Some people want a "minimalist" phone without all the distractions of a full-blown smartphone—until they use one. The problem is you're stuck with whichever essential apps the manufacturer chooses. That's why a flip phone with a small outside display might be the perfect compromise.

Choose Your Own Limitations

Just to be clear, I'm specifically talking about phones such as the Moto Razr 2025 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. Unlike the bigger book-style foldables, like the OnePlus Open, these phones are essentially "normal-sized" phones when opened fully. But on the outside, you get a secondary screen that's about half the size. That's where the magic happens.

Minimalist phones are all about intentional limitations. However, not everyone wants to be limited in the same way. For some, it might mean literally only a messaging app and a phone app. However, for others, it could include a few niceties such as Spotify and Google Maps. The latter group is where I fall, and it's what has kept me from fully embracing minimalist phones.

Related ##### 6 Unexpected Ways Minimalist Phones Will Cause You Pain

I carried around a Light Phone 2 for years, and I tried out various dumbphones before that. There are the sacrifices you expect, and then there are those you don't. It's the latter that really get you. I'm not talking about the lack of group messaging or GPS navigation apps. We know that going in. Let's go over things that may catch you by surprise.

Posts 2 There are just too many little things that I need on a daily basis that aren't available on those phones. Smart home apps, for example. Removing distractions is great, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be able to turn on some lights or control my TV with my phone. Those are not the apps sucking up my attention and keeping me glued to the screen.

A Smaller Screen, Not a Separate Phone

While I was reviewing the Moto Razr 2025, I realized the outside Cover Screen is a limitation that works for me. Unlike dedicated minimalist phones, you're in control of which apps are available on the Cover Screen. Motorola makes you specifically enable each app individually. You can start with the bare basics and slowly add apps as you need them.

So, I was able to create my own custom "minimalist" phone on the Cover Screen. Only the apps that I personally considered essential. I don't have to give up Google Home, Spotify, or my friends' Discord server in the name of staying off Instagram and Reddit for a few days. My smartphone is still, well, smart.

Related ##### The Unexpected Paradox of Minimalist Phones

I used a Light Phone 2 for years, and I have a pre-order for the Light Phone 3 on the way. I love these phones, but there are downsides that brought me back to using a smartphone. The promise of a Light Phone has always been to live light, primarily in a mental sense. Physically, though, I find myself having to leave home toting around a lot more heavy stuff.

Posts 4 But here's the thing: using an app on a small screen isn't super enjoyable. Even if you don't limit the app selection like me, it's not as easy to wander off onto Facebook if you just wanted to check the weather. The small screen helps you get in and out as quickly as possible, and that's ultimately what most people are looking for in minimalist phones—less screen time.

The best part of all of this is that the full smartphone experience is just a flip away. It's as if you have a minimalist phone taped to the back of a smartphone. You don't have to carry around two devices or swap SIMs when you want a distraction-free weekend. However, as I've learned, some self-discipline is needed. The full phone is right there at all times—you have to be able to avoid opening it.

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That last part is particularly important in the world of "minimalist" phones and launchers. At the end of the day, there's only so much self-implemented limitation can accomplish. You will always know how to get full access to your social media apps and anything else distracting. A small screen for quick tasks may not solve all your problems, but it can help make it easier to avoid those things.

Related ##### An LTE Smartwatch Might Be the Perfect Minimalist Phone

We use our phones a lot, and a growing number of people are trying to do something about that—even switching to dedicated "Minimalist" phones. Those phones are neat, but I think there's actually a far better and far easier solution to the problem that doesn't require a phone at all: a smartwatch with a mobile data connection.

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