The best dumbphones for a complete digital detox

My priority when testing dumbphones was ease of use, as well as considering how good these phones were at doing what they are designed for whilst remaining unobtrusive.

I’ve noted how many ‘clicks’ it takes to access core features like phone calls and texts, as well how difficult any menus and settings are to navigate. I assessed call quality and volume, including ring tones and message notifications. I also checked how legible each screen was in a variety of lighting conditions.

Each phone is a different shape, so I tested how bulky each was to carry in the pocket of jeans and blazers. They pretty much do the same thing, but I also took into account other apps available on even the most basic phones, such as a calculator, calendar function, or primitive games.

Any phones that don’t make the grade have been excluded from this guide. There are countless cheap dumbphones out there, many of which seem to be advertised to pensioners at inflated prices. We’ve also rejected any phone without at least 4G connectivity, or those which have limited compatibility with UK networks.

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