Smartphone detox with minimalist phones





Our smartphones are distracting and stressful, but they seem necessary. Michael Zelenko tests out four distraction-free phones, ranging from the palm-sized Jelly phone with internet capability to the business card-sized Light Phone that solely makes phone calls. Find out if one of these phones could fit your lifestyle, or if maps and social media apps are too important for you.

Note: this video was originally published at 9AM ET and has been reuploaded to correct an exporting error.

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37 Comments

  1. The ideal minimalist smartphone for me is something that's just in between 4-5 inches and with specs that can only run simple apps and not something like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and games like PUBG mobile. Messenger, Snapchat and the like is still useful and not as distracting as the other apps mentioned above so it's a must have. The phone should also have at least 4,000 mAh battery capacity or higher so you wouldn't have to worry about charging it every night. The cameras should also be decent enough not for compulsive selfies but for very important moments like taking a video of a person assaulting someone ( I mean, helping the person is more important but providing a video for the authorities to see would probably cement the case against the suspect).

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't think the Jelly should be on the list of minimalist devices. I was one of the Kickstarter backers and to me the jelly is more like a toy than something actually practical, simply because of horrible battery life and standby time, much less than the advertisement and how difficult it is to actually use the phone. A minimalist phone should free you from distractions outside the basic functionality of the device (text and calling), but it should still excell at its purpose.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I feel like resetting my Nova Launcher setup, uninstall apps, and keeping the phone basic with no other stuff on the homescreen besides basic functions.

    No matter how much we want a minimalistic phone, we still want a good camera, music, and storage.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wouldnt mind a feature phone but i want it to have the same camera as my curent phone!

    ReplyDelete
  5. As discussed first on the No Agenda Show

    ReplyDelete
  6. Omfg. You people and detox bs. Detox this, detox that. Just have self control and slowly stop.



    Yes, i do get the idea that you want to showcase cr@ppy phones.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The punkt phone is punkn you

    ReplyDelete
  8. Removing social apps and keeping the tools you need in your smartphone, that is a smart move, and i think most people don't need to move back to dumbphone, they just need to remove attention hungry apps.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was addicted to my phone, until i actively limited myself during the day, and stopped using my phone in bed and turned social media notifications off, it takes will power to do all this, but once you're in the routine it gets easier, now i appreciate my smartphone, and i talk to people and have more time for my dogs, and they love it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like the topic and arguements, looking at phones from a different perspective (not only specs and etc.)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Deleting the unwanted apps is the way to go.

    ReplyDelete
  12. "i'm gonna see how disconnected I can get." Is in NYC

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think the entire point of the jelly phone is missed. It's not to be used for Snapchat and Instagram. Whilst it can do those things, it is incredibly obvious that it shouldn't be given the size of the phone. It's intended to allow people to connect though a good old conversation

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great topic. It'll be interesting to see if this becomes a real trend

    ReplyDelete
  15. This video was beautifully shot, you guys make great content!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The Verge turns into Tech-style Buzzfeed??

    ReplyDelete
  17. Would you give up your smartphone for a minimalist phone?

    ReplyDelete
  18. "iPhone 6, it's a pretty good phone"
    Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

    ReplyDelete
  19. I don't usually comment, but for this i think this guy should be in more videos explaining and comparing stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I wonder how this guy was texting when he was a kid.
    Typing using T9 was the best thing ever.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The verge never disappoints me

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for this video. I’ve been detoxing mine, got my social media apps deleted and it feels soooo goood!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Didnt think anyone at the verge would still b rockin a 6!

    ReplyDelete
  24. 2:38 if I heard correctly, you just said 650 hours of standby time. How tho?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Very, very interesting.. intriguing..

    ReplyDelete
  26. Lol I'm never giving up my note 3 for a minimalist phone

    ReplyDelete
  27. If you really want to be disconnected from your smartphone, try any BlackBerry 10 device.

    ReplyDelete
  28. well when you would be in germany with the punkt everywhere you will have 2g :D because your lucky when you have 3g or 4g :(

    ReplyDelete
  29. I wish someone made an affordable phone. With just calls, messaging and an excellent camera. That way you could take it around while traveling

    ReplyDelete
  30. I would definitely buy the lite phone 2 😂

    ReplyDelete
  31. I wonder what it would be like to just use an Apple Watch without the phone for a couple of days

    ReplyDelete
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