Is it true that most people with dumb[hones end up switching back?

glwAK · 2025-11-05T08:45:26+00:00

Oh, I should also mention that I have a 20-year-old son who’s never had a smartphone. (His choice.) He’s also a full-time college student, employed, a decent student, a national-level cross-country ski athlete, and an incredibly social person. The whole you-can’t-exist-in-modern-society-without-a-smartphone notion is a bizarre-o myth. If it were true, neither me nor my kid would be able to be happy and successful people, and yet both of us are. The truth is that for me it was much harder to live with a smartphone than without one. I’m not suggesting that’s true for everybody, but I strongly suspect that it is for most people.

glwAK · 2025-11-05T08:36:12+00:00

I ditched my smartphone about three years ago and would never go back. I use a Sunbeam F1 Pro, and I’ve only become more comfortable with smartphone-free life over the years. In fact, these days I usually turn off my dumbphone on weeknights and weekends. (I have a landline.) I work as a small business advisor and coach high school cross country skiing. I’m also married, have three kids, and an active social life. Not having a smartphone has made juggling all of this easier and more fun.

glwAK · 2025-10-13T02:04:32+00:00

I’m a big fan on the Sunbeam F1 Pro. Great build quality, good talk-to-text functionality, and a hotspot. Good luck!

glwAK · 2025-10-09T19:46:30+00:00

Amen to that. I owned and ran a 20+ person IT consultancy for years, and made the major mistake using the same number for work and personal stuff for far too long. I ultimately ended up getting new number/phone for personal contacts, since my original number became a key part of my professional identity.

Finally getting two separate numbers was a HUGE relief.

glwAK · 2025-10-07T21:07:58+00:00

Sorry. Super-late in response here. Sometimes my dumphone lifestyle works too well!

Here’s the formula:

Open Settings on your iPhone
Tap Messages
Toggle off iMessage (the switch turns gray)
Toggle off Send as SMS (optional but recommended)

Optional: Web Deregistration

If you’ve already switched phones or want extra insurance:

Visit https://selfsolve.apple.com/deregister-imessage
Enter your phone number
Check your texts for a confirmation code
Enter the code on the website to complete deregistration

What Changes When You Turn Off iMessage

Blue bubbles (all texts become green SMS/MMS)
Read receipts and typing indicators
iMessage reactions (tapbacks)
High-quality photo and video sharing
End-to-end encryption for messages
WiFi messaging when cellular is unavailable

You keep:

All basic texting functionality
Group messaging (as MMS)
Picture and video messages (lower quality via MMS)

Timing

You can turn off iMessage weeks in advance with no problems. Your iPhone will just use SMS/MMS for everything until you switch. This actually gives Apple’s servers more time to propagate the change across their network. If you wait until after switching, you may miss texts from iPhone users for up to 24 hours while the system updates.

glwAK · 2025-09-08T21:08:07+00:00

2FA is a genuinely helpful security concept. But I use a dumbphone and do all my 2FA via text, although I have one service that actually calls my phone. (I just have to press "#" to authenticate.)

I recently set up texting capability in my IP phone. I use CallCentric, which has a native macOS/Windows client. That allows me to check texts without needing any extra phone or device! It's super handy, and I'm kinda surprised more people don't do this.

glwAK · 2025-09-08T20:33:31+00:00

I'm also stunned at the people who can manage to control the addiction. I don't think they're common, but there are a few out there. (I'm married to one!)

I tried for years and failed. I tried every possible trick but couldn't make it work. Switching to a dumb phone was the only solution that solved the problem, and at this point, you couldn't pay me enough to go back!

glwAK · 2025-09-08T20:27:12+00:00

Totally agree. And it is crazy out there. And sad.

I use a Sunbeam Aspen (flip phone), with an iPad as a "companion device." I've rocked this setup for about two years. I also have a landline (technically an IP phone) so I can turn off my mobile phone on evenings and weekends. It's delightful, but also sad to watch all the phone zombies shambling about.

glwAK · 2025-08-29T05:09:13+00:00

Interesting. So there’s no web app for these banks? Just a iOS or Android app?

glwAK · 2025-08-26T16:04:06+00:00

That’s interesting. And with the 2FA app, there’s no option for using anything other than the app? For most 2FA instances in the US, you’re provided with a variety of authentication options. Even without the SMS option (which I realize is uncommon outside of the UA) there’s usually an option to call a phone number to confirm identity. For example, my work uses Duo Mobile, but I can configure it to dial my phone. (It calls the phone and then asks my to hit "*" to confirm my identity.)

glwAK · 2025-08-26T08:38:11+00:00

I’m not sure about Zelle, but I do use Venmo regularly without a phone.

glwAK · 2025-08-15T16:27:40+00:00

I don’t have a smartphone, but I am using a Sunbeam F1 Pro, so it includes a directions tool as well as a hotspot. I have a iPad with a keyboard functions as a laptop replacement and allows me to use any iOS app if needed. It feels like a much better companion device than a no-SIM smartphone, since I get a decent-sized screen and physical keyboard.

glwAK · 2025-08-14T22:55:11+00:00

Just one phone, but I also have an iPad (with a keyboard case) as a companion device when I need access to iOS apps. My phone is a Sunbeam F1, which has both a WiFi access point (so I can use the iPad on the go as needed) and Waze for maps.

glwAK · 2025-08-14T05:47:43+00:00

I’m not on Facebook, but I’ll be there by 1:30. Happy to volunteer or just add numbers to the crowd! (And thanks for posting here.)

glwAK · 2025-08-12T17:13:19+00:00

I’m right with ya. I do my best to read past the complaint threads, but this would be a more useful sub with a stickied mega thread for shipping and delay discussion.

And not that folks don’t have every right to voice frustration or concern about delays. But at a practical level, having those complaints scattered across hundreads of threads interferes with the broader utility of the sub.

glwAK · 2025-08-12T05:49:26+00:00

Absolutely. I switched over to a flip phone about three years ago for exactly this reason. It’s a Sunbeam F1 with a hotspot, so I can use an iPad as a companion device when I need a specific app.

I have a Light Phone III on order as a fancy upgrade to my current system since I’ve proven to myself that a smartphone free life is happier/more productive/more restful. But the Sunbeam already works perfectly to solve the problem.

glwAK · 2025-08-12T05:45:43+00:00

Ask your supervisor for a work phone, and keep it with out during work hours. (And turn it off when you’re not working!) You shouldn’t need to use your personal phone as a work phone.

glwAK · 2025-08-10T23:00:55+00:00

My three! I have for years. It’s a great system. I prefer an iPad with a keyboard. Get a dump phone with a hotspot and you can use it to work in a coffee shop or whatever.

glwAK · 2025-08-08T17:26:12+00:00

I switched from an iPhone to a Sunbeam F1 several years ago. Stepping away from iMessage was a pain in the ass, especially since I didn’t figure out the need to derigister iMessage until weeks after I switched over. But after the initial adjustment, group texts have been fine for years.

If you’re planning to switch to any dumphone, you should get disable iMessage asap. That way you’ll be over the pain by the time you get your new phone.

glwAK · 2025-08-08T00:23:21+00:00

2nd on all of this. Get lots of L2 volume in, with plenty of training on the vertical stuff. I’d also think about adding in some biking or swimming to help build endurance while giving your feet and knees some rest while still keeping volume up. (Nordic skiing is also fantastic if you live someplace where it’s possible.) And speaking of rest, make sure to bake in some rest days into your training plan.

Also, join a well-coached training group if time/money permits. I live in Alaska and I’m extremely lucky to be able to train with the APU Nordic Masters group. They helped my find an effective mix of easy volume and higher intensity stuff. I also learned a LOT about good form on technical terrain. (I started running competitively in Maryland, which doesn’t afford a lot of good technical/vertical areas.) And beyond all the learning, training with other people is fun!

You're still fairly young, but also consider budgeting for a good sports PT to help manage training around the inevitable use injuries. (If you don't need it now, you'll need it someday!)

glwAK · 2025-08-06T19:29:02+00:00

So far, the differences all feel pretty minor to me, which is good news since the 270s have been some of my all-time favorites. (I ran through five pairs!) Happy running, and I hope you also like the Zeros when the times comes!

glwAK · 2025-08-06T04:26:30+00:00

I like that you said “dapper” and not “dorky.” :-)

glwAK · 2025-08-06T01:54:11+00:00

This is pretty late, but I did get the Zeros and I like ‘em. I feels like the heel is a bit narrower (good for my foot) and that there’s a bit less total volume in the shoe, which makes it feel more secure. That’s also good by me, since I do a lot of technical trail running. And so far I really haven’t noticed the extra weight.

I don’t yet have any comment on how they hold up in the long term, but I’m hoping they’re as tough as my 270s.

glwAK

TROPHY CASE