The Case For — And Against — Digital Detox
Is a minimalist phone for you?
Mudita
There have been quite a few YouTube videos posted lately about the slew of minimal phones hitting the market. Essentially aiming to be distraction-free communication devices in the most basic sense, these generally have black-and-white matte e-ink screens, good battery life, the ability to call and text, and a couple of standard apps. There's no app store. No internet access. No frills. If you just want a basic way to keep in touch with people, and don't need anything else on your device, these might be for you. They remind me of the old flip phones but in smartphone form.
I finally got a review unit of one new such unit, the Mudita Kompakt. The box describes it in this way: 'A minimalist touchscreen phone…designed to bring you balance, privacy, and focus.' Think digital detox. By reducing digital overwhelm, the device helps you achieve better work-life integration, letting you be more productive in your professional and personal lives without distractions, such as constant notifications pulling you away. It also comes in handy when you want to use less tech while traveling or for parents looking for ways to reduce the stress their children/teens face regarding social media.
The manufacturer's based in Warsaw, Poland but the version I received is made for North America, and officials told me it works with any major carrier in the U.S. It features a 4.3-inch black-and-white e-ink display, quad core processor, its own basic operating system, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 8 MP camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, SIM and microSD card slots, and an eSIM. Apps include an alarm, calculator, calendar, camera, chess, e-reader, maps, meditation, music, notes, recorder, weather, phone and SMS. You cannot add any, being there's no app store or internet access. It's not the fastest machine, but it is responsive.
Although it may be made for North America, it doesn't come with your best interests out of the gate. Go to the weather app, and it defaults to Warsaw. It took some figuring out, but I was able to add my hometown and make it the default. By the way, in the process I discovered that Warsaw has similar weather to Southern California this time of year. Everything also defaults to Celsius and metric measurements. But you can change those to be more America-friendly. Go to the map app, and it lets you locate yourself and anywhere else on the map – provided you first download the map of your area. But it won't provide directions. The maps are surprisingly detailed, but a little tough to see because they're not in color. Because the screen is smaller than I'm used to, the keyboard is a bit tight. Probably too tight to make detailed notes.
One thing I found interesting is that when you take photos, they appear in black and white. But you can see them in color if you transfer them to a color-screened Windows computer or phone.
Not gonna lie: I cannot see myself using this style of phone. However, I could see giving it to my elderly father-in-law who tries way too hard to use an iPhone but inevitably asks us how to do the most basic functions. Like even how to turn up the volume on phone calls. Using the Kompakt might take away most of the stress the iPhone causes him. It might also be a solution for young kids whose parents want them to have a phone for emergencies but don't want them to be online. It sells for $439, which I think is pricey – especially considering that for the same price or less, you can get a full-featured Android phone that you can put in 'do not disturb' mode whenever you want. Or just buy a flip phone.
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To help prevent cavities, brush and floss your teeth daily and nightly, and limit your intake of sugary foods and beverages, the American Dental Association recommends. If you do eat them, do so at mealtimes. You should also visit your dentist regularly. Read more on fluoride: What to know about fluoride in drinking water CNN's Andrea Kane, Sandee LaMotte, Nadia Kounang, Carma Hassan and Deidre McPhillips contributed to this report.
