Americans checked their phones nearly 200 times a day last year, and 46% say they’re addicted to their devices, according to a recent study. In response to this trend, a growing number of people are reclaiming control over their digital lives by taking what might seem like a drastic step: switching to a flip phone.
The subreddit r/Dumphones, which counts 200,000 weekly participants, is a hub for those looking to unplug and veterans sharing stories of how they did it. Celebrities like Aziz Ansari and Ed Sheeran have publicly stated that they do not use smartphones. “I’m team flip phone revolution,” the now 28-year-old pop singer Camila Cabello declared in a 2023 X post. A few months back, Business Insider declared “offline is the new luxury,” as a wave of digital minimalism takes hold.
The Appeal of Simplicity
We recently spoke to six individuals, the oldest of whom is 45, who are part of the flip phone revolution. Each has a different rationale for the decision, but there are some consistent themes. Without the constant temptation to scroll, they say, it’s easier to focus on their priorities. Their social interactions are more satisfying, and they save money. Flip phones can be purchased for as low as $30, and monthly plans can be had for $15.
Most are not anti-technology—in fact, three are software engineers. Here’s what they each had to say about how downgrading their tech has been the best upgrade of their lives.
Trevor Brown, 35: Making Time for Family
When Trevor Brown started his career as a software engineer, he had multiple cell phones. But around 2020, the thrill began to fade. “I started to realize that while a smartphone was very powerful, there were many downsides,” he says. The biggest issue is the ease of accessing the internet and social media at any time. He scrolled mindlessly during “small windows of downtime.” He adds, “It was something I used to escape the real world.”
When Brown, who lives in Florida, began building a family, he further reassessed his priorities. He wanted to be more present with his children, so he took the plunge and bought a $30 Alcatel Go Flip 2 running KaiOS, a Linux-based operating system designed for dumb phones. The device was primitive, but synced with Google Calendar so he didn’t miss appointments.
He later upgraded to the Cat S22 flip phone, which runs a full Android operating system and lets him surf the web. But its small screen makes it less “fun” to use social media or browse online, so he spends less time doing both. He’s even convinced his wife to switch to a flip phone.
“There’s always a new thing, whether it’s cryptocurrencies or AI, and a lot of people go along with it and get into it,” he says, “even though it doesn’t always benefit them.”
Zoe Rodriguez, 24: Overcoming Childhood Phone Addiction
Zoe Rodriguez was 10 when her parents gave her a pink iPhone to use whenever she wanted, however long she wanted to. “It set me up for phone addiction,” she says. “I didn’t have great parents.”
By age 20, she was fed up and decided to switch to a flip phone. “I was just like, dude, I have to do something about this,” she says. “I can’t go on like this anymore.”
She went with the $195 Sunbeam F1 and signed up for a $15-per-month Mint Mobile plan. The decision still has “compounding returns to this day,” she says. Without the powerful pull of a smartphone—her flip phone has no internet-connected apps and features T9 texting—she no longer glances at her device during awkward moments.
“I have all this knowledge, and I feel smarter,” she says.
Leading by Example
Joel Epstein, 45: Leading by Example
Joel Epstein, who lives in New York, runs five businesses, the largest of which is the cabinetry company Fabuwood. For the past three years, he has not allowed any of Fabuwood’s 1,200 employees to have a smartphone in the office—not even for meetings—and says his staff is more productive, focused, and connected, even though everyone told him he was “dreaming” when he first proposed the idea in 2018. Today, he says, “We’re producing 20% more with the same amount of people.”
Epstein gives any employee who wants one a free flip phone to help them stay connected in case of emergencies during work. This is all having an influence outside the workplace: He estimates that about 100 of his employees have switched to using flip phones in their personal lives.
Brandon, 19: Making College Social Again
When Brandon Aikman started college at Cedarville University in Ohio in August 2024, he noted something about the relationships he was forming. “I had stronger friendships with people who weren’t always on their phone, scrolling Instagram Reels, TikTok, and short-form videos, getting brainrot,” he says.
So in October 2024, Aikman told his parents he wanted a flip phone. Eventually, they agreed and got him the Nokia 2780 ($90).
“I’m not anti-tech, I’m just pro being intentional with tech,” says Aikman, who’s majoring in computer engineering.
Challenging the Status Quo
Lee Siebert, 39: Saying ‘F.U.’ to the Tech Industry
Lee Seibert is a software engineer from Ohio who’s fed up with technology. He sees smartphones more as a way for companies to serve ads and mindless entertainment than as a productivity tool, and has recently been frustrated by the influx of AI.
Seibert has been using a dumb phone as his primary device for over a year. He intends to keep the phone for at least 10 years.
“I’m a technologist, and it’s fascinating to take control of this aspect of my life in a technical way,” he says. “I see it as a hobby, or a challenge.”
Allison Sigmon, 21: Ignoring the Naysayers
Allison Sigmon’s old smartphone made her feel “very overwhelmed and stimulated.” Hacks like setting timers and using apps to restrict screen time didn’t help.
At just 21, Sigmon stands out amongst her peers and family. Her friends say her dumb phone use sounds “so freeing” but don’t feel they could ever make the switch.
“The biggest benefit has been my mental state,” she says. “I’m calmer. When I close my laptop, my work day is over.”
The flip phone movement represents a broader cultural shift towards digital minimalism and intentional living. As more people seek to reclaim their time and attention, the humble flip phone is emerging as a powerful tool for change.
