I've been using this dumb phone (Nokia 3310) for two and a half years now, so I wanted to discuss and unpack some of the benefits and logistics (pros and cons) of using a simple, minimal phone like this in 2025 on my digital minimalism journey. The entire video is filmed on a retro Mini DV camcorder from 2004 (Samsung VP-D83i), just for fun :)
My original motivation for switching came from Dave Egger's book "The Every", and it sparked something in me to find an alternative for my phone addiction. I love that this little dumb phone is so simple and really only serves the purpose of calling and texting. But that's obviously a huge adjustment for someone who was used to having all the tools and internet access available on a smartphone. Smartphones like iPhones obviously provide a lot of convenience, but overall, the pros do outweigh the cons for me, and I don't ever want to go back to using a smartphone full-time.
In this video, I share my original and current motivation for using a dumb phone, as well as some pros and cons I've experienced along the way that are worth considering before getting such a minimalist phone. I also explain how I stay in touch with friends and family abroad through Whatsapp, iMessage, and Discord (all of which are not on my dumb phone). Additionally, my process of switching the SIM card into my old iPhone for navigation since I don't have GPS. I've found that stepping away from a smartphone has improved my digital sanity and overall tech balance. I feel happier and less connected without it.
I also experimented with a MiniDV format for this video, keeping it raw and simple, so let me know what you think. If you're curious about potentially switching to a dumbphone (anything from my little Nokia 3310 to the fancier Light Phone 3) or another minimalist phone, this video might help you decide if it's worth the transition. Also for people interested in a digital detox, digital wellbeing, tech mindfulness, digital simplicity, simple living, and escaping information overload.
Time stamps:
0:00 - Dumb phones make life more complicated
0:17 - Why I switched to a dumb phone (Dave Eggers The Every)
1:17 - Why I chose the Nokia 3310
1:51 - Nokia 3310
2:38 - iMessage, Whatsapp, Discord
3:04 - I kept my old iPhone (switching SIM cards)
5:09 - The pros (benefits)
8:30 - The cons (logistics)
12:00 - Would I switch back?
#digitalminimalism #minimalistphone #dumbphone