DUMB PHONE: The Last Holdouts

[@TheRealMrSir]

Watching this on my iPhone made me feel guilty realising how much time I waste everyday on Tech in general.

[@jebediahkerman8245]

That punk dude. I wish I could have that level of passion for a subculture. Nothing really captivates me anymore. I bet overuse of screens is part of why I am this way.

[@Hero_Of_Old]

Thats what true punk is.

[@paullsmith5548]

ikr bro seems legit on a philosophical level

[@rejectconvenience]

Haha 3:57 "When you leave it anywere, you can come back and get it, cause no ones gonna steal it" what a fantastic line. I love this video, thanks for sharing! It's neat to see the perspective from folks who never switched, as a person who switched back to the dumb phone a couple years ago.

[@atotheg1991]

Great job, Boris. I was honored to be in your movie, and I look forward to watching your future work. DUMB PHONES FOREVER!

[@mzzy03]

I got a blackberry classic which is still technically a smart phone but since most social media apps no longer work with BB OS, it works as a dumb phone. I only have my main email on it, WhatsApp, Telegram and spotify. So I am still connected when I need to and can listen to music. Camera is meh by today's standards but I actually dig the look. Getting it is one of the best decision I have ever done in my adult life, helped me with disconnecting and going to bed early.

[@fronkentine]

I've been looking into switching to a classic since 3g is discontinued in the US, but I'm worried about not having apps that I would consider essential to my life. Are you able to run Google maps, even in a web browser instead of as an app? Could I potentially use the NJ Transit app to buy a bus ticket?

[@mayfly552]

I love all the handmade music and art by the dumbphone people! Great doc, thank you.

[@frankcost]

Excellent work! I enjoyed every second, and now I'm feeling like I need to put my phone in the drawer more often. It seems that dumb phones make for smarter and way more interesting people!

[@keldeshong]

Awesome documentary, Boris! I got a light phone last summer to break my phone addiction and while I'm not perfect (e.g., I switch back to the smartphone for traveling), it's definitely helped a lot. It's really distracting to have a smartphone within arm's reach at all times. No GPS is inconvenient but not insurmountable, and my mental map of the city has gotten so much better. I'm also reading SO many books now, like I used to when I was a kid. I hope the dumbphones are here to stay!

[@bornatchula]

@@keldeshong That's great to hear. I keep a flip phone that I used to switch to for a month or so every year year but it is tough to argue the convenience of them. In the end I decided I just need to discipline myself to not overuse it

[@atotheg1991]

You can always get a car GPS (they're sold for as cheap as $59). But, if you get one, always make sure to hide it after parking, as someone could break into your car to steal it.

[@Hero_Of_Old]

My job made me addicted. Before that, I wasn't bad. But having to look at a screen for 8 hours a day killed my attention.

[@user-tj2mt4jp1s]

Really like seeing interviews with people who aren't KZbinrs for a living, talking about this. There's a lot of videos of KZbin influencers saying "I switched to a dumbphone/quit social media for a month, here's what happened," and of course it rarely works out for them. Because being on the internet is their job. In general I'm learning to take a lot of lifestyle content from KZbinrs with a grain of salt, because their lifestyle is shaped by being a KZbinr. They work from home and make their living entertaining people online, which has nothing to do with my personal circumstances. So there's really no point in trying to emulate what they are doing.

[@markrix]

There must be a way to keep dumb phones alive, i absolutely hate the idea of a phone that has no concept of privacy, when did we say this was okay?

[@MeddaMadH]

This guy deserves more subs

[@TheWowWowWest]

If he keeps up his efforts, he's sure to get them. The amount of progress you can see between his documentary uploads is amazing. The team around him seemed very skilled too. So let's hope he keeps getting good collabs!

[@ashtronaut9]

Boris, Thank you for this film! This is a beautiful project. I love the atmosphere that is shown in each of your scenes. It sets a notable tone for each conversation. I look forward to seeing your next work!

[@misterkefir]

I also use the so called "dumb phone" myself! Hate how everyone is on the internet 24/7/365 these days.. nothing good will come out of it, that's for sure. People don't feel.. real anymore, somehow. Unfortunately, technological alienation getting more annoying by the minute.. This was a great little documentary. Thanks!

[@kaymakesthings]

This is a fantastic piece of documentary media. Thank you for your vision and execution. I'm on the journey of unplugging my life and this is good brain food as I proceed with introspection on how to go about it. Bravo!

[@ncoles4890]

I absolutely loved this film. Brilliant interviewees, beautifully presented.

[@irasbighairywizarddivision9903]

I'm in my 20s and I also have a dumb phone. I get why people do it. Part of the reason why everyone's so depressed and nihilistic nowadays is because they substitute real relationships and conversations with online interactions only. That and we're overstimulated to the point where we waste the whole day without even knowing it. My friends complain that I'm hard to reach and that I don't text but I find it weeds out people who hate putting ACTUAL effort into talking with others. Do I think I'm better than people who use smartphones? No, to each their own. I just can't stand how dependent you become with the things.

[@WgB5]

When they did away with 3g I started using "smart" phones. But I work on a farm. I went through 3 of these devices. One couldn't stand the weather, one ent black- internal damages. The last one couldn't handle the vibrations (it was a "rugged" phone) and went into constantly ghost clicking, bringing up so many apps that it became useless. So I am back to a flip phone, an obsolete Cat S22, and it works just fine. My wife, on the other hand, does mostly indoors work, and she lives on her smart phone.

[@georeadr-h5k]

This was a brilliant documentary! Thanks for creating and sharing! (I've used a Unihertz Jelly for 1.5 years and have pre-ordered the Light Phone 3. Cannot go back to a 'normal smartphone' now!).

[@MeelonXothaei]

how do you have only 158 subs, and also why am i only being recommended this now?!?? this is a great video.

[@bornatchula]

@@MeelonXothaei Thanks! I wish I had the answers to your questions.

[@blakbeerd12]

awesome documentary, il be reccomending it!

[@Zoe-yh9sn]

What a beautiful video! I've recently made the decision to ditch my smartphone for a flip phone. I'm ready for it to change my life! I just wanna be present again. This video gives me hope!

[@Alomah79]

This was a great view of having a dumb/flip phone. Great work!

[@veiledzorba]

This video underscores many of the problems of our modern smartphone society. I've never owned one - indeed they really didn't come to my cognizance before about 2016 as I just wasn't interested - but that was the year I was rudely introduced to "smartphone expectation". In any event, I'm a retired electronics/computer tech and sometime engineer and also worked IT for 8+ years. I've been using, programming, building, and designing computers and computational hardware/software since long before most had ever seen one or knew what one was. "The smartphone ain't it." My bottom line: I didn't see the point of the thing in 2007, and I don't see the point of it now. I don't need one, I don't want one, and I'm certainly not going to deal with the pain in the *** that these crippled devices are. A mediocre phone and a HORRID computer. No thank you - what's the point of this garbage?

[@greticlaracrisan9587]

Amazing video, beautiful settings and story. i loved hearing everyones opinions and life experiences about living with a dumbphone. Im a teen who really wants to get a dumbphone and disconnect from the internet, but its really hard knowing that all my friends wont be able to contact me as simple as before. besides that im a music student who constantly needs to listen to pieces and who's school has normalized using phones in class instead of regular manuals. so i really can't disconnect from it. im searching for the best solution for that issue though. regardless. amazing video, one of the few thats i managed to find that actually managed to convince me that i'm not in the wrong for wanting this change. Also seeing the teachers children having an actual Home with real toys andit being messy and all over the place made me tear up because i haven't seen kids with such families in a long time. My mom used to own a daycare studio and all the kids who'd come always had ipads and devices which really upset me. Let alone how seeing the parents constantly online... God bless

[@salinaskiwi]

thank you for this documentary! it was really reflective, and has only reaffirmed my belief that the over-usage of smartphones are killing our souls.

[@Nyorane]

Incredible film, agreeable sentiments all around, very artistic. I hope this gains more views!

[@leohasdementia]

This is underrated I love the video

[@WyvernDotRed]

For me, an incredible middle-ground has been getting an e-Ink phone. Which was an upgrade for the now ancient Moto G5 smartphone, which struggled greatly with almost any task. I can take pictures, navigate, listen to music, read articles and answer texts on it. But it does not feel like a doom-scrolling machine, in due part from it not scrolling smoothly. Like with my previous phone, I will ride it's older Android version out until it no longer manages the tasks I need. This as a Networking & Security Engineering student, for security I have made my Linux laptop my point of cryptographic trust instead. My Steam Deck forms the primary amusement device, which is smaller thus less intrusive in life and leading to shorter sessions. This comment was written on it, using duel-trackpad typing, after commenting this I feel done with it for the day.

[@abubakr2981]

Interesting how most of them come from artistic , creative background fields.

[@abubakr2981]

@@puddlepep I hope one day people get tired of using their smartphones like they do with all the other toys.

[@viola-jb8cn]

i never leave any comments, but this video was so well made, truly interesting to see all these different perspectives! thank yo!

[@CosyKitty]

I wish I could fully get rid of my smartphone, but I need to have my bus ticket on there, because otherwise I can’t get my student discount. That goes for discounts period, lidl plus, s-mobile, student card, etc. I would be spending hundreds of euros extra without those. I have dumbed down my phone a lot, as much as I could, but I feel it’s still not dumb enough.

[@Lunaryse]

That's still a lot of progress!

[@lukesweet8634]

this was beautifully executed!! i'm making the transition to a dumbphone this week and this honestly helped solidify my resolve o7. things are slowly changing for the worse and we need to start doing something about it

[@reachnandini]

I need more such movies ans interviews please

[@DemoNinja79]

The only reason i have a dumbphone is that it's a backup phone which i use to make calls in case my smartphone breaks. Thats all it is meant to be.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

I held out and refused to switch to smartphones until 2017 when I switched carriers (I was on Verizon) and I still was on the same plan I had since the early 2000’s where I had limited minutes before 9PM and was charged 20 cents for every text message sent and received including spam. My then new carrier (Cricket) offered unlimited calls and texts for a lesser price and didn’t support my old LG Chocolate flip phone. The dumb phones were not options for phones that they offered for free.

[@MaxAlbiston]

What a lovely documentary, was shocked when I saw how little views this had!

[@davidpallares5853]

Great documentary!

[@katzmatt2]

This is a fantastic Doc, very good production quality too

[@AbramBailey]

I felt so guilty watching this on my non dumbphone. Excellent film.

[@Ulfeneimer]

Great content!

[@handlesshouldntdefaulttonames]

I think I've found an okay middle ground with my pseudodumb CAT S22 FLIP. It's got a touch screen but it's barely useable. It works. :)

[@Shubham-dh7ns]

damn such good content and video quality you deserve a million subs

[@cat_jk00]

This was really lovely.

[@OpalArlo]

I really enjoyed this short film, thank you! :) I'm not switching to a dumb phone, just making my smart phone dumber. It's working for me!

[@Georgecarus]

this video deserves way more views

[@FinnishSuperSomebody]

This was a great short film/documentary. I just bought dumb phone couple of days ago also, this time with same sized SIM-card than my iPhone so when I rarely need navigation I can switch my SIM card to iPhone for that time and then switch it back :) So far have not needed to do so, but that is not a surprise since I have driven only ways where I know the route without maps, but sometime in future at least I have a possibility to do so.

[@duksauce887]

Really dope work man!

[@CaptainAiryca]

Awesome video, thank you for sharing this!

[@nateordie]

nice piece. good editing, makes me want to revert back to a flipper myself. would probably still need gps on it tho.

[@bornatchula]

@@nateordie thanks dude. Yeah the gps is usually the deal breaker for people. Wish there were more options for dumb-ish phones

[@alexcarter8807]

I'm holding off getting a smart phone as long as I can. I like my dumb phone. It's good for .... phone calls.

[@MathieuTechMoto]

I didn't expect such high quality video, great job Actually i changed my big screen smartphone to a tiny 3 inch smartphone that can be in any pocket and you don't even know it's there, i reduced screen time by about 70%, maybe the next step will be a Dumb phone

[@alexcarter8807]

5:11 I would gladly pay an extra $200 to get that phone. I have the less beefy model of Kyocera.

[@KnjazNazrath]

Still got my 3310, an' it's still my phone 'til they destroy the network for them in 2030 as long as I can source batteries. Got a smartphone, but I only turn it on as a GPS on rare occasions when I need to drive somewhere I don't know.

[@thepickles8833]

I have a "gimped" smart phone. I had plenty of distracting apps on it that I used for awhile, but over time I noticed how depressed and lazy I was becoming with them, so I left social media entirely, deleting a lot of apps including the internet app, and now it's just this gimp that lives in my pocket that I only bring out for phone calls, brief text interaction, taking picture to email to my PC, and check my bank account. That's it. Take your brain back. Experience life.

[@Hero_Of_Old]

The only issue is, it becomes lonely because everyone is on their phones.

[@thepickles8833]

@@Hero_Of_Old If I can wake up and gimp my phone, I assume others will too.

[@Bryce-rh2fp]

I also have a flip phone and honestly its awesome. Its so much better for every reason they said in this video. I have the ZTE Cymbal 2 since the 3g ones arent going to work soon here. But honestly I think we need to go back to the older era. I also have a CD player for music. Only reason I still have my other phone is for my passwords and two factors.qq

[@randywesterberg2488]

Someone said they feel guilty watching this. I feel trapped.

[@knot_03]

amazing work!

[@SinonG-ys1iy]

i'd love to live like this but im a college student and a digital artist that wants to make money so i have to rot my brain to get interactions

[@Laezar1]

The only reason I have a smartphone is that I don't know how to get a dumb phone tbh

[@bornatchula]

@@Laezar1 reddit.com/r/dumbphones start there

[@mynameisjohnandimakevideos]

great work!

[@epruno3583]

I miss my fliphone, had it for 6 years until I forgot it under the rain 3 years ago... Rip

[@lakerskid2013]

My first flip phone was a LG VX5400 from Verizon and I remember dropping it in the heater vent a couple weeks before I got my second phone which was a LG Venus and that one was my first touchscreen phone

[@lunatic799]

I dont usualy comment but this was a really good video well done!

[@rattsjcfanpage01]

We shouldn’t have to do anything we don’t want to! #bringbackflipphones

[@alicepersson9568]

watched this video, scrolled down expecting millions of vires because of the quality, and found severe underappreciation. amazing watch! * edit: "VIEWS", not vires. not even sure how i managed to typo that bad.

[@rattsjcfanpage01]

No chips in my head!🤨😡😳

[@Pepsiphopia]

Got a dumbphone, Sony Walkman and a analog camera. Im to much of a hipster.. xD

[@GrubStLodger]

Still have my dumb phone, because I get phenomenally frustrated with touch screen. I still manage to waste lots of time though.

[@Lila_UrarakaYT]

Watching this on my Z Fold 6

[@marc7lol]

great documentary, id like to abdicate having a smartphone, but it truly is sort of required as that punk dude said, especially as a younger adult :(

[@tehrealgh5tbusters]

I've cut back on smartphone usage by a long shot and plan on getting a Nokia in the future. My father and sister, however, are addicted to their smartphones. My sister, when she isn't on her computer, always has earbuds in her ears, and her iPhone either playing a video on KZbin or on a Discord call. As for my dad, he's started to scroll through KZbin Shorts during his spare time when he's not playing video games or watching anime. I also have no friends who are my age that live in my neighborhood, and no way to make new friends, so I'm kinda isolated. I hate how we've innovated so much in terms of technology that our puny little monkey brains couldn't evolve fast enough to be able to handle this technology and that those big, greedy corporations are using the fact to their advantage by intentionally designing smartphones to keep our attention for as long as possible so they can monetize our attention, as well as the data sent through our attention.

[@harukrentz435]

I was still using dumbphone in 2014 😅

[@liszis]

great video. inspired me to go back to my old nokia :)

[@glasseffect]

The "dumb" phone is independent of the network technology. You have dumb 4g phones.

[@miyuko246]

Awesome documentary! I'm saving this to my hard drive to watch again and again. 🫶

[@jodytrees]

Nokia still makes a lot of dumb phones that work with 4g

[@Panacea9]

Sometimes. Sometimes it looks as if my posts are modified slightly and when i reread them, I am confused as to what I am reading. I was ok at report writing. I did ok in university and college. People could understand what I was trying to get across.

[@AJRojas-kh3qq]

The girl had a old phone

[@rovingmauler7410]

I have been using my smartphone a lot lately. I spend too much time on KZbin. But, over this past year I have been studying Japanese non stop. There are several apps I use, and translators. I watch Japanese movies on Netflix. I find Japanese Manga I can download and read on the go. I practice Kanji daily. I make great use of the phone as an educational device. These phones are very useful tools. They can be a great learning resource or they can be a portable t.v. And social shame machine. It’s up to the user. What I think should be emphasized more is stigmatizing the way we use them. Social media posting should be seen as shameful. Watching naughty videos on our phones should be seen as disgusting. Forcing people to log in to apps and have phones for their jobs that aren’t provided for them should be illegal. Treating the internet as reality should be laughed at. Putting vulnerable financial and private information on your phone should not be allowed. Buying a phone for a six year old should be publicly ridiculed. It’s society’s acceptance of degenerate nonsense that is the bigger problem. The phones are just a symptom.

[@pkphilips2]

Oh! how I wish I could just get rid of my smartphone and return to using the old dumb phones! but unfortunately, my job requires me to have a smartphone

[@diariesoft]

You should look into the cat s22 flip. It's an Android smart flip phone

[@alface935]

Does anymore know if there are any Dumb Phones Who support 5G?

[@rattsjcfanpage01]

I can get by with a flip phone and a laptop, that’s it. I’m switching back to a flip phone after the new years.😊 technology is supposed to be a tool, not make it… so you’re on there for hours on end.🤨

[@lakerskid2013]

If someday there can be a smartphone that gets made in the same fashion like the old school flip phones, I would get something like that. I don’t like this new age design where it’s nothing but folding glass in the front. Many people have had too many problems with creases forming in the middle and the glass being more prone to breakage in the middle as well.

[@LibbyMia-rz8gk]

3g is dead. hmmmm not in uk and i know if 3g goes then ill fall back on the 2g as my sony erricson is a 2005 2g and it works flawlessly

[@jrewillis]

Most UK networks are turning off 3G by the end of 2024. But 2G will work until about 2033

[@axethepenguin]

@@jrewillisO2 is currently the last one to shut it down

[@LibbyMia-rz8gk]

@ well read my comment before replying. I already know that.

[@omerkaradag5459]

good job! it was fun to watch such a documentary.

[@charles.personal]

voicephone

[@latedinn]

So good! one point that is overlooked here: pornography is instantly accessible and limitless on smartphones, thus making them more dangerous and more addictive. the endless and free access to porn anywhere and anytime via smartphone rips us of our innocence and focus.

[@wesleyfreeman5918]

I think my main issue with these types of videos is that they never like, challenge them on it, or their beliefs, or like, the things they are saying. because I'm going to be honest, a lot of these people are kind of forgetting the benefits of these. like, its so easy to find people who are like minded now. there is no need to be alone in a community. when you can get your community from anywhere, and everywhere. people who are trapped on a bed dont have to be alone so much anymore. just look at iron mouse. do you really think that iron mouse would be ok if we didnt have the tech we do now? like, i get that YOU have a problem with screens, but this does not mean that everyone else does. or hell, for me i def wouldnt have any friends if smart phones werent a thing.

[@bornatchula]

Thanks for the comment. A previous cut of the video did include some of the people acknowledging the positives of smartphones. Perhaps I should've kept that in.

[@junnyfump2736]

Its not that ive refused to take the switch. Ive made the switch BACK.