If you are like most Americans, you own some type of smartphone. It might be in your hand right now as you read this article. Take a glance at it and consider how it has changed your life. It has been a tool to capture memories, stay informed, and keep in touch with friends and loved ones. For many of us, its capabilities have improved our health, made us more efficient, given access to endless reading material, and organized vital information.

The smartphone is an amazing device. But not unlike other good things, it can take an improper place in our lives.

Always at hand

I know that I am not alone in admitting that my smartphone came to play a very prominent role in my life. I made sure that it was always nearby. Upon turning in at night, it was on my nightstand, inches away in case of an emergency. It became a trusty alarm clock and a source of bedtime reading. If awakened, I would naturally reach for it to learn how much of the night remained. It was there for me during insomnia until I was ready to give sleep another try.

I told a friend that my smartphone was shrinking my soul.Though I knew better, it was hard not to start the day with the smartphone as well. In hand to check the time, that text received overnight was a thumb tap away. Another tap to learn what had happened in the news over the last eight hours. Anything interesting in my email inbox? Did the Twins win their game on the west coast? Tap, tap.

The smartphone was there for me other times, too. Its many offerings are a faithful and effective ally in procrastination. Its bright and fast-moving screen gives adrenaline when my eyes get heavy. Are there emotions that I don’t want to face? Don’t have to, at least not now, with the smartphone in hand.

In an honest conversation over lunch, I told a friend that my smartphone was shrinking my soul.  This admission was a milepost in radically reassessing the role of the device in my life.  Was I addicted to my smartphone? It was a question that I didn’t want to ask, because I knew the answer. It meant too much to me. It was the answer to too many things. It sopped up too much time. It was too convenient of an escape. It was an avenue of temptation to view whatever images the internet had to offer. I came to believe that I had to make a change, regardless of the cost.

Alternatives

Addressing my dependence on my smartphone was a daunting thought. How could I live without … (fill in the blank)? But I was ready to sacrifice, knowing that the health of my soul was at stake.

I considered the radical “cold turkey” route. That would entail trading the smartphone for what is (wrongly) called a dumbphone. In a few minutes, I could cut the smartphone out of my life. But after hearing accounts of the radical route resulting in a return to the smartphone days later, I decided on a more nuanced approach. What’s more, there were certain apps that were required at my workplace and to enter certain buildings.  No, I needed a more gradual plan of action that would produce a lasting lifestyle change, not a temporary one.

I needed a more gradual plan of action that would produce a lasting lifestyle change, not a temporary one.Were this a tech publication and I a tech writer, many paragraphs would follow about the options available to those pursuing less tech, but this isn’t and I’m not. I did my homework, however, and landed on a phone that is a good tool for what I am trying to accomplish.

The Wisephone is a product of a company called Techless. I tested its current model over a period of weeks. The Wisephone II was released in the summer of 2024. It strikes the right balance between tech and no tech, offering these simple capabilities (updated as of Wisephone II release):

• Authenticator
• Apps (selected, including banking apps)
• Calculator
• Calendar
• Camera
• Clock
• Contacts
• File Manager
• Gallery
• Messages
• Maps
• Music Player (for music files you own)
• Notes
• Phone
• Voice Recorder

Much can be said about the technical specifications of the phone, along with the functions of each of the features listed above. Readers can learn more about the Wisephone at Techless.com and from reviewers who spend their lives in technology matters. But if you visit the site, make sure that you spend some time reviewing their mission statement, their vision for the product, and the Techless Manifesto. These guys get it:

Flashing screens feed dopamine highs. Instant gratification destroys discipline. A thousand shades of explicit content enslave our brains (and, often, the helpless victims involved). And the very device meant to delight and support us has taken us captive. It screams for more, and we oblige.

A 2021 Report revealed that 84% of pornography use was from a mobile device. No surprise there. Always at your fingertips and completely private, the smartphone can be an easy pipeline for harmful explicit content. Guarding our hearts (and the hearts of our teenagers) is reason enough to consider alternatives.

Charting my course

I’m still charting my course, but one thing is certain: the smartphone is gone from my nightstand, never to return. Rather than interacting with a dazzling device, I am more likely to read a (paper) book or peacefully reflect on the day before I turn off the nightstand lamp. I wake to thoughts of what the new day might hold in store.

My current plan is to use the Wisephone II for daily use, and to keep a smartphone in the desk drawer for travel and indispensable needs. Browser and email have been disabled from my smartphone, and I haven’t missed either. I am retreating from technology use with things like a wristwatch, pen and paper, and printed magazines. Using two phones is of course a hit to my budget, but a worthwhile one. The bottom line for me is ultimately not financial, for what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

So if you are feeling like your smartphone is taking too much from you, or even harming you, take heart.  Technology does not have to overwhelm you. There is a course of action that you can take to limit its reach into your life. Many of us have chosen this path. Yes, it is less travelled, but it may not be for long.

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For those who want to dig deeper into the technical side of the Wisephone II before making a decision, the following questions and answers cover the details that matter most — hardware, cost, available apps, and how it compares to other minimalist phones on the market.

Frequently asked questions about the Wisephone

What hardware does the Wisephone II run on?

The current Wisephone II is built on Samsung Galaxy A16 hardware and features a 6.7″ FHD+ 90Hz Super AMOLED display, a rear triple-camera system capable of recording 1080p HD video, an octa-core processor, a 5,000 mAh battery rated for up to two days of use, 128 GB of internal storage, and a microSDXC card slot. This is a meaningful upgrade from the original Wisephone’s hardware — modern, fast, and capable. Charity Mobile

What is WiseOS?

WiseOS is Techless’s custom operating system layered on top of the Samsung hardware. It includes core tools such as Music, Calculator, Maps, Phone, Messages, Camera, Flashlight, Photos, Clock, Notes, Two-Factor Authentication, and Calendar — and blocks the web browser, email, and social media at the operating system level. The result is a phone that looks and feels like a modern smartphone but behaves very differently. Wisephone

Is there a subscription fee?

Yes. The WiseOS Subscription costs $14.99 per month and is purchased directly from Techless. Without it, the Wisephone II is limited to calling, texting, the camera, photo gallery, contacts, and basic phone settings. The subscription unlocks the full suite of tools, software updates, enhanced security, and the Tool Drawer — Techless’s curated app store.

What apps are available on the Wisephone II?

Rather than an open app store, the Wisephone II uses a proprietary app store called the Tool Drawer. Techless reviews every app manually against their Healthy Tech Index — a set of criteria that evaluate an app’s overall healthiness. Apps like Instagram, Amazon, and Gmail are not available, but you can find practical tools like Spotify, WhatsApp, Uber, and banking apps. If an app you need isn’t available, you can submit a request directly to the Techless team for review. whatifididnt

How does the Wisephone II compare to alternatives like the Light Phone?

The Light Phone 2 is a more extreme option — no camera, no third-party apps, and a small e-ink screen — priced at $299. The Wisephone II, at $399 plus the monthly subscription, is better suited for people who still need certain apps (maps, music, banking) but want to eliminate distractions. Think of the Light Phone as going cold turkey; the Wisephone is the more gradual approach — which, as the review above describes, is often more sustainable.

Is the Wisephone II good for teenagers?

Many families choose the Wisephone II specifically for this reason. Its robust privacy features and absence of access to explicit content make it a secure option for all ages. Parents can also manage the device remotely through the Wisephone Portal, controlling which features are enabled.

Can I keep my current phone number?

Yes — you can transfer your current phone number to the Wisephone, or get a new one easily during setup. Techless also offers its own month-to-month carrier plans, which include the WiseOS subscription. You can alternatively use the phone on your existing carrier and purchase the WiseOS subscription separately.

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