Since this blog will be a rigorous autoethnography, I will need to define the dumbphone. Of course, I googled the definition. Google (via Oxford Living Dictionaries) defines a dumphone as “a basic mobile phone that lacks the advanced functionality characteristic of a smartphone.” The definition is wildly unhelpful because you would need a definition of a smartphone.

What can’t smartphones do these days? By past standards, a smartphone has the computing capacity of a supercomputer. You might have heard that your smartphone has more computing power than all of NASA’s computers used for the first manned moon landing in 1969.

Here is a list of things that I can do on my iPhone:

• Take photos and video
• Scan documents
• Navigate using GPS (although I still managed to get lost in Wytham Woods and thought I would die of dehydration)
• Video chat with friends, family, and co-workers
• Find true love using a dating app

Most dumbphones cannot do most of the above — although some can take photos and help you navigate. I would like to think of dumbphones as a continuum: some are dumber than others. Below are some examples on the dumber side of this continuum. In the future, I’ll review those on the smarter side of the continuum.

Very dumb: the Light Phone

The Light Phone is an ultra-minimalist phone that can only make phone calls. You can save your contacts, configure up to nine speed dials, set an alarm — and that’s about it. Currently, the Light Phone is sold out.

Somewhat dumb: the Punkt MP01

I use a Punkt MP01. It’s not the most minimalist phone out there but it’s still very basic. I can make/receive phone calls and send/receive SMS texts. There is an alarm function; however, I cannot take photos.

The biggest criticism of the Punkt phone is cost. I paid $206 for it — a lot of people would consider my action insane. I justify my decision by considering the opportunity cost of continuing to use my smartphone. The number of hours I’d waste watching YouTube or Netflix on my iPhone — instead of working or socializing or writing this blog — would definitely cost me more than $206. Recognizing that the Punkt phone is probably a luxury item that people in tech like to show off (oh God, am I one of them?), I consider the following cheaper and more functional alternative below.

Somewhat dumb but cheaper: the Jitterbug Flip

The Jitterbug Flip, with its big buttons and simple menus, has been marketed to seniors. (It is also M4/T4 hearing aid compatible.) But there is no shame in using it as a non-senior. The phone has many of the features of the Punkt phone plus it includes a camera with flash. Selling at around $60 online, this phone is a good option for folks considering the Punkt phone but put off by the price tag. If style and a e s t h e t i c is not your thing, then this phone might be a good option for your smartphone detox.