Ad: Best dumbphones and minimalist phones in 2026 (US & UK)
Updated 26 October 2026 · Research-based roundup, not a hands-on review
Abstract illustration, not a product photo.
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Interest in simpler phones is real: Shopify reports feature-phone sales on its platform rose 99% from May to June 2026 [10]. But "dumbphone" covers very different devices, from £40 keypad phones to an $899 minimalist phone. Here is how the main options compare, using only what makers publish.
Quick comparison
Phone
Price (checked 26 October 2026)
Type
Where it fits
WhatsApp
Light Phone III
$899 unlocked (pre-order) or from $59/mo with 2-yr Light service [1]
MinimalistAMOLED
US; new orders ship late Dec 2026 [1]
No [1]
Mudita Kompakt
$399 (North America version) [2]
E InkDe-Googled
NA and Global versions [2]
Not built in sideloading not guaranteed [2]
Wisephone II
$399 new [3]
Curated smartphoneNo browser
US (Techless service)
Not confirmed
Light Phone II (refurbished)
$175, 1-yr warranty [8]
MinimalistPrevious gen
Unlocked 4G LTE [8]
Not confirmed
HMD 105 4G School Edition
£49.99 [5]
KeypadNo browser/games [5]
UK
Not listed by HMD
HMD 110 4G
£44.99 [4]
Keypad
UK
Not listed by HMD
HMD 2660 Flip
£79.99 [4]
Flip
UK
Not listed by HMD
TCL Flip 3
Price unverified
KaiOS flipBrowser + email [6]
US LTE bands 2/4/5/12/13/66/41 [6]
No WhatsApp ended KaiOS support [9]
Punkt MP02
CHF 299 [7]
MinimalistNo camera [7]
Punkt lists AT&T with VoLTE; T-Mobile without VoLTE; no Verizon [7]
Not listed; Punkt's Pigeon messenger instead [7]
Yes supported · No not supported, per source · Not confirmed the maker does not say clearly. Numbers in brackets link to sources below.
What they cost
Device prices in the US (USD)
One-off device price, no service plan. Light Phone II is refurbished.
Light's own page lists a 3.92-inch AMOLED screen, 50MP rear camera, 128GB storage, 1800mAh battery, NFC, IP54 and both nano-SIM and eSIM [1]. It deliberately has no social media, browser or email; tools include directions, music, podcasts, hotspot, notes and 2FA [1]. Price: $899 unlocked or from $59 a month on a two-year contract [1]. Light lists US bands and offers a compatibility checker; UK compatibility is not confirmed on that page, so check before buying from the UK.
Best E Ink phone, and the most flexible: Mudita Kompakt
Illustration: generic E Ink phone, not the actual Mudita Kompakt
Mudita lists a 4.3-inch E Ink display, 3300mAh battery ("at least 6 days" standby), 8MP camera, 3.5mm jack, microSD up to 2TB, wireless charging, and an Offline+ switch that cuts the modem and microphones in hardware [2]. It runs MuditaOS K without Google services. Android apps can be sideloaded from a computer, but Mudita warns they may not work well and are not guaranteed [2]. It comes in a North America version and a Global version with different LTE bands [2]. The North America version costs $399; Mudita promises 5 years of software updates and a 2-year warranty [2].
Best for someone who still needs a few smartphone apps: Wisephone II
Illustration: generic smartphone with a limited app screen, not the actual Wisephone II
Techless sells the Wisephone II for $399 new, with Samsung Galaxy A15, A16 or A17 hardware options [3]. It is a smartphone with a curated, browser-free system rather than a classic dumbphone, and it is sold with Techless service in the US.
Best cheap options in the UK: HMD keypad and flip phones
HMD 110 4G
£44.99 on HMD's UK store [4]. Keypad.
HMD 105 4G School Edition
£49.99. No browser, no games, removable 1450mAh battery, up to 15 days standby [5].
HMD 2660 Flip
£79.99 on HMD's UK store [4]. Flip.
Illustrations are generic phone shapes, not the actual HMD models.
HMD's UK store lists the HMD 110 4G at £44.99, the HMD 105 4G School Edition at £49.99 and the HMD 2660 Flip at £79.99 [4][5].
Budget US flip: TCL Flip 3
Illustration: generic flip phone, not the actual TCL Flip 3
Budget US flip
TCL Flip 3
Price unverifiedwe could not confirm a current price on a primary source
SystemKaiOS
LTE bands2/4/5/12/13/66/41
Battery1850mAh
ExtrasHotspot (up to 10), SOS key
Heads-upBrowser + email included
WhatsAppNo (KaiOS support ended)
No affiliate link.
TCL lists LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 66 and 41, HD Voice, a hotspot for up to 10 devices, 1850mAh battery, dual screens and a dedicated SOS key [6]. Note that it does include a web browser and email [6], so it is less "locked down" than some people want. It runs KaiOS, which WhatsApp no longer supports [9].
How we chose
We compared published specs, prices, carrier support and software limits. We did not test devices and we do not score them. See methodology.
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the linked sources by a human editor. AI disclosure · Facts last checked 26 October 2026. Found an error? Tell us.