Is THIS the key to finally slashing screentime? 'Dumb' iPhone is devoid of the internet, games, or social media apps - but it comes at a hefty price
The Sage phone is a simplified iPhone handset launched in the UK this week by American technology firm Techless.
It comes without internet, web browsers, games and social apps like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook.
Simply a modified iPhone 16 loaded with custom software, its lack of engaging apps is designed to encourage smartphone addicts to turn their attention elsewhere.
According to the firm, the simplified handset lets children and adults 'reconnect with real life' and reclaim important 'life hours' - but it comes at a hefty price.
The Sage phone starts from £119 per month, which is more than double the cost of a typical two-year iPhone contract.
According to Techless, the Sage phone is 'built on a foundation of digital wellbeing and simplicity' and offers a 'sleek, secure alternative to traditional smartphones'.
'Designed for children taking their first step into digital life, as well as adults seeking a healthier relationship with tech, Sage challenges the norms of always-on culture,' it said.
The Sage phone is an iPhone 16 but with modified software that prevents the internet and certain apps from being accessed
The new device has been created with children in mind, although it's suitable for adults in the throes of a smartphone addition too.
Chris Kaspar, CEO and founder of Techless, said his firm 'didn't want to build a "parental control" phone where parents keep tabs on what kids are looking at.'
'We wanted to build a device that's safe by design, not safe by surveillance,' said Kaspar, who has six children with his wife in Texas.
'With Sage, we've created a smartphone that helps people reconnect with real life, not just reduce screen time.'
The Sage phone is available as two modified iPhone models – the iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 Pro – which are loaded with Sage's custom software.
Although it won't allow downloads of popular additive apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, it's not completely lacking in apps.
Preloaded are some described as 'essential' – among them Phone, Messages, Maps, Calendar, Calculator, PayPal, Spotify, Uber and the camera app.
While a typical iPhone is 'built for endless engagement', the Sage phone only carries the essentials that a young adult getting their first taste of independence might need.
Preloaded are some apps described as 'essential' - Phone, Messages, Maps, Calendar, Calculator, PayPal, Spotify, Uber and the camera app.
For example, if a young user of the Sage phone was at a parent-free school ball, they'd be able to take photos, phone their parents for a lift and listen to music on the way back.
In this way, Sage phone is truer to the concept of what a mobile phone was 20 years ago, but packaged in the familiar confines of a modern device.
Techless acknowledges that kids are 'smart' and know how to delete apps, perform factory resets and download VPNs in an attempt to access the apps they want.
But the firm promises parents there are 'no loopholes for workarounds', meaning young users won't be able to trick the software into downloading the banned platforms.
For adults, meanwhile, the device offers acts a form of 'rebellion against digital noise' – ideal for creatives, minimalists, and anyone who wants to 'live more and scroll less'.
It will give people a clean break from time-sapping social apps, although they'll have to rely on Messages instead of WhatsApp to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues.
Already available in the US, the Sage phone was officially launched on Wednesday and is available for Brits to pre-order on the Sage website before shipping the week starting August 25.
It costs £119 per month for a modified iPhone 16e (which includes the Apple Care insurance policy) or £149 for the iPhone 16 Pro (which includes Apple Care Plus).
The brand's UK launch coincides with increasing concerns surrounding online safety and smartphone addiction for kids and teens.
The Sage phone aims to greatly reduce the risk of kids being contacted online by eliminating the platforms sexual predators use.
A recent NSPCC report revealed more than 7,000 online grooming crimes were recorded in the UK in a single year, with most victims aged 12 to 15.
Heavy smartphone use in kids has been linked with mental health problems like depression, emotional isolation, reduced physical inactivity and poor sleep patterns.
According to a study last year, one fifth of teens have 'problematic' smartphone use putting them at risk of issues like depression.
Another 2024 study found children addicted to technology including smartphones and video games are more at risk of psychosis.
What is smartphone addiction?
Currently, smartphone addiction isn't officially recognised by psychologists as a separate mental condition like depression or bipolar disorder.
However, the term has now become far more accepted as scientists warn of a worrying rise in cases.
Recent studies have suggested more than a quarter of the global population suffers from smartphone addiction while rates could be as high as 70 per cent in countries such as China and Saudi Arabia.
Likewise, a survey from the Pew Research Center found that 95 per cent of UK teens said that they were online 'almost constantly'.
However, several prominent researchers suggest that this could be stretching the term 'addiction' a little too far.
Professor Mark Griffiths, a leading expert on internet addiction from Nottingham Trent University, told MailOnline: 'There's a difference between problematic smartphone use and addictive smartphone use.'
Even if you spend hours on your phone each day and feel that you just can't put your phone down, that doesn't necessarily mean you are addicted.
Previous studies have shown that problematic smartphone use has generally increased across the world. However, many people may have problematic use but not be fully addicted
Addiction, unlike problematic use, changes our behaviour at the neurological level and embeds deeply compulsive and dependent behaviours.
'Most children would not ever fulfil my criteria of being addicted to a smartphone,' says Professor Griffiths.
'Even though a lot of them will experience problematic use which will quite clearly have detrimental effects on their life.'
Professor Griffiths adds: 'If I'm assessing smartphone addiction I'm using the word addiction in exactly the same way I would apply it to heroin, alcohol, or any other drugs.'
Likewise, Dr Daria Kuss, a chartered psychologist and expert on addictive behaviour from Nottingham Trent University, told MailOnline: 'Smartphone addiction is a psychological condition in which a user develops symptoms traditionally associated with substance dependence.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Trump says US will levy 100% tariff on some chip imports
WASHINGTON, Aug 6 (Reuters) - The United States will impose a tariff of about 100% on semiconductor chips imported from countries not producing in America or planning to do so, President Donald Trump said. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday the new tariff rate would apply to "all chips and semiconductors coming into the United States," but would not apply to companies that had made a commitment to manufacture in the United States or were in the process of doing so. "If, for some reason, you say you're building and you don't build, then we go back and we add it up, it accumulates, and we charge you at a later date, you have to pay, and that's a guarantee," Trump added. The comments were not a formal tariff announcement, and Trump offered no further specifics. It is not clear how many chips, or from which country, would be impacted by the new levy. Taiwanese chip contract manufacturer TSMC ( opens new tab - which makes chips for most U.S. companies - has factories in the country, so its big customers such as Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab are not likely to face increased tariff costs. The AI chip giant has itself said it plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S.-made chips and electronics over the next four years. An Nvidia spokesperson declined to comment for this story. "Large, cash-rich companies that can afford to build in America will be the ones to benefit the most. It's survival of the biggest," said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at investment advisory firm Annex Wealth Management. Congress created a $52.7 billion semiconductor manufacturing and research subsidy program in 2022. The Commerce Department under President Joe Biden last year convinced all five leading-edge semiconductor firms to locate chip factories in the U.S. as part of the program. The department said the U.S. last year produced about 12% of semiconductor chips globally, down from 40% in 1990. Any chip tariffs would likely target China, with whom Washington is still negotiating a trade deal. "There's so much serious investment in the United States in chip production that much of the sector will be exempt," said Martin Chorzempa, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Since chips made in China won't be exempt, chips made by SMIC or Huawei would not be either, Chorzempa said, noting that chips from these companies entering the U.S. market were mostly incorporated into devices assembled in China. "If these tariffs were applied without a component tariff, it might not make much difference," he said. Chipmaking nations South Korea and Japan, as well as the European Union, have reached trade deals with the U.S., potentially giving them an advantage. The EU said it agreed to a single 15% tariff rate for the vast majority of EU exports, including cars, chips and pharmaceuticals. South Korea and Japan said separately that U.S. agreed not to give them worse tariff rates than other countries on chips, suggesting a 15% levy as well.
Auto Blog
2 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Walmart Is Selling a ‘Must-Have' $50 Jump Starter for 46% Off, and Shoppers Say It's ‘by Far the Best'
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. View post: Amazon Is Selling a 'Powerful' Greenworks Chainsaw for 43% Off, and Shoppers Say It's 'Game Changer' View post: Wayfair Is Selling a 'Very Sturdy' $350 Sterilite Storage Cabinet for Only $115, and It 'Keeps Things Organized' Rivian posted a $1.1 billion net loss in Q2 but reaffirmed its 2025 delivery target of up to 46,000 vehicles, betting big on the R2 SUV and brand updates. View post: Rivian Burned $1.1 Billion Last Quarter — and It's Not Slowing Down Past collaborations with Hyundai have set the stage for Amazon's automotive business to expand. View post: Amazon Is Now Selling New And Used Cars — And Not Just Hyundais Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. A dead car battery can ruin your day, especially if you're far from help or stuck in bad weather. That's why every driver should keep a reliable jump starter on hand, just in case. The best models also offer more than just temporary boosts. They double as flashlights, air compressors, and power banks to keep you prepared for just about anything on the road. This Fovendi 3000A Portable Jump Starter is on sale for just $27 at Walmart, making it one of the most affordable options on the market. Despite its compact size, it delivers a powerful 3000A peak current that can jump start most 12V vehicles in seconds. The built-in digital display gives real-time battery status updates, while smart clamps provide safety features like reverse polarity and overload protection. It even includes a built-in air pump that inflates tires up to 150 psi and supports USB charging for your phone or tablet in emergencies. Fovendi 3000A Portable Jump Starter, $27 (was $50) at Walmart Weighing under 3 pounds, this all-in-one unit fits easily in your trunk or glovebox. It comes with everything you need, including an air hose, clamps, a USB-C cable, multiple nozzles, a storage bag, and a carrying case. Between the fast recharge time and built-in emergency light with strobe and SOS modes, this compact battery pack is ready for travel, camping, or roadside use. 'I have used other types of these jump starters and this one is by far the best,' said one reviewer. Another noted, 'Must-have travel companion for anyone.' One buyer highlighted its value, saying, 'Great price for this portable charger. Recharges fast and is perfect for charging multiple devices.' Another summed up their overall experience using this jump starter, saying, 'This is a great battery pack. I especially like the display, [it] tells you all the relevant information to see if your device is properly charging or not. It's made pretty sturdy, [has] exceptional charging speed, and also recharges itself pretty fast.' Flash deals with discounts like this don't last long, so head over to Walmart's site today and pick up the Fovendi 3000A Portable Jump Starter for only $27 while it's still on sale for 46% off. About the Author Andrew Koopman View Profile
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Trump plans 100% tariff on computer chips, unless companies build in U.S.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will impose a 100% tariff on computer chips, raising the specter of higher prices for electronics, autos, household appliances and other essential products dependent on the processors powering the digital age. 'We'll be putting a tariff of approximately 100% on chips and semiconductors,' Trump said in the Oval Office while meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook. "But if you're building in the United States of America, there's no charge." The announcement came more than three months after Trump temporarily exempted most electronics from his administration's most onerous tariffs. The Republican president said companies that make computer chips in the U.S. would be spared the import tax. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of computer chips increased the price of autos and contributed to higher inflation. Investors seemed to interpret the potential tariff exemptions as a positive for Apple and other major tech companies that have been making huge financial commitments to manufacture more chips and other components in the U.S.. Big Tech already has made collective commitments to invest about $1.5 trillion in the U.S. since Trump moved back into the White House in January. That figure includes a $600 billion promise from Apple after the iPhone maker boosted its commitment by tacking another $100 billion on to a previous commitment made in February. Now the question is whether the deal brokered between Cook and Trump will be enough to insulate the millions of iPhones made in China and India from the tariffs that the administration has already imposed and reduce the pressure on the company to raise prices on the new models expected to be unveiled next month. Wall Street certainly seems to think so. After Apple's stock price gained 5% in Wednesday regular trading sessions, the shares rose by another 3% in extended trading after Trump announced some tech companies won't be hit with the latest tariffs while Cook stood alongside him. The shares of AI chipmaker Nvidia, which also has recently made big commitments to the U.S., rose slightly in extended trading to add to the $1 trillion gain in market value the Silicon Valley company has made since the start of Trump's second administration. The stock price of computer chip pioneer Intel, which has fallen on hard times, also climbed in extended trading. Inquiries sent to chip makers Nvidia and Intel were not immediately answered. The chip industry's main trade group, the Semiconductor Industry Association, declined to comment on Trump's latest tariffs. Demand for computer chips has been climbing worldwide, with sales increasing 19.6% in the year-ended in June, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization. Trump's tariff threats mark a significant break from existing plans to revive computer chip production in the U.S. that were drawn up during the administration of President Joe Biden. Since taking over from Biden, Trump has been deploying tariffs to incentivize more domestic production. Essentially, the president is betting that the threat of dramatically higher chip costs would force most companies to open factories domestically, despite the risk that tariffs could squeeze corporate profits and push up prices for mobile phones, TVs and refrigerators. By contrast, the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act that Biden signed into law in 2022 provided more than $50 billion to support new computer chip plants, fund research and train workers for the industry. The mix of funding support, tax credits and other financial incentives were meant to draw in private investment, a strategy that Trump has vocally opposed. — Liedtke reported from San Ramon, California.
