The disadvantages cracker And the addiction to the screen is well documented, but while many of us would like to spend less time stuck on a smartphone, it is easier to say than to be done.
Much has been written for the so -called revitalizationwhere Individuals are recovered Some respite from pings and promotion notifications by downgrading to a key phone phone. But the reality for most is that this is not a permanent functional solution, simply because so much of society today is built around the tools and services based on the Internet.
So it could be more reasonable to find a middle ground where we do not completely destroy our smartphones and tablets and instead find ways to tune in when we do not want the constant distractions of Tiktok, YouTube, news news and all others.
While it is true that iPhone and Android devices have some digital well -being tools built, so as not to mention one line up From third -party applications, these are often very easy to bypass. TechCrunch has curated some of the best materials that naturally separates people from their lives around the clock-without cutting them completely from the outside world. The balance, after all, is the name of the game.
Although these devices have different approaches to indirectly cope with smartphone addiction, each one do it very similarly: it is all about the user to voluntarily add to their digital life. And to pay to do so.
Unpluq
There are many third -party launchers and exclusion applications that bring deliberate friction on your smartphone but Unpluq It does things naturally.
The Dutch company has developed a NFC FOB or a “label”, which acts as a “digital key” to temporarily unblock certain applications on your phone.
About this, Unpluq offers a mobile This works independently of the natural fob. You can block your two most fragmented applications in a predetermined program (eg during a particular time period each day) free or you can pay a Annual Subscription $ 61 To unlock the premium features, including an unlimited number of block applications on Android and up to 49 on iOS. It also provides more detailed checks above the exclusion schedule (eg, restricts it to some days and hours), including additives.
However, the real value of the Unpluq, undoubtedly, is in Fob, which costs 74 $ with a one -year subscription, or 22 $ For the device on its own (you need a premium subscription to use fob, so it will have limited value without it).
Without FOB, users can unblock applications by bypassing what Unpluq calls “attention obstacles”, which means you need to take specific actions to access a specific application. This may be to move the phone for five seconds, press many buttons, including actions.
Fob adds an extra layer of friction, requiring users to press FOB on the phone to access the applications that have deliberately blocked. Unpluq says his product is based on the theory of behavior design known as rational detourwhich concerns the introduction of deliberate holidays into a user experience to disrupt the usual behaviors. This makes people think of their actions.
The idea is that if you want to block the Instagram, X or New York Times alerts while trying to study for an exam, you can set Fob as the UNBLOCK method and leave the fob on the other side of the house. This should, in theory, make you think twice about Doomscrolling and focus on your review.
It is worth noting that there are other natural devices that serve similar purposes, such as Brick and 4REM.
Boox Palma 2
If you literally want to leave your smartphone behind or lock it in a box to relieve yourself of all the temptations it brings, there are other devices that could help.
FlatterA brand from Chinese company Onyx combines the worlds of Epaper and Android technology to create peculiar devices that cross the notebook, tablet and e -reader spheres. Basically, they pack additional connectivity features, including a complete phase of apps through the Google Play Store prepared.
Released last year, the Boox Palma 2 It is the youngest member of the Boox family and while it is mainly as an e-different, the athletic dimensions that look like a smartphone that make it a very pocket.
By accessing a complete range of Android applications, this could beat the purpose of what boox touts as a “device without distraction”. However, since this is an epiper device, the minimalist display does not have the same appeal to consume electronic content. But perhaps most importantly, it has no cellular functionality, which means that connectivity is limited to Wi-Fi-so if you only want to consume offline in movement, this could work well for your purposes.
In terms of messages, it is also worth noting that WhatsApp now allows users to access their messages on many devices at the same time. This means that you can lock your smartphone away and still call your social life through Boox Palma 2 (though only on a Wi-Fi connection).
Boox Palma 2 is available now for $ 279.99.
DC-1 day light
Similar to Boox Palma 2, the DC-1 day light It is a Android -based device designed mainly for reading and writing. It is a “space without splitting for learning and creativity”, according to the company. It also offers Google Play, which means you can access all usual applications, although it does not have cellular connectivity.
To 729 $DC-1 is not cheap but this device is All about the 60 FPS quality displayWhich promises smoothness and clarity-“Live Paper” technology is “like e-in, but faster,” the company says.
It is also much larger than Boox Palma 2, which can appeal to some.
So if you want a device for reading, work and research, with the option to sink into some of the savory internet delights, then DC-1 may be for you.
TTFONE TITAN TT950
Okay, everyone doesn’t want to buy a expensive electronic reader or tablet when all they want is to go places without the temptation of social media or break the news in their hands.
While the basic “characteristic phones” of the 1990s are definitely an option for those who want to keep their vaginal smartphones, for most people who do not have a key ingredient: Whatsapp.
There are various so -called whatsapp detection due to the fact that they run Android under the hood. And because WhatsApp now offers multiple device support, you can synchronize all your messages from your smartphone with one of these other devices.
Among the cheapest such phones is the Titan TT950by the UK -based phone manufacturer and UAE Ttfone. It costs about $ 106 or your local currency equivalent and is a fairly basic phone flip that targets the elderly. It does not have an app store to speak, but it comes with a handful of pre -installed applications, such as Facebook Lite, YouTube, Browser and Whatsapp.
Including such applications is not ideal for those who seek to minimize distractions, but the 2.8 -inch touchscreen and the accompanying keyboard are likely to be very useful for proper internetting.
Unihertz: Jelly Star
Everyone has different compromises that are willing to make in digital detox attempts. For some, this may mean buying a secondary smartphone that is so small that it is completely impossible for tiktoking or youtubing.
THE Jelly star by China Unihertz Probably fits into this arm.
Jelly Star runs Android 13 out of the box and, therefore, is a fully smartphone. But with a 3 -inch touchscreen, it’s not something you would like to spend a lot of time to do doomscrolling.
At $ 220, the Jelly star is not extremely cheap for a secondary device. But if that means you can disappear for the weekend and leave your pocket rocket at home, while still having access to basic “life” applications such as WhatsApp, Spotify, Uber and Google Maps, then it could be a remarkable investment for some.
