Ask Slashdot: What's the Best Dumb Phone?

An anonymous reader writes: For those of us who don't need or want a smartphone, what would be the best dumb phone around? Do you have a preference over flip or candy bar ones? What about ones that have FM radio? Do any of you still use dumb phones in this smart phone era? Related question: What smart phones out now are (or can be reasonably outfitted to be) closest to a dumb phone, considering reliability, simplicity, and battery life? I don't especially want to give up a swiping keyboard, a decent camera, or podcast playback, but I do miss being able to go 5 or more days on a single charge. Have a question for Slashdot's readers? Take a look at other recent questions first to see if someone else has had a similar question. And if not, ask away! The more details and context you include, the more likely your question will be selected.

Comments

Ultra Power Saving

[Anonymous Coward]

Some smart phones have an "ultra power saving mode" (see Samsung Galaxy 5/6) that essentially turns them into dumb phones. My Galaxy 5 will last 2 weeks in this mode.

Re:Ultra Power Saving

[mlts]

My HTC One M8 has an Extreme Power Saving mode which replaces the Launcher, drops all network connections, and only allows a few basic functions to work. Not sure how long it will last, but easily over a week.

Re:Just researched this for my kids

[Nutria]

Sounds like a feature phone.

Re:What is it you want again?

[Anonymous Coward]

No. The person sent in the question wants a dumb phone.

The stupid editor added the second question about a smart phone because TIMMY !

Samsung Rugby III

[thirdpoliceman]

I really enjoy my Samsung Rugby III. http://www.samsung.com/ca/cons... It has a memo feature that is handy, a calendar, and each feature can be locked or kept open depending on your preference.

Re:best phone: WEco 520 desk model

[TWX]

For POTS lines I prefer the Western Electric 2500 or 2554 depending on a tabletop vs wallmount application. They were designed when the phone company owned them and they were leased with the service, so they were overdesigned to last decades. Nearly every phone in my house is one of these two models.

Re:I want the same question answered clearly

[Benwick]

It is a Samsung GT-E1080i. Mine's a different edition from the ones I'm seeing online because it has Cyrillic (and English) on the keys. But who cares. You can get one for $4 + another $4 S&H off eBay right now. It'll be the best $8 you ever spent.
 

Re:What is it you want again?

[afgam28]

Most of the crappy battery life of smartphone is due to constant network polling by apps. If you just get a smartphone and use it as a dumb phone, then turning off cellular data will give you many days of battery life. Try it, you might be surprised.

Re:NOKIA

[antiperimetaparalogo]

When (some decades ago) i was serving as a conscript in the Greek SP my unit was tasked to use as a "long period test" what was destined to be the regular army's new personal radio communication equipment - with that as my personal experience i can claim that yes, Nokia are indestructible: i have my heavily (ab)used 6303 for 6-7 years now, this thing works and looks like it was new - if i was ever going to war, that's a phone i would take with me... plus, it can be useful if you ran out of bullets... or if you ever need a hamer!