“Traditional” phones may be falling out of favor around the world, but that’s a different story in the United States.
Companies like HMD Global, the maker of Nokia phones, continue to sell millions of mobile devices similar to those used in the early 2000s, including so-called “feature phones” – traditional clamshell or zippered phones with added features like GPS or access point.
“I think you can see it with some Gen Z populations — they’re fed up with screens,” said Jose Briones, influencer for dumb phones and moderator of the subreddit r/dumbphones. “They don’t know what’s going on with mental health and they’re trying to limit it. »
In the United States, HMD Global flip phone sales increased in 2022, with tens of thousands sold each month. At the same time, global sales of HMD’s feature phones fell, according to the company.
By 2022, nearly 80% of feature phone sales will come from the Middle East, Africa and India, according to Counterpoint Research. But some are seeing that number changing given the possibility of young people across the United States returning to silly or minimalist phones.
“In North America, the dumb phone market is pretty flat,” Moorhead said. “But I could see it going up to 5% over the next five years, if nothing else, based on the public health issues that exist. »
Companies like Punkt and Light are responding to the trend by selling devices aimed at those who want to spend less time on their phones and social media. You can find a ton of influencers promoting these phones on YouTube.
“What we’re trying to do with the Light Phone isn’t to make a dumb phone, but to make a more conscious phone — a premium, minimal phone — that isn’t inherently anti-technology,” said Joe Hollier, co-founder of Lumière. “But it’s about making conscious choices about how and when to use the aspects of technology that improve my quality of life. »
CNBC