My phone is on its last legs and I need to get a new one soon. I’m thinking of getting a second-hand phone, but I’m not sure where to start. What would you suggest for a minimal lifestyle?
Get the best iPhone you’re comfortable paying for, and use it for as long as you can. Keep only the apps that truly matter to you.
Minimalism is more about peace of mind than the item itself. Don’t let objects be a worry in your life.
Jessie said:
Get the best iPhone you’re comfortable paying for, and use it for as long as you can. Keep only the apps that truly matter to you.
Minimalism is more about peace of mind than the item itself. Don’t let objects be a worry in your life.
Agreed, you can buy the latest phone and aim to use it for around 5 years. Get a big storage option or cloud storage, and you might not even need notebooks, photo albums, physical music, tablets, or even a laptop.
Jessie said:
Get the best iPhone you’re comfortable paying for, and use it for as long as you can. Keep only the apps that truly matter to you.
Minimalism is more about peace of mind than the item itself. Don’t let objects be a worry in your life.
I can confirm this. I’m still using my iPhone 8, and it’s been 6 years. Who would’ve thought the most valuable company on Earth would keep supporting their product for so long? I’m happy with how well it still works, so I’ll go for iPhones in the future too.
Jessie said:
Get the best iPhone you’re comfortable paying for, and use it for as long as you can. Keep only the apps that truly matter to you.
Minimalism is more about peace of mind than the item itself. Don’t let objects be a worry in your life.
I have an iPhone and plan to stick with it until it dies. Just be careful about what you put on it, and use screen time settings to stay mindful, and you’re good to go.
Jessie said:
Get the best iPhone you’re comfortable paying for, and use it for as long as you can. Keep only the apps that truly matter to you.
Minimalism is more about peace of mind than the item itself. Don’t let objects be a worry in your life.
Same here! Started with an iPhone 4, then got a 13 mini. Someone even gave me their old iPhone 6 to use for a couple of years in between.
Get an Android so you can customize it. Use Niagara Launcher, turn off what you don’t need, and set it to greyscale.
I recently came across a minimal phone option called the Light Phone. Check it out: https://www.thelightphone.com
Jamie said:
I recently came across a minimal phone option called the Light Phone. Check it out: https://www.thelightphone.com
I looked into the Light Phone too, but I felt it would make life more complicated rather than simpler. I like the concept though.
It’s basically a ‘dumb’ phone trying to be a smart one. Regular dumb phones already do most of what it does, and often better:
- Can’t view photos in texts – you have to forward them to email.
- It has its own GPS, so no linking to Google Maps.
- None of the apps I use regularly.
- If the company goes out of business, there’s no future support.
I’d prefer a phone that has a few key apps like Spotify, Audible, Gmail, and Google Maps.
Jamie said:
I recently came across a minimal phone option called the Light Phone. Check it out: https://www.thelightphone.com
I looked into the Light Phone too, but I felt it would make life more complicated rather than simpler. I like the concept though.
It’s basically a ‘dumb’ phone trying to be a smart one. Regular dumb phones already do most of what it does, and often better:
- Can’t view photos in texts – you have to forward them to email.
- It has its own GPS, so no linking to Google Maps.
- None of the apps I use regularly.
- If the company goes out of business, there’s no future support.
I’d prefer a phone that has a few key apps like Spotify, Audible, Gmail, and Google Maps.
You don’t need to buy a whole new phone. There’s an option called Minimalist Phone that gives a similar feel for $30.
Jamie said:
I recently came across a minimal phone option called the Light Phone. Check it out: https://www.thelightphone.com
I looked into the Light Phone too, but I felt it would make life more complicated rather than simpler. I like the concept though.
It’s basically a ‘dumb’ phone trying to be a smart one. Regular dumb phones already do most of what it does, and often better:
- Can’t view photos in texts – you have to forward them to email.
- It has its own GPS, so no linking to Google Maps.
- None of the apps I use regularly.
- If the company goes out of business, there’s no future support.
I’d prefer a phone that has a few key apps like Spotify, Audible, Gmail, and Google Maps.
Good point! I like how the Light Phone isn’t supposed to replace your smartphone but can switch with it by swapping SIM cards. You go ‘Light’ on some days and keep your smartphone for other days.
That said, I’m still considering it but haven’t bought one yet. I’m currently using the iPhone SE, which is already pretty minimal and cheaper than most other iPhones.
Graydon said:
Jamie said:
I recently came across a minimal phone option called the Light Phone. Check it out: https://www.thelightphone.com
I looked into the Light Phone too, but I felt it would make life more complicated rather than simpler. I like the concept though.
It’s basically a ‘dumb’ phone trying to be a smart one. Regular dumb phones already do most of what it does, and often better:
- Can’t view photos in texts – you have to forward them to email.
- It has its own GPS, so no linking to Google Maps.
- None of the apps I use regularly.
- If the company goes out of business, there’s no future support.
I’d prefer a phone that has a few key apps like Spotify, Audible, Gmail, and Google Maps.
Good point! I like how the Light Phone isn’t supposed to replace your smartphone but can switch with it by swapping SIM cards. You go ‘Light’ on some days and keep your smartphone for other days.
That said, I’m still considering it but haven’t bought one yet. I’m currently using the iPhone SE, which is already pretty minimal and cheaper than most other iPhones.
I get the idea of switching between phones, but why not just use an app to block certain apps on your iPhone instead of getting a whole new phone? Just a thought.
Jamie said:
I recently came across a minimal phone option called the Light Phone. Check it out: https://www.thelightphone.com
I’m really interested in this! Only $300, and I love the e-ink style screen.
Jamie said:
I recently came across a minimal phone option called the Light Phone. Check it out: https://www.thelightphone.com
I’m really interested in this! Only $300, and I love the e-ink style screen.
I sent you a DM about a Light Phone I’m looking to sell.
Check out the Xiaomi Redmi series, then just pick one based on price and availability where you are. There are other brands like RealMe, Honor, and Poco, but Redmi is more common and simple.
If you’re looking for a practical feature, go for one with a 5000mAh battery so you don’t need to carry a power bank. It should last all day with one charge.
A phone is just a tool. Any phone can be minimal depending on how you use it.
I’d say pick any phone that fits your budget and needs. If it’s an Android, try a minimalist launcher. Only keep apps that you actually use and enjoy, and that’s all you need for a minimalist lifestyle.
Good luck!
Haven said:
My phone is on its last legs and I need to get a new one soon. I’m thinking of getting a second-hand phone, but I’m not sure where to start. What would you suggest for a minimal lifestyle?
Almost any phone can be minimal if you make it that way. Make it work for you and cut out the rest.
I use an iPhone 14 Plus and, after tweaking it for a few months, I’ve reduced my usage and cut down on what I have installed. Now I can get 2–3 days of battery life.
I only have two screens with widgets or apps I use most, and everything else is in the app library or deleted. I also tweaked notifications so only important things wake up the screen. I set custom ringtones for my wife and kids, so I know when to ignore the phone or not.
I used Screen Time to track how much I was using certain apps, which led me to delete a lot of them when I realized I didn’t need them.
The only reason I have the Plus size is my eyesight is getting worse with age, so the bigger screen helps me see better.
Haven said:
My phone is on its last legs and I need to get a new one soon. I’m thinking of getting a second-hand phone, but I’m not sure where to start. What would you suggest for a minimal lifestyle?
Try Back Market for refurbished phones.
I’ve used them before. It worked out great for me.
Haven said:
My phone is on its last legs and I need to get a new one soon. I’m thinking of getting a second-hand phone, but I’m not sure where to start. What would you suggest for a minimal lifestyle?
Any new Android with a custom minimalist OS would do the trick 😎
Haven said:
My phone is on its last legs and I need to get a new one soon. I’m thinking of getting a second-hand phone, but I’m not sure where to start. What would you suggest for a minimal lifestyle?
I have a Google Pixel 6 (had the 3XL until the motherboard died last year) with Nova Launcher. I got rid of all the notification badges except on the built-in call and text apps. My app icons are nature photos, so my screen feels calming instead of overwhelming.
I hid all apps I use less than once a week, like airline and theme park apps, so they don’t clutter my screen. If I need them, I can search for them.