Minimalism is about simplifying your life by focusing on what truly matters and letting go of excess stuff. Digital minimalism does the same with technology. It helps you use your devices and apps more mindfully. This approach helps you avoid digital distractions. Both aim to create more space for what’s important. One focuses on physical things. The other focuses on your digital life.
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time on my smartphone. I mostly watch short videos, read comments, and get caught up in content. It’s starting to take a toll on my mental health, and I realize it’s affecting how I feel overall.
My screen time is consistently around 7-10 hours a day. I spend most of this time on social media. Somehow, I still managed to get work done during all that time. How do I even juggle both? It’s crazy, lol!
I’ve decided to gradually reduce my social media usage, starting with Instagram, X, and TikTok. I can’t promise I’ve completely quit them, but I’ve cut back. Still, there are moments when I find myself scrolling and watching short videos. Then, I realize it’s already midnight without even noticing how much time has passed!
The two social media platforms I can’t let go of right now are Facebook and YouTube (does YouTube even count as social media?). Facebook is where all my family and relatives stay connected, especially through group chats and posts for greetings. My parents love being featured in posts—they’re 100% into it! They even keep track of likes and comments, reading each one, especially on special occasions. That’s why deactivating my account isn’t an option.
As for YouTube, it’s my go-to for learning and entertainment. Fun fact: I discovered Digital Minimalism through YouTube! I’ve watched tons of vlogs about dumb phones and how switching to one has improved people’s lives. It’s something I’d like to try for myself.
I bought this phone from Facebook Marketplace after coming across it on TikTok while searching for dumbphones—specifically flip phones with keypads, because I miss the nostalgic vibes. My first choice was the Samsung Folder 2, but many content creators recommended this model called Mive Style Folder instead, highlighting its newer Android version. So, I decided to go with this one!
This phone isn’t a true “dumbphone” since it runs on Android Go v.12, which still allows me to download apps like WhatsApp, Viber, Grab, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, TikTok, Booky, and even all the Google apps—including YouTube!
The headphone jack is a huge plus! Nowadays, most new phones have ditched it in favor of Bluetooth headphones. I still prefer the classic plug-and-play headphones—no charging needed, just simple and reliable.
One of the main reasons I chose this phone is its Type-C charging port. My power bank has a built-in Type-C cable, so I don’t need to carry extra charger cords. It’s also super convenient since most of my devices use Type-C charging as well.
This phone features a 5mp front camera and an 8mp rear camera. It supports one Nano SIM card and has an SD card slot that can handle up to 512GB of storage.
This isn’t exactly a dumb phone—it’s still a smartphone since it runs on Android. However, its small screen and limited RAM naturally curb social media usage, which is one of the reasons I love it so much!
The built-in LED lights make the phone adorable. They let me easily notice notifications or any activity on the phone at a glance!
How does YouTube look on this phone? Surprisingly good! The sound is loud and clear, making for an enjoyable experience. While it can be a bit laggy due to the 2GB RAM, it still gets the job done perfectly fine.
How does YouTube look on this phone? Surprisingly good! The sound is loud and clear, making for an enjoyable experience. While it can be a bit laggy due to the 2GB RAM, it still gets the job done perfectly fine.
Overall this phone amazes me and makes me happy to use it. But the biggest question for myself is, will I be able to survive with just using this phone? Well, we’ll see because I planned to use it as my main phone and my iPhone is for my work-related only.
The real reason I can’t part with my iPhone is for work—replying to emails, Slack, accessing documents, and contacting users. But… it’s strictly for work now! I haven’t installed any social media apps on it!
I’ll be updating this blog with my thoughts on using this phone as my main personal device and for work after a month. As you can tell, I haven’t included any work-related details here yet.