Ask HN: What prevents you from switching to a dumbphone?

I’m doing research for a potential project (maybe even a startup) around making dumbphones viable again in 2025.

I’ve personally been living with a flip phone for a while. It works surprisingly well: fewer distractions, better sleep, better focus. The smartphone only comes out for banking or government apps.

Most discussions I’ve found online end up pessimistic: “you simply can’t live without a smartphone.” I found some partial solutions (see blog: https://tim.kicker.dev/2025/09/14/flip-phone/ )

So I’d like to ask HN for input:

- What are the real blockers that keep you tied to a smartphone?

- Which apps or services are absolute dealbreakers (banking, navigation, 2FA, messaging…)?

- Would you consider paying for workarounds/companion tools if they solved those blockers?

- Do you see this as just a niche lifestyle choice, or as an underserved market with startup potential?

I’m especially interested in hearing pain points from people who wanted to switch but couldn’t, those might highlight the most valuable problems to solve.

Thanks in advance for your insights!