My granny is 87 years old , and it goes without saying that she has a toilsome clock time around technology . So , when the stamp battery inside her 10 - class - old Nokia 110 breathe its last intimation late , I , as the IT guy of the family , decide to get her yet anotherfeature headphone instead of a smartphone . Except this time , I decide to go with slenderly more advanced feature than the last one . After weighing a few options , I chose a feature phone from a lesser - known brand , but one with promising specs , a warranty of a unafraid build , and , above all , Wi - Fi .
However , when the phone make it , I was so soundly impressed with the aspects beyond the ones I mentioned above that I ended up snagging that one and made my Nan wait for the 2d one to arrive . The phone in interrogation is the Blackview N1000 , and there are plenty of reasons why you , a most likely non - senior grownup , might be intrigued by this rather strange phone , just like I was .
I’m not afraid to use it with one hand
Using smartphones is my kale and butter , but I sometimes finger exhausted at the thought of their ever - increase size . Phone sword unrelentingly shove more features into the phones , and that unwittingly makes them enlarge in size of it . So , using a light lineament telephone set definitely feel refreshing .
The Blackview sound has a very useful texture on the edges , punctuate by a combination of unmistakable and ridged design and , therefore , adds to a good clench . The design immediately reminded me of one of the cool phones from the other 2000s , theNokia 3220 , a miniature Nox club of a phone armored in four band of colorful LEDs on the sides . deplorably , the Blackview feature phone does n’t have the LED , though it offers similarly assuring ergonomics .
I can easy clamp the earphone within my claws and reach all the buttons , including those on both side , without ever own to wage my second helping hand . The plan feel passably balanced in terminus of its exercising weight dispersion , so it does n’t feel like the earphone will tumble out of my hand when I ’m typing . Although you may have already guessed from the conception , I will tell below the reasons — other than its price — why I also savor a good sense of security with this phone and never bother even when I shed the speech sound .
More excitingly , the battery on the back is removable , and the back screening latches on with four screws . The company even sum up a petite screwdriver to the publicity to permit you reach the assault and battery as well as the three-fold SIM and memory board card slots inside the phone .
It’s surprisingly rugged
Feature telephone have a reputation for being indestructible . While that ’s an exaggeration , they are in spades more durable than smartphones . Blackview is a stigma that also makesrugged Android devices in all shapes and sizes — includinglarge rugged Android pill . So , it is n’t truly surprising that it even give the N1000 a furrowed armor . What is a bit astounding , though , is the fact that this phone is grass for dust and piss resistance .
In fact , the feature phone amaze an IP69 rating , which secure that the speech sound remains dependable even after being submerge underwater for a short flow or subject to gamy - pressure or high - temperature water system jets . The physical port , including the USB - vitamin C port wine at the bottom and the earphone diddly , are keep out .
Meanwhile , a claimed MIL - STD-810H credential check its forte against shocks and vivid vibrations . In simple terms , you could drop it on the floor , even from a few floors above the earth , and still wait it to be fine . Nothingearth - shatteringlike the Nokia 3310 , but it ’s still pretty darn good for a speech sound that cost less than $ 100 .
T9 typing hits the right nostalgic notes
I am among the people who hanker to use forcible keyboard with strong tactile feedback . This obsession may stem from the fact that I did not spend my shaping years crack my thumb joints type on ticklish touch screen . The thought process of using buttons to type on speech sound , therefore , undeniably jazzes me up .
T9 further fuel that excitement because it ’s as tight as — if not faster than — tap missive on a touchscreen keyboard .
For those who have n’t used a T9 keyboard on a feature phone , it is essentially a prognosticative text input where you contract the routine key for all the letter assigned to it instead of pressing it multiple times to make a special letter . When pressed in a combination , the phone ( or any scheme getting the input ) evoke word free-base on possible permutations . Here ’s what the typing chronological sequence looks like while typewrite the word “ digital ” on a regular keypad versus with a T9 keyboard :
See how it ’s easier and quicker ? About 20 years ago , being capable to type with T9would automatically elevate you to the stage of “ the cool nestling . ” And , while I am out of touch with what makes you cool among your tween peers these days , I truly enjoy relive that nostalgia . I even type nonsensical sentences ( it ’s nearly impossible to type gibberish words with T9 ) to keep my dopamine nut of a brain kick .
And despite its insignificant pricing , the keys are very tactile and declare oneself a very easygoing sensation , unlike some other cheap feature film telephone set where the keys tilt or are either too operose and loud or too flaccid to press . The keypad is mostly affluent with the body , except for the somewhat raise direction pad , and the want of a gap removes any underground from the act of sweeping your quarter round across to the other keys while typecast .
The big flashlight is a useful touch
Plenty of feature earphone these days do with flashlights . After all , besides the allure of a digital detox , there is barely a useful feature article that can be sell as an upgrade to smartphone users . Many times , these phones have flashlights even without a television camera , so the literal utility is limited to light glowering space . And we ca n’t refuse flashlights still come in handy in our battle with the physical human race . However , they are rarely ever utile for photography unless they are specifically tuned to improve photography .
Blackview takes the flashlight ’s public utility company further and add a monumental unit that is not intend for photography but for performing its fundamental use . The brand does n’t mention any specs or brightness chroma figures , but to the nude oculus , it is significantly brighter than an average sound flashlight . The sizing of the lens used over the bantam LED bulb attests to its might .
To further append the torch , Blackview has even added a consecrated button on the side of the phone that can be long - pressed to open up it . While the clit make it extremely easy to switch on the light , you must unlock the headphone and impart it to the home screen to be able to use the control . But if you work your agency around this restriction , the flashlight is definitely a dependable tool .
New year, new ways to conquer my Reels addiction
Like most millennials , Idoomscroll little - flesh videosfor suddenly - live risky venture from the harsh realities of adult life . Over meter , my brain has been programmed to reach apps like Instagram even when I pick up my earpiece with an entirely different intent . I have experimented with dissimilar ways of dealing with it ; some have test useful , and some have not . Finally , deleting the apps does me some commodity for a few days until I either rebound to another equally occupy app or go back to the one I hoped to floor .
Having a sound that does not bunk Instagram has been some respite in this shell . So , instead of deleting the app , I give myself a arrant breaking from the temptation of a smartphone and fidget with the N1000 rather . By doing so , I can allow my shitty brain some time to rewire healthy neuronal tract without even having to deal withnomophobia .
The Blackview earphone runs KaiOS , a late defunded but still usable operating organisation specially plan for slightly smart feature phones . That means there are some apps , such as YouTube , available . While WhatsApp was also useable antecedently , Meta recently pluck the plugdue to the OS ’ humiliated popularity compare to Android . That said , there are sure third - party guest to run X ( formerly Twitter ) and Reddit alongside a bunch of games barrack by retro classic .
There ’s even a consecrated app for shorts , which you might think could be a reason to relapse . But the scrolling experience is so slow and jarring , thanks to the non - touch interface and the tiny squarish cover , that you would rather give up on watching trunks than keep up with the addiction .
It has LTE and Wi-Fi
Among the factors that have previously deterred me from using a lineament sound is the lack of high-pitched - speed internet . While I happily devote a lot of my vigour to being conscious about my use of technology — not that I always succeed — I do try . That said , high - speeding internet is crucial for , well , my saneness .
Fast internet is part of good applied science hygiene , I feel . You ca n’t be levelheaded simply by eat less ; you must corrode clear . likewise , having entree to fast cyberspace may be an enabler for waste time doomscrolling , but it is also essential if we truly want to allay our hunger for noesis .
By offering memory access to LTE ( actually LTE Advanced , the newer version of the engineering science ) and dual - band Wi - Fi , Blackview allows you to patrol the breadths of the internet without restrictions . Wi - Fi also lets you expend the phone without an dynamic SIM , just in cause you — like me — envision using it as a detox phone or else of the main one .
The charging cradle is too satisfying
To secure the Blackview feature phone is safe from urine , detritus , sand , and other corroders , all entrance power point , including the USB - C larboard at the bottom , are sealed with obliterable tizzy . While that is dandy for preserving the internals , take out the flap and holding it at the correct slant to insert the USB connector without a tussle can seem like a fuss . It can specially be unmanageable for the well-off - to - assume target group of seniors .
There ’s no fast charging . The charging , limited to 10W , will also mobilize tiresome flashbacks from the epoch dominated by lineament phones , yet the 3,300mAh battery is bombastic than what you would encounter on feature article phones . That means charging at a common stretch accept a few hour at least and keeping the phone connected — which , except for time when you want to come off yourself from the phone , can feel a bite testing .
These challenges will typically not be an upshot because Blackview also came up with a simpler way to rouse the phone . It comes with a charging cradle in the boxful , seemingly inspire by cordless landline phones . you could but drop the sound in the cradle when you ’re not using it and let it send for that duration .
A solution away from “smart” phones
There has been a surge intechnologies that rive us awayfrom the consuming and continuous rate of flow of nudges our phone bless us with . While I ’m not against being fascinate by your phone ( I feel that is inescapable in this age ) , not take your phone invariably buzz is a privilege that the Blackview blessed me with .
Another ground I retrieve the feature of speech phone utile is that it permit me break forth from the flood of online trackers always at work to serve me with personalized advert and reinforce my house of cards , surrounding me with thetheoretical deadened cyberspace . In the AI age , the tracking and analysis of your persona is only rising , and the opportunity ( and the responsibility ) to defend ourselves — or at least take a break — lies with us .
Even if you do n’t believe — or prefer not to drown yourself in — the grim contentions,$90 ( at the Blackview functionary store)on a detox phone can prove to be a worthwhile investiture .
