housemate and I are sick of smartphone AI and spyware!! looking for cheap, refurbished cellphones from the 00s

  • the problem: all models we have found run on 2G, which is rapidly being phased out by all US carriers
  • desired features: basic call and text functionality, durability, physical buttons, fits in pocket
  • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgEnglish
    12·
    14 days ago

    Look at the Nokia 2780, Nokia 110, and/or the Nokia 3210.

    They’re modern equivalents to their predecessors of yore and run a simple non-smartphone OS (Kai OS) and use VoLTE so are compatible with modern networks. Bonus is they can do things like hotspot.

    I was looking at those and similar about a year and a half ago when I wanted to switch to a dumb phone. I ended up compromising with the CAT S22 Flip which is a low-end Android phone in a flip phone form factor. Wasn’t difficult to de-Google and was able to root it. Unfortunately, they’re not made anymore so what’s left is what’s left. They’ve also jumped quite a bit in price since I got mine for $69.99 back in 2024.