A smartphone is a small, portable device with a touchscreen and a mini-computer inside. These devices should have many features, including the ability to browse the internet, send and receive email, watch videos, play music, and run programs.
Some feature built-in keyboards, which provide the entire alphabet. Ultimately, you’ll need to decide which type of phone is right for you.
Here is a related article that might interest you on What Is The Impact of SmartPhones on Society?
But, before you make a final decision, let’s look at what the features of each are.
Features of Feature Phones
Although many feature phones were made obsolete, they continue to satisfy the needs of certain segments of the market. Their lower price makes them a popular choice, especially in countries without high-speed internet and high data transfer rates.
Without such infrastructure, smartphones would be rendered useless in these situations, and feature phones remain a primary form of communication. Here are some of the most popular features of feature phones. You may be surprised to know that you could find one of these in your pocket!
A backlit LCD screen, hardware notification LED, microphone, SD card slot, physical keyboard, and GPS are common in feature phones. Some even have basic software and an app store. Most feature phones lack advanced features.
Some even lack Wi-Fi or GPS. Despite the limited functionality, feature phones are capable of running Android or iOS software, which enables users to download games and other services. But there are a few differences between feature phones and smart phones.
Size
Size isn’t the only consideration in deciding which phone to buy, and there are other features that should be considered as well. While most smartphones have full QWERTY keyboards, many users prefer smaller number pad phones.
In addition, full QWERTY keyboards may be difficult to use for young children or those with arthritic fingers. Fortunately, dumb phones have larger buttons and are easier to operate.
Dumb phones are reminiscent of the brick-like cell phones of the past. While they lack the superiority of a touchscreen and keypad, most are still functional.
While the number pad is separate from the screen, most dumb phones also have convenient texting buttons, which are similar to the ones on a regular computer keyboard.
Typically, both types of phones have screens of around three inches or less. However, they are not designed to be used for social networking and have no GPS capabilities.
Cost
While smartphones have grown to be very expensive, the cost difference between them and dumb phones is getting smaller each year.
New technology, research, and features are what drive up the price. While a smartphone may cost a fraction of the price, the cost of a basic phone is much lower over its lifetime.
And most basic phones are designed to be replaced every few years, with the exception of the iPhone. That’s not to say that dumb phones don’t have benefits, either.
As the cost of smartphones continues to rise, the comparison between a smartphone and a dumb phone is becoming increasingly important. In the U.S., a high-end smartphone such as the Samsung Fold costs nearly $2,000, while all new iPhones are priced in the $1,000 to $1,500 range.
But for those who don’t have that kind of money to spend, a “dumb phone” is often a cheaper option, and can be as inexpensive as $25.
Privacy
If you’re wondering what the privacy difference between a smartphone and a dumb phone is, read on! Smartphones are much more secure than dumb phones. Both have the same number of users, but the difference is more pronounced with smartphones.
Dumb phones had limited privacy and sharing capabilities, making them more vulnerable to hacking. Today, smartphones let all kinds of companies and malware target your phone’s data. Here’s how these new devices differ.
Dumb phones are less secure than smartphones, which can send location and device ID data to any number of recipients. This data is anonymized by all major smartphone manufacturers. This ensures that nobody knows who’s collecting this sensitive information.
Dumb phones are not as secure, however, as they transmit a base station identifier that allows the device to pinpoint a user’s approximate location. In fact, the most common apps on dumb phones and smartphones send this data to third parties, which may be harmful to their users.
Security
One of the biggest differences between a smartphone and a dumb phone is security. Smartphones use new technologies to establish phone calls in cellular networks, which minimize attacks on the older technologies used in dumbphones.
This separates the CPU from the baseband processor, which means fewer vulnerabilities to exploit. Moreover, smartphones are more complex, with more internal components. For this reason, they are more secure. However, the security of a smartphone depends on the security features it offers.
Although smartphones have many vulnerabilities, the security of older devices is often lower than that of modern smartphones. According to Graham Cluley, a security researcher with over 20 years’ experience, an ancient Nokia phone is far less vulnerable to internet-based attacks than a smartphone.
Moreover, it does not have a web browser, so it is much more difficult for hackers to gain access to its data. However, if you’re not sure whether a smartphone is safer than a dumb phone, consider buying a phone with a more modern OS and security features.
