Do YOU want a 'dumbphone'? Experts say smartphone owners are increasingly buying second handsets with limited features - but batteries that last for weeks
- Many users are now turning their backs on smartphones for basic devices
- Some will use a smart device and a 'dumbphone,' when more convenient
- 'Dumbphones' do little more than texts and calls, have better battery life
As smart phones continue to grow smarter, many people are now rejecting the increased connectivity and taking a huge step backward.
Embraced by average mobile users and high-profile figures alike, including British actor Eddie Redmayne, the 'dumbphone' is making a comeback, and it can only perform the most basic functions.
Ditching complex handsets, 'dumbphone' users actually have to use their phones as a phones, limiting functionality to calls and texts, and freeing up time otherwise spent glued to a screen.
![As smart phones continue to grow smarter, many people are now rejecting the increased connectivity and taking a huge step backward. Embraced by average mobile users and high-profile figures alike, the ¿dumbphone¿ is making a comeback, and it can only perform the most basic functions](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/02/22/23/06777B310000044D-0-image-m-97_1456182644556.jpg)
As smart phones continue to grow smarter, many people are now rejecting the increased connectivity and taking a huge step backward. Embraced by average mobile users and high-profile figures alike, the 'dumbphone' is making a comeback, and it can only perform the most basic functions
While non-smartphones have become less visible in the last few years, they haven't entirely been wiped off the shelves.
These basic phones, called 'feature phones' do little else above making calls or texts.
Some can play music, or access the internet, but according to The Financial Times, there's still a demand for them (though it's vastly outweighed by demand for current capabilities).
A study by research group Strategy Analytics estimated that 44m of these 'basic' phones were sold in 2015 – just two 2 per cent of the global market.
'Dumbphone' enthusiasts have numerous reasons for turning their backs on smart devices.
Many argue that smartphones are broken easily and can't hold a charge despite the steep prices, and the advanced capabilities are unnecessary for the average person.
Actor Eddie Redmayne even reportedly made the leap, and is quoted as saying the move 'was a reaction against being glued permanently to my iPhone during waking hours.'
Some even choose to have the best of both worlds, using a smartphone or 'phablet' when needed and switching to a smaller, basic phone when it's more convenient.
But, phones with limited capabilities aren't just a way to escape the barrage of emails, or disconnect from social media.
![Actor Eddie Redmayne even reportedly made the leap to 'dumbphones,' in order to escape the constant allure of the iPhone screen. Basic phones are known to maintain their battery lives much longer. They¿re durable, easy to use, and cheap to replace](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/02/22/23/3001A64400000578-3459292-Actor_Eddie_Redmayne_even_reportedly_made_the_leap_to_dumbphones-a-100_1456183079849.jpg)
Actor Eddie Redmayne even reportedly made the leap to 'dumbphones,' in order to escape the constant allure of the iPhone screen. Basic phones are known to maintain their battery lives much longer. They're durable, easy to use, and cheap to replace
Basic phones are known to maintain their battery lives much longer, making them more reliable, and these types of phones are also commonly given to children and elderly people.
They're durable, easy to use, and cheap to replace.
Both Microsoft and Samsung still produce basic phones.
The Nokia 215, a brand that's now owned by Microsoft, can hold its charge for 29 days – and the Nokia 515 can go to 38 days.
Geared specifically for the elderly, phones like those produced by Doro have larger buttons, and Francisco Jeronimo, research director for European mobile devices at IDC, tells The Financial Times that this type of device is becoming a 'niche opportunity.'
For many users, a smartphone just isn't a practical or realistic option at all.
'Using a smartphone in some countries in Africa, for instance, is not an option for many users, as it would require to charge it on a daily basis,' Jeronimo told FT.
'On the other hand using a smartphone means little for users who cannot connect to a 3G network, either because they are not available or because the connectivity is extremely expensive.'
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