What is a Dumb Phone?
- AJ Rice
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
A dumb phone is a phone that is not a smartphone. The term dumb phones includes mobile phones created before the invention of the smartphone as well as modern smartphone alternatives. Although slightly different in meaning, “dumb phone” is often used interchangeably with the name "feature phone."
These not smartphones don’t have the smart features typically found on smartphones like the internet, social media, or an app store. Dumb phones have been around for decades, but before the invention of the smartphone we just referred to them as a phone (or a cell phone). In short, a dumb phone is a phone that’s actually a phone, a device for calling (and sometimes texting) plus maybe a couple other basic features.
Common Types of Dumb Phones
The dumb phone category covers a range of mobile devices that have evolved in physical form over the years. The evolution the past few years includes minor updates to classical designs as well as re-imagined modern dumb phones.
The Candy Bar Phone
The term candy bar phone is used to describe a phone shaped like a candy bar; these phones contain a single, non-folding slab. Classic candy bar phones feature a physical dial keypad and a basic, non-touch screen. In some cases (like Blackberry) candy bar phones can contain a full physical QWERTY keyboard.
The Flip Phone
A flip phone is a phone that flips open; the flip phone refers to the hinged physical form factor. Dumb flip phones typically fold open to reveal the screen and keypad, then fold shut for protection. While some modern flip phones are full featured smartphones, historically, flip phones contain a physical dial-pad (and T9 texting) and a small non-touch display similar to candy bar phones.
The Modern Dumb Phone
Today, a new generation of devices offer a dumb phone with a modern design. These phones may feature a sleek physical appearance, sometimes including touchscreens.
Modern dumb phones like the Zalpha Phone blend the old and the new, combining smartphone look and feel with the limited functionality of a dumb phone from 15 years ago.
