other_cat13h ago

This $450 Semi-Dumb Phone Is Barely Even a Phone

“Meadow gives you some apps along with calls and texts, but don’t plan on having a big contact list.”

It limits you to 12 contacts.

The premise–a mostly dumb phone with some access to music and navigation only–isn’t bad but the execution is. I don’t want to be locked into some very specific apps in my semi-dumb phone. The article also makes this good point:

The deal becomes even less appealing when you consider that you can just, you know, buy an actual dumb phone for around $50 if you’re really that hellbent on taking a break from TikTok.

This $450 Semi-Dumb Phone Is Barely Even a Phone

Meadow gives you some apps along with calls and texts, but don't plan on having a big contact list.

Gizmodo
Show threadPMmeTrebuchets

All of these people buying dumb phones instead of just downloading a text launcher on their phone and calling it a day. Like I’m not about to go waste money on a dumb phone when I can (1) set up a text based launcher and (2) uninstall Instagram. I have a perfectly good Samsung, and I’ve switched to using it more as a tool than a source of dopamine.

Too many peopl fall for the hype of these objects bc it’s easier than taking accountability, and easier than taking the initiative to do something on your own.

7:21pmWeb
Show threadother_cat13h ago
I’m not sure what you mean by text launcher. Do you mean like a custom launcher that only displays text and not icons?
Show threadPMmeTrebuchets12h ago
Yeah, sorry, I could have worded that better. I use o launcher pro (but the free version works great). There are others, that’s just the one I use. No icons, no notification badges, nada. I set my phone to grayscale unless I’m taking a photo.
Show threadother_cat12h ago
Oh, no notification badges sounds heavenly. I don’t consider myself addicted to my phone but I do get twitchy if I see any dots or anything.
Show threadWhatsHerBucket12h ago
If you’re on iOS you can disable the notification badges.
Show threadcalliope10h ago

I turn off notifications for every device I have, other than things like text messages.

I don’t know how people can stand all the badges and stuff.

Show threadChe Banana9h ago
you had me up to the point where you own a Samsung…lol