night at 9:45 p.m., the watch enables Sleep Mode, effectively turning my phone on do not disturb, so I can wind down with as few distractions as possible. There's also theater mode, which I use when I go to the ballet or movies, because it silences pings and shuts down the always-on display; if you want to check the time mid-movie, all you have to do is tap your watch.
Safety is one reason people avoid leaving their phones at home, even though they'd rather disconnect at dinners, on outdoor walks or runs, or on errand runs. "What happens if I get into a car accident or something happens to me on my city walk?" they wonder anxiously. Safety features on smartwatches, like fall detection, emergency SOS, medical ID storage, and more, offer that peace of mind and a security blanket in case of emergency.
Also: Why I recommend this $150 smartwatch to most people - including iPhone users
I love this idea, and I'm glad Garland's TikTok came across my For You Page (thank you, dear algorithm). I might try this out this summer while I'm on my walks and runs around the park or when I inevitably become too overstimulated by the constant barrage of stressful news and information.
Have you tried this for yourself? Let me know in the comments about your experiences unplugging.
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