Seven simple smartphones that do things differently

It’s a brave person who’s willing to venture outside the secure and familiar mobile eco-systems crafted by Google and Apple. Android and iOS dominate smartphone sales for good reason; they’ve facilitated the evolution of the mobile phone into a completely essential part of everyday life.

Even those who stray outside the garden walls to dabble in the equal-but-different operating systems created for the likes of Huawei (HarmonyOS) or even an open-source equivalent like the Linux-based Ubuntu Touch is opening themselves up to a world without straightforward access to WhatsApp, tap to pay, or seamless photo back-ups.

For a certain buyer, idiosyncrasy will always trump convenience. Kickstarter is awash with out-there ideas like Oukitel’s WP100 Titan, a rugged phone that has an onboard 100 lumen projector, while another truly unusual prospect comes in the shape of Honor’s Robot Phone, expected to hit the market any day. Alternatively, you project a very different kind of image through the ownership of a Vertu phone.

The original boutique smartphone brand is still in the running, although status, not simplicity, is its primary USP. Security also gets a look in – with promised ‘Absolute data sovereignty, safe from cloud breaches’ – and the Agent Q also promises a mechanical zoom lens. It’s available in solid walnut for a shade under £5,000.

Maybe it’s the hackability and added friction that actually appeals? It won’t have escaped your notice that smartphone addiction is very much a thing. If you want to avoid these weapons of mass distraction, the jury is still out on whether this is a job for hardware, software, old-fashioned willpower or strong-armed legislation. Unsurprisingly, there are phone makers who are here to help.

We’ve reported on things like HMD’s Better Phone Project, as well as sleek hardware like the Balance Phone and Light Phone III, as well as the Minimal Phone, Unihertz Jelly Star, and Mudita Kompakt in a quest for true digital detox. There are other deliberately low-key options like the Basic Phone or the P-Phone, neither of which seem to have made many waves just yet.

However, if clarity and refuge are more important than status or tech trickery, read on. We’ve assembled a collection of seven simple smartphones that all promise to do things a little differently, whether it’s a throwback form factor, unconventional display or stripped back operating system. On to the devices.

If you’re still pining for your Blackberry, there are several options out there (including the Clicks range of keyboard cases). The Titan 2 Elite is the newest contender, a 5G Android phone with an integral physical keyboard. The form factor results in a near-square 4.5-inch screen (with a secondary display on the reverse), while the keyboard can be programmed with shortcuts and also incorporates a trackpad. There’s a 50MP camera, twin sim-card slots and support for Google Pay.