So, after like 8 months of dumbphone only, I’ve given up.
It wasn’t one majorly annoying thing, but just a non-stop death by a thousand cuts. Modern life really requires at least possession of one of these stupid little rectangles, and if you don’t have one, you get slowly nibbled to death by the ducks of modernity.
So, rather than redouble my efforts to bend the world to dealing with me wanting to be a bit of a luddite weirdo, I’ve given up and just… bought an iPhone SE and paired it with an Apple Watch 8 I already had.
See, the thing I really didn’t consider is that I pretty much already had the ideal dumbphone: this AW8 is a cellular version.
It does phone calls, text messages, and has sufficient ties to modern services (music, podcasts, audiobooks, maps, etc.) that it is, by itself, a 60% solution. And just for perfect clarity: there’s a lot of things wrong with the watch that make it not an ideal device, with the biggest one being really not fantastic battery life.
For everything the watch doesn’t do, I also have the phone, but the phone isn’t strictly required, and I can simply leave it at home when I don’t want to deal with all the modern smartness and just rely on the watch.
For sure, it’s not a cheap solution since an iPhone and a cellular watch is a giant investment even if you go for the “cheapest” versions, and I’m paying for two cellular plans (though, with US Mobile it’s $96/year for each so, relatively speaking, still pretty cheap).
At this point, I think pixel 6 is oldest you can go. But really, it’s about your budget. I am hearing people still using pixel 4s.
With that being said 9 has better battery and faster charging and that has some value.
Whatever you do, consider open box, used, or refurbished because fuck Google and sundar the creep.
Ok, thank you. I’m new to the world of buying used phones. Usually I just get online through my phone plan provider, so this should be an adventure. Thanks!!
There is some risk there no doubt, so if you need 100% success and warranty something to do consider. New has best protection.
However, from personal experience and others talking, it is 95% the way to go. I am sure one day I will get a lemon but all the money savings will cover it for me as of today.
I generally start a lot of my purchases now on second hand markets, preferably local. Deny these parasites profit one transaction at a time;)