We’ve Found the Best Dumb Phones for Amazon’s Big Deal Days

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As if dumb phones aren’t already cheap, some are getting a deeper discount with Amazon’s Big Deal Days event that kicks off tomorrow, October 8, 2024. Even right now, there are bargains on this type of simplified phone, which is typically priced under $100 (cell carriers typically make most of their money on your monthly service fee.)

Surely you’ve heard of smartphones, which are perfect for everything from watching videos to managing your social media, but a dumb phone is completely different. It has a clamshell or candy-bar design, and comes with just a small, non-touch display and physical numerical keypad. Despite the moniker, a dumb phone isn’t really dumb at all, considering the advanced and sophisticated technology packed within its plastic housing. This kind of phone is especially suitable for younger children (to shield them from social media) or to help tech-averse seniors to stay in touch.

To find the best dumb phone deals, I drilled through every “dumb,” “flip,” and “candy bar” phone listing on Amazon. What I have come up with is a roundup of a few that are discounted more than usual. Most of these Big Deal Days discounted dumb phones are targeted at seniors and kids. But they can really benefit anyone—all dumb phones are designed—and priced—to help you withdraw from the nose-buried-in-smartphone-screen addiction while still keeping you at least minimally connected. Digital detox, anyone?

For even better deals during Amazon’s sales blitz, you might want to consider an Amazon Prime membership at $14.99 per month or an annual $139 fee (bringing the price down to about $11.58 per month). If you haven’t had an Amazon Prime membership for the past 12 months, there’s an opportunity to sign up for a free 30-day trial period.

The Best Prime Day Dumb Phone Deals

More October Prime Day Discounts: Espresso Machines • Apple Products • Tablets • Luggage • Best October Prime Day Deals Under $50

The Expert

I’ve been covering cell phones, both network providers and hardware makers, since their introduction in October 1983 (yes, I’m old), and have been reviewing them since the late 1980s. I literally own dozens of old dumb and smartphones, much to my wife’s continual chagrin.

Buyer Be Warned

Dumb phones provide 4G connectivity rather than the more modern 5G, primarily because you won’t be doing any internet surfing, downloading movies, or listening to music. Keep in mind that this type of basic phone includes rudimentary cameras that produce postage stamp-sized photos and may not be able to send images. They also allow for somewhat awkward texting via a numerical keyboard.

Many of the dumb phones found for this Amazon sale are used/refurbished models, which Amazon calls “renewed.” These used phones, according to Amazon, are “certified” after being “inspected, cleaned and (if applicable) repaired to excellent functional standards,” and come with a 90-day return guarantee.

That return guarantee is important because many of these discounted dumb phones are not the best of the bunch, merely the models Amazon put on Prime Day 2—or permanent—sale. Many models are listed with a caveat I’ve not ever seen before on Amazon: “Frequently returned item: Check the product details and customer reviews to learn more about this item.” So, yeah, read the reviews carefully for each of these products so you know exactly what you are—and are not—getting.

Flip Pro

It’s a mystery to me why this TCL flip phone is labeled as “Pro,” but this basic grey refurbished model is arguably the best bargain of this dumb phone bunch. After all, in its unused state, the TCL Flip Pro is one of the most highly regarded inexpensive dumb phones extant.

For one thing, you get two color screens, a larger-than-usual 2.8-inch display on the inside and 1.44-inch external display that on the outside displays the time, date, and battery status. There’s a slightly above-average 2MP camera, and Bluetooth so you can use wireless earbuds/headphones for music listening and handsfree conversation. There are dedicated shortcut keys to access your messages and your contact list, and the phone’s Voice Assistant lets you dictate text messages rather than eeking them out on the numerical keypad.

One drawback is that this refurbished Flip Pro can only be used on Verizon’s network, however, it can be equipped to operate as a hotspot—with a separate Verizon plan—to provide emergency (if 4G LTE limited) Wi-Fi to other devices.

Prime-A1 Pro

Designed for both youngsters and seniors, this Easyfone flip dumb phone lives up to its brand name, even if the Prime-A1 Pro label may be overdoing it a bit.

To protect your kids, there is no internet access—just calls and messages. If your child can’t read, there’s a photo contacts list with speed dial, and if your little one is being bullied, a big red BLOCK button rejects nasty calls.

A rear SOS button sends emergency messages to up to five contacts, and an adult with a smartphone can locate the Prime-A1 Pro via GPS. Like the TCL, the Prime-A1 is equipped with two color screens, a 2.4-inch inside display and a time/date/status 1.44-inch screen on the outside.

Seniors get a dial pad with big numbers and a loudspeaker, and an easy-to-use charging docking station.

Jitterbug Flip2

While the Easyfone Prime-A1 is excellent for seniors, it connects via standard cellular carriers. However, the Jitterbug Flip2 gets combined with Lively’s senior-specific cellular service that provides easy access to a Lyft ride, and with a $39.99/month or $49.99/month plan, 24/7 customer and health/safety emergency services at the touch of the large “urgent response” red star beneath the phone’s large keypad keys.

To further assist seniors, the Flip2 is equipped with a 3.2-inch color screen—more spacious than dumb phone usual—along with the expected large button/large print numerical keypad, a magnifier and flashlight for easier reading, and higher resolution 8 MP rear and 5 MP front selfie cameras than the usual dumb phone fare.

T300

Not only does this Easyfone model come with a loud speakerphone, it’s also hearing aid compatible so seniors don’t have to hold the phone up to their ear to chat.

Also aiding senior operation is simply flipping the phone open to answer an incoming call rather than having to open it and then fumble to find and press the green answer button. And like its Easyfone Prime-A1 Pro cousin, the T300 includes both a dedicated emergency SOS button and two color screens.

A couple of caveats, however. This discounted version is compatible only on T-Mobile, SpeedTalk, and Tello Mobile. A larger caveat, however, is its “frequently returned item” label, so if you decide the flip-to-answer convenience is worth the Prime Day 2 discounted risk, keep the box and return label handy.

M9 (Click for Coupon)

Even tougher than the Yunseity is this AGM candy bar that’s IP68/69K waterproof if submerged for up to 30 minutes, as well as dustproof, and military-rated, MIL-STD-810G drop-proof up to 6 feet. Along with its large keys, there are big letters on its 2.4-inch color screen and a large and loud rear speaker.

The negative is this Prime Day 2 discounted M9 model is available only for T-Mobile, and there are is Wi-Fi, apps, or internet access— just calls and texts. But you do get a flashlight and a swappable battery, which means you can carry an extra power cell just in case you run out of juice.

Note: There is also a 10% coupon which brings the total cost to $44.99. Click the box for the additional savings.

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