What I want is a mobile phone that can only do calls and texts but which is a lot more practical for texting than using the 0-9 keypad of a normal minimum-function phone. Preferably more practical for calls too, something that works well in the traditional and simple "phone held by ear and only I can hear the person on the other end" mode. Is there such a thing?
I could buy a cheap "smartphone" (i.e. a handheld networked computer running a full OS that can be used to run a phone app) and only use it for calls and texts, but I don't feel comfortable with Google knowing every time I sneeze and where I was when I sneezed and adding that (and much more) to their vast hoard of information until they figure out a way to profit from it.
I'd be OK with a phone running GrapheneOS and using that only for calls and texts, but for decent length of support that requires a Google Pixel 6 or 7 and that's more money than I want to spend on a phone.
Yes, I'm a weirdo. Yes, I know it's now completely normal (and heavily encouraged) to be spied on all the time by organisations seeking to use the information they have on you to manipulate you for their power and profit and to not care about that. Yes, I'm familiar with the "if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear" argument. I don't agree with it. As I said, I'm a weirdo. Is there something for a weirdo like me? That's an opening for all sorts of suggestions
I'll leave it there because on these forums there will probably be some entertaining suggestions. But is there a phone that matches what I want? I have no familiarity with mobile phones. They've pretty much passed by me without any interest from me. I have a £15 feature phone because a few years ago my ISP refused to have a fault outside my house fixed unless I bought a mobile phone and gave them the number. I hardly ever use it. It's often not even charged.
I could buy a cheap "smartphone" (i.e. a handheld networked computer running a full OS that can be used to run a phone app) and only use it for calls and texts, but I don't feel comfortable with Google knowing every time I sneeze and where I was when I sneezed and adding that (and much more) to their vast hoard of information until they figure out a way to profit from it.
I'd be OK with a phone running GrapheneOS and using that only for calls and texts, but for decent length of support that requires a Google Pixel 6 or 7 and that's more money than I want to spend on a phone.
Yes, I'm a weirdo. Yes, I know it's now completely normal (and heavily encouraged) to be spied on all the time by organisations seeking to use the information they have on you to manipulate you for their power and profit and to not care about that. Yes, I'm familiar with the "if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear" argument. I don't agree with it. As I said, I'm a weirdo. Is there something for a weirdo like me? That's an opening for all sorts of suggestions
I'll leave it there because on these forums there will probably be some entertaining suggestions. But is there a phone that matches what I want? I have no familiarity with mobile phones. They've pretty much passed by me without any interest from me. I have a £15 feature phone because a few years ago my ISP refused to have a fault outside my house fixed unless I bought a mobile phone and gave them the number. I hardly ever use it. It's often not even charged.