Best dumb phones and non-smartphones in the UK for 2024

Oct 16, 2024

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Because we don’t all need the latest tech

It may feel like you need a smartphone to exist in 2024, but the latest handsets aren’t for everyone. While many of us might spend time scrolling through apps like Facebook and Instagram, some of us only need the basics.

Whether you call them dumb phones or feature phones, the best non-smartphones focus on providing only the most essential functions, just like the Nokia you had over 10 years ago.

For some, a basic model provides an escape from smartphone addiction, a way to break free from social media or a bit of minimalist nostalgia. For older people, these phones can be essential pieces of familiar tech with large buttons, uncomplicated interfaces, and bright screens. A good dumb phone makes staying in contact much less intimidating while giving you quick access to the phonebook, messages and a simple camera.

Looking to save money but loathe to miss out on your favourite apps or music streaming services? If you can't get by without Candy Crush or WhatsApp, you might be happier with one of the best budget smartphones or a refurbished handset instead of a dumb phone. And it doesn’t matter if you’re picking an iPhone or Android model, you don’t need to spend the over £1,000 it costs to get the newest release.

Here are some of our top picks:

• Best budget Android smartphone: Google Pixel 8a• Best budget Samsung smartphone: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G• Best budget Apple iPhone: iPhone SE (2022)• Best budget smartphone for accessibility: Doro 8100

There’s a wide range of reasons why picking up one of the best dumb phones might be the right choice for you in 2024. Whether you have an older relative who struggles with new tech, you want a phone that reminds you of a simpler time, you need a backup handset for calls or you’ve had enough of the deluge of social media notifications at the dinner table. Below, we’ve rounded up nine of the best non-smartphones to buy this year.

On the GH tech team, we test dumb phones by checking how easy they are to use compared to smartphones. We evaluate that all-important speaker sound quality for calls, check the screen brightness, and type away on the keypad.

We also look at how the interface works and how intuitive it is to navigate the menus. Our list below is a mix of our hands-on testing and expert picks from our rigorous research.

If you’re looking for a feature phone that brings back memories but with a few modern updates, the Nokia 3210 is a good choice, and we think it would be a great first phone for a child too. This reboot of the classic 3210 sticks closely to its roots, offering a durable build, tactile keypad, and of course, the beloved Snake game.

The phone features a 2.4-inch colour display, which is a significant upgrade from its monochrome predecessor, along with 4G connectivity for calls, texts and an FM radio receiver.

Though it only includes a basic 2MP camera and an MP3 player with a 3.5mm headphone jack, it’s designed to be simple. The removable battery is reliable for a long standby time, and it'll last for 9.8 hours when used for calls, which isn't bad given how small this is. Overall, the Nokia 3210 is an ideal secondary phone or a model for situations where you need a no-fuss device.

After a great value feature phone with 4G connectivity and a big screen? You can’t go wrong with the 8210 from Nokia, which like the 3310 is yet another resurrection of a classic design.

It delivers simplicity and the basics and does them well, offering a long-lasting removable battery that should keep you going for up to 30 days, a 2.8-inch display to match the size of chunkier flip phones, and a sensible price tag.

We appreciate the satisfying and nostalgic feel of the buttons, but they are small and there are other options on this list that are better for anyone with dexterity issues. The camera is pretty low quality and the torch isn’t all that bright, but we’re looking at phones that aren’t overloaded with features for this roundup, so these aren’t major downsides.

The main positives here are the long battery, expansive screen and 4G connectivity. We do wish it charged via USB-C instead of Micro-USB, though.

If you want a flip phone with 4G, big buttons and a good-sized display – go for the Nokia 2660 Flip. It opens and closes with a satisfying snap and typing on the keypad is comfortable, while scrolling through the menus is easy with the large square navigation button.

The small front display is helpful for checking the date and time at a glance and the main display is colourful and bright, with text that isn’t pixelated. It’s got a good selection of apps, including a built-in radio and torch. If you want another dose of nostalgia, it comes with Snake, but it’s a shame that even though Tetris is installed you have to pay for the full game.

The camera is only usable for emergencies, the casing is very plasticky and the charging cable is an outdated micro-USB, but we like the vibrant colour selection: it comes in green, pink, black, blue and red. It’s more expensive than some models on our list, but not overpriced at under £70.

If you’d prefer a flip phone but like the sound of the features of our top recommendation, try this Doro model. It has a convenient clamshell design to protect the large keys and a big 2.8-inch screen.

It doesn’t come with the wifi functionality or built-in apps that the 7010 has, but it connects to 4G networks and has Doro’s useful “assistance” button that calls selected contacts when pressed (although it doesn’t have the same location feature as the “response” button). It also comes with a charging dock that’s easier to use than the cable.

If you’re after a phone that can take a beating and will keep working after you accidentally drop it down the stairs, this is the one. It’s waterproof, dust-proof, drop protected and has a battery that lasts for 34 days on standby.

Unlike several basic phones, it can also connect to wifi and it comes pre-loaded with apps for WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Google Maps and Google Assistant.

The Doro 5860 is an affordable model with a simple and easy-to-understand layout. It has a big keypad, a bright screen and the useful “assistance” button on the back that can be used to call and text pre-selected contacts in case of emergency.

There are several useful accessibility options built into the 5860, including talking number keys when dialling phone numbers, hearing aid compatibility, a blacklist to stop specific numbers from calling and adjustable font sizes. We also love that it comes with a charging cradle so you can be assured it will always have power when it needs to be used.

This model isn't the best option for photos, it can’t connect to wifi and it doesn’t come with pre-installed WhatsApp or Facebook apps, so it’s for people who want the basics.

A lot of dumb phones are inexpensive when compared to smartphones, but the Nokia 110 takes it to another level and is one of the best value models we could find. For under £40, you’re getting a diminutive handset with a 1.8-inch screen that works on 4G networks and comes with pre-loaded games like Snake.

The handset’s large buttons are ideal for texting, and due to the small size, it’s very pocketable, although maybe not the best for older users or the visually impaired who need a larger device. The phone is only for the basics but we think it works well as a backup phone for stashing in your bag or keeping in the car – especially as it promises many days of battery life.

It’s also a good option for travel as it supports dual SIM cards and is unlocked for any network, although it’s a shame that the battery life isn’t quite as good as the previous Nokia 105. You still get up to 12 days of battery life, though, so it easily lasts a full week between charges.

After a phone for simple calls or for an older relative? We’d recommend going with this 4G Doro model that reimagines the keypad as a simplified way to call the three contacts you rely on the most. It has A, B and C speed-dial buttons on the front, and space for labels to identify them.

It can receive text messages but can’t send them and its highly simplified approach makes it a good option for people with memory loss or reduced dexterity. It has the more advanced “response” button on the back to alert and show the phone’s location to assigned contacts.

Just because you’re picking a simpler phone doesn’t mean you need one that lacks style, and the MP02 definitely has a distinctive look to it. Designed by British industrial artist Jasper Morrison, this is a streamlined device that’s ideal for calls and texts.

This is a worthwhile pick if you’re fine with being available for phone calls but want to break free from emails and social media. If you must check your inbox, it picks up 4G networks and can function as a wifi hotspot for connecting a linked device.

You’ll have heard these simple handsets referred to as dumb phones, simple phones, or feature phones. While the models aren’t all the same, the one thing that they all share is a basic approach and limited functions.

Today’s smartphones aim to do it all, while feature phone manufacturers make models for calls and texts. Sometimes they will also have a radio, a camera and some classic late ‘90s mobile games like Snake.

Generally, they have smaller screens (no bigger than about three inches across diagonally), physical buttons rather than touchscreens, and a low-quality rear camera for the occasional photo. Some may have an internet browser, but they’re not designed for visiting websites.

Simpler phones are surging in popularity as more of us shun the expectation of constant connectivity. Global sales of feature phones are rising faster than smartphones, and the search experts over at SEMrush recently found that Google searches for dumb phones rose by 89% between 2018 and 2021.

Nokia relaunched its popular and iconic 3310 model in 2017, and younger users are trying out basic phones like this one for the affordability and the longer battery life, with dumb phones gaining popularity through appearances in TikTok videos, ironically.

Whether you’ll prefer a simpler phone over a smartphone will depend on what you need a phone for. If you care about the camera, for instance, you’re going to be a bit disappointed with one of these models.

But, as mentioned above, two major benefits of dumb phones are longer battery life and lower cost. Prices are often under £100, and they’re also easier to maintain, with many having replaceable batteries.

There are two main types to choose from. You’ll be getting either a traditional rectangular handset with a screen and buttons beneath it (these are known as “candy bar” phones) or a flip phone where the screen folds over the keypad in a clamshell design.

While smartphones are all screen, these basic phones need space for the keyboard and the display is much smaller.

You’ll want it to be large enough to type your messages and see who you’re calling, and the options on our list range from a smaller 1.7 inches diagonally to just under 3 inches across.

Most are in colour, but we have included one with a monochrome interface in our list.

Dumb phones don’t have much storage space - think megabytes rather than gigabytes.

To store photos and music on the phone, you’ll need to buy a MicroSD memory card. We’ve noted which options have a storage card slot in our roundup.

Before you buy, check the network you plan to use. The government has announced plans to switch off all 2G and 3G mobile networks by 2033. But, some basic phones don't work on 4G and, according to BT, there are between 2 and 3 million people using 3G networks in the UK.

O2, Vodafone and EE all offer a 2G service for calls and text messages, but Three doesn’t. Three is also switching off its 3G network in 2024 and Vodafone has retired 3G too.

A basic 2G signal that works for voice calls but not data is still available across much of the UK, though. We’ve specified the maximum network speeds in our roundup.

For a future-proof option, we think it’ll be best to go with 4G, which is why every model on our list is capable of 4G connectivity.

Simon Cocks is Hearst UK’s Technology Ecommerce Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy across a range of titles including Good Housekeeping UK, Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.

Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, ebook readers and smartphones. He's reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.

He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and money-saving advice guides and edited thousands of in-depth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.

He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.You can follow Simon on Instagram at @simonrcocks, on Threads at @simonrcocks, and on Twitter/X at @simoncocks.

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