The weaknesses of doomscrolling and the dependence on the screen are well documented, but while many of us would like to spend less time glued to a smartphone, it is easier to say than to do.
Hasten much written about the so -called dumb resurrection, where individuals recover some relief from the pings and driving notifications by subtracting to a basic phone of features. But the reality for most is that this is not a permanent feasible solution, simply because many of the society today is built on the tools and services based on the Internet.
So it may make it more sense to find a medium terrain, where we do not completely throw our phones and tablets, and instead find ways to tune when we do not want the constant distractions of Tiktok, YouTube, news announcements, and all the rest.
While it is true that iPhone and Android devices have some digital tools of built well -being, not to mention a group of third -party applications, these are often very easy to overcome. Techcrunch has curated some of the best equipment that physically separates people from their lives connected throughout the clock-fully cut them from the outside world. The balance, after all, is the name of the game.
Although these devices have different approaches to indirectly address the dependence of the smartphone, each do this from a very similar perspective: it is about the user by voluntarily adding rubbing to their digital lives. And paying to do that.
Unluus
There are many third -party releases and blocking applications that bring deliberate friction to your smartphone, but UnpLuq makes things physical.
The Dutch company has developed a FOB powered by NFC, or a “label”, acting as a “digital key” to temporarily unlock certain applications on your phone.
In this regard, UNPLUP offers a removable application that works independently of the physical fob. You can block your two most attractive applications over a predetermined schedule (eg, over a specific time period) for free, or you can pay an annual reconciliation of $ 61 to unlock the premium features, including an unlimited number of applications to block Android and up to 49 in iOS. It also provides more granular controls on the blockage schedule (eg, limit it to certain days and times), among other additions.
However, the true value of the UNPLUQ is probably on FOB, which costs $ 74 with a united one -year reconciliation, or $ 22 for the device on its own (you need a premium reconciliation to use FOB, so it will have limited value without it).
Without FOB, users can unlock applications by bypassing what UNPLUQ calls “distraction barriers”, which means performing specific actions to access a particular application. This may be to shake the phone for five seconds, tap some buttons between other actions.
FOB adds an additional layer of friction, asking users to touch FOB on the phone to gain access to the applications they have deliberately blocked. UNPLUQ says its product is based on the behavioral design theory known as rational excess, which is about presenting deliberate interruptions on a user experience to disrupt ordinary behaviors. It makes people think about their actions.
The idea is that if you want to block the notifications on Instagram, X, or New York Times while trying to study for an exam, you can put your fob as your unlock method and leave the phob on the other side of the house. This should, in theory, make you think twice about doomscrolling and focus on your review in the country.
It is worth noting that there are other physical devices that serve for similar purposes, such as brick and 4rem.
Boox Palma 2
If you literally want to leave your phone smart or wrap it in a box to facilitate yourself from all the temptations it brings, there are other devices that can help.
Boox, a brand from the Chinese Onyx company, collects the Epoper and Android technology worlds to create strange equipment that shakes the notebook, tablet and spheres of electronic readers. Essentially, they pack additional connection features, including a full range of apps through the Google Play store that is in advance.
Released last year, Boox Palma 2 is the newest member of the Box family, and while he is mainly set up as an electronic reader, sports -like smartphone dimensions that make it very pocket.
Access to a full set of Android applications, this can overcome the purpose of what box controls as a “distraction device”. However, given that this is an epoper device, the minimalist screen does not have the same appeal for consuming online content. But perhaps most importantly, it does not have any cellular functionality, neither, it means that the connection is limited to Wi-Fi-so if you want to be able to consume offline content during movement, it can work well for your purposes.
In terms of messages, it is also worth noting that WhatsApp now allows users to use their messages on multiple devices at the same time. This means you can block your smartphone away and still call your social life through Boox Palma 2 (though just over a Wi-Fi connection).
Box Palma 2 is now available for $ 279.99.
Daylight DC-1
Similar to Boox Palma 2, DC-1 Day is an Android-based device mainly created to read and write in; It is a “space without distraction for learning and creativity”, according to the company. It also offers Google Play, meaning you can use all ordinary apps, though it lacks mobile connection.
With $ 729, DC-1 is not cheap, but this device is about 60 FPS quality screen, which promises softness and clarity-technology “Live Letter” is “E-NIK, but faster,” the company says.
Also much larger than Boox Palma 2, which can appeal to some.
So if you want a device to read, work and research, with the possibility of diving in some of the pleasant internet pleasures, then DC-1 may be for you.
TTFONE TITAN TT950
Ok, not everyone wants to buy a expensive e-reader or tablet when all they want is to go to places without the temptation of social media or break the news on your fingertips.
While the “basic feature -style phones of the 1990s are certainly an opportunity for those looking to keep smartphones in the breast, for most people they lack a key ingredient: WhatsApp.
There are so -called dumbs that support WhatsApp, due to the fact that they run Android under the hood. And because WhatsApp now offers multi -device support, you can sync all your messages from your smartphone with one of these other devices.
Among the cheapest phones such is TT950, from the UK -based telephone manufacturer and the United Arab Emirates TTFONE. It costs about $ 106 or your local currency equivalent and is a very basic phone aimed at the elderly. She has no app store to talk, but she comes up with a small piece of pre -installed apps, including Facebook Lite, YouTube, a browser and whatsapp.
Including such applications is not ideal for those who seek to minimize distractions, but a 2.8 -inch touch screen and accompanying keyboard is likely to be very useful to be very useful for proper interpretation.
Unhertz: Jelly Star
They all have different compromises that they are willing to make in their digital detoxification efforts. For some, this may mean buying a secondary smartphone that is as damned as it is completely impractical for tiktoxing or youtubing.
The Yelly Star of China’s Unhertz probably suits her brackets.
Jelly Star executes Android 13 outside the box and, as such, is a completely complete smartphone. But with a 3 -inch touch screen, it’s not just something you would like to spend a lot of time to do doomscrolling.
With $ 220, Jelly Star is not extremely cheap for a secondary device. But if you mean you can disappear for the weekend and leave your pocket missiles at home while you are still able to use “life” essential apps such as WhatsApp, Spotify, Uber and Google Maps, then it can be a valuable investment for some.
