{"id":28598,"date":"2026-07-16T14:37:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/?p=28598"},"modified":"2026-07-16T14:37:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:37:58","slug":"dumbphone-for-a-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/","title":{"rendered":"I Used Two Dumbphones for a Week: Here\u2019s What I Learned"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For one week, I tested two small and rugged basic phones: the AGM M9 4G<\/strong> and the Maxwest Ranger 4G<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did not completely abandon my smartphone. Since I work in multimedia and telecommunications, I still needed it for certain professional tasks. The experiment was really about seeing what changes when a mobile phone returns to its original purpose: making calls, sending texts and keeping you reachable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using these devices felt like travelling back to the late 1990s or early 2000s, except the 4G network came along for the ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the two phones, the AGM M9 came closest to what I wanted from a dumbphone: a device that does not secretly try to become smart again.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two Small, Rugged Phones That Feel Good in the Hand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing I noticed was their size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both phones are compact, sturdy and easy to grip. After years of smartphones becoming larger, heavier and more fragile, holding a device that fits comfortably in one hand almost feels unfamiliar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calls and text messages worked properly, and 4G connectivity was more than enough for the experience. I was not trying to stream video, browse social media or run demanding applications. I simply wanted to remain reachable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AGM M9 includes a physical keypad, flashlight, FM radio, alarm and a very basic camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Maxwest Ranger 4G feels more purpose-built for outdoor use. Its powerful speaker, long battery life and rugged construction make it seem particularly suitable for camping, job sites or situations where carrying an expensive smartphone would feel unnecessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rugged<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The AGM M9 Is Dumb in the Right Way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The AGM M9 is not presented as a premium minimalist product or an elegant \u201cdigital detox\u201d accessory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is simply primitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no Wi-Fi, no app store, no web browser, no GPS and no touchscreen-based workaround that allows the phone to slowly rebuild the same distractions found on a smartphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It handles calls, text messages, FM radio, alarms and the flashlight. It can also take photos and videos in a quality that feels generously inspired by 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That limitation is exactly what makes it interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many devices sold as dumbphones are actually smaller Android phones with reduced hardware, a few applications and enough connectivity to recreate the same habits in a slightly less convenient format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AGM M9 does not attempt that balancing act. It performs a small number of tasks and seems perfectly comfortable doing nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Account, No Sync and No Setup Ceremony<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another refreshing part of the AGM M9 is what happens when it is connected to a computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phone simply appears as storage with a few folders for audio, photos, videos, alarms and other files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no software suite to install, no manufacturer account to create, no cloud synchronization to configure and no companion application required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Files can be dragged and dropped directly from the computer, much like using a USB drive or MP3 player in the mid-2000s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Custom ringtones and wallpapers can be added in seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That simplicity now feels almost rebellious. A modern smartphone may ask for multiple accounts, permissions, backups, security checks and service agreements before the home screen is fully ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AGM M9 asks almost nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rear<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Almost Too Simple for the Modern Spam Ecosystem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That lack of advanced features can also reduce certain kinds of digital clutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On more connected phones, unwanted messages may try to load media, attachments or other content. The result can be failed downloads, broken multimedia messages, spam notifications and repeated warnings that something could not be opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AGM M9 appears almost too limited to participate properly in that ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It receives calls and texts, but it does not constantly attempt to download, process or display everything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital silence is not advertised as a feature, but it quickly becomes one of the phone\u2019s greatest strengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Phone Stops Being Part of Your Identity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The AGM M9 also includes a removable battery, USB-C, microSD support and a removable SIM card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That changes the relationship with the device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A modern smartphone often contains a large portion of a person\u2019s digital identity: photos, accounts, payment methods, authentication tools, private messages, applications and personal history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a phone this simple, the logic is almost reversed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SIM represents the mobile line. The memory card holds a few files. The handset itself is mainly a rugged shell around those components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the phone break, the SIM and memory card can be moved into another compatible device without rebuilding an entire digital life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The handset feels replaceable rather than precious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close-up<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Maxwest Ranger 4G Is More Versatile, but Less Radical<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Maxwest Ranger 4G remains an interesting device, particularly for outdoor use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its loud speaker, strong battery life and rugged body make it a practical option for camping, field work, emergencies or situations where durability matters more than appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It feels less like a minimalist lifestyle product and more like a piece of equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some versions also include access to a few applications or additional online services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That may be useful for some buyers, but it moves the device slightly away from my idea of the ideal dumbphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted a phone that completely closed the door on social media and applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the AGM M9, when a company or service tells you to \u201cuse the app,\u201d the answer becomes wonderfully final:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My phone does not do apps.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no hidden workaround. The conversation ends there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hardest Part Was Breaking the Habit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The calls worked. Text messages worked. Battery life was strong. The essential tools were available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real challenge happened inside my habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, I continued reaching for the phone whenever a moment became empty. The brain automatically looks for a social network, a video, a news update or a notification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then you remember that none of those things are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media does not necessarily disappear. It simply returns to the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That creates a clearer boundary. You access those services in a specific place, at a specific moment, rather than carrying them into every room, commute, waiting line and conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phone no longer fills every pause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biggest Benefit Was Mental Space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What I appreciated most was not only the battery life or rugged construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was no longer thinking constantly about what might be happening on the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a smartphone in your pocket, part of your attention often remains attached to it. A notification might arrive. A new post might appear. An endless feed is always waiting for another movement of the thumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a true dumbphone, that possibility almost disappears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It becomes easier to focus on another task or simply pay attention to the world around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phone returns to being a communication tool rather than a place where part of the day is spent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One week is not enough to measure a major personal transformation, but it was enough to understand why some people adopt this kind of device permanently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It Does Not Have to Be a \u201cDigital Detox\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Switching to a dumbphone is often framed as a deliberate downgrade from an iPhone or premium Android device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is another way to look at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people spent years without a mobile phone or relied mainly on a landline at home. In that context, a dumbphone is not necessarily a step backward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can represent the smallest possible concession to modern life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You agree to remain reachable by call or text while preserving a firm boundary. You do not carry the entire internet, every platform and every service everywhere you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AGM M9 fits that philosophy particularly well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not trying to be a minimalist smartphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is simply trying to be a phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can a Dumbphone Really Save Money?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first saving is obvious: a basic phone usually costs far less than a flagship smartphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the larger savings may appear elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without shopping applications and commercial platforms constantly available, impulse purchases become less convenient. Some digital subscriptions may also feel less necessary when the related services are no longer accessible every moment of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mobile data use can fall dramatically as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That may allow someone to choose a smaller and less expensive wireless plan instead of paying for dozens of gigabytes that are mainly consumed by videos, applications and background activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before buying a basic phone, it is important to confirm compatibility with Canadian networks. A current device should support 4G LTE and VoLTE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our guide to the best dumbphones in Canada<\/a> covers several options and the main technical details to check before purchasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PlanHub can also help shoppers compare phones available in new or pre-owned condition<\/strong>, along with mobile plans better suited to customers who need very little data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Could Benefit From This Experience?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A dumbphone may appeal to people who want to escape the endless scrolling cycle and create a clearer separation between the internet and the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could also make sense for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • young people who need to contact their parents without immediate access to every social platform;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • outdoor workers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • campers and hikers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • customers trying to reduce monthly expenses;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • people looking for a durable secondary phone;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • anyone tired of creating an account or installing an application for every basic activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    It will not work for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Banking applications, GPS navigation, digital tickets, mobile payments and two-factor authentication have become difficult to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In my case, working in multimedia and telecommunications makes a complete smartphone departure unrealistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Without those professional requirements, however, I would seriously consider using a device like the AGM M9 as my primary phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"AGM<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    My Verdict After One Week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Maxwest Ranger 4G is probably the stronger choice for someone looking for a rugged and versatile outdoor phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The AGM M9 is the one I would choose for a genuine disconnection experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It is simple, durable, affordable and limited enough that it cannot rebuild the same distractions in another form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It does not promise to transform your life. It does not track your concentration. It does not congratulate you for reducing your screen time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It rings when someone calls. It displays a text. It turns on a flashlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Then it goes back into your pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After one week, I understood how surprisingly pleasant that limitation can become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You think less about social media, use less data and look up more often at the world around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes the smartest phone is the one willing to remain dumb.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    For one week, I tested two small and rugged basic phones: the AGM M9 4G and the Maxwest Ranger 4G. I did not completely abandon my smartphone. Since I work in multimedia and telecommunications, I still needed it for certain professional tasks. The experiment was really about seeing what changes when a mobile phone returns […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":28586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[823,487,822],"tags":[1381,495],"class_list":["post-28598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mobile-articles","category-mobile","category-mobile-news","tag-dumpphone","tag-mobile"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nI Used a Dumbphone for a Week: What I Learned| PlanHub.ca<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I used a dumbphone for a week, testing the AGM M9 and Maxwest Ranger 4G to see how they affected screen time, apps, attention...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"I Used a Dumbphone for a Week: What I Learned| PlanHub.ca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I used a dumbphone for a week, testing the AGM M9 and Maxwest Ranger 4G to see how they affected screen time, apps, attention...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PlanHub.ca The Blog - Promotions, Guides, News and more!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/planhub.ca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-16T19:37:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-16T19:37:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1542\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Julien Junet\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@PlanHub_ca\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@PlanHub_ca\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Julien Junet\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Julien Junet\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5ecfc59983e63eb2b1d8095b96929828\"},\"headline\":\"I Used Two Dumbphones for a Week: Here\u2019s What I Learned\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-16T19:37:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-16T19:37:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1757,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"dumpphone\",\"mobile\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Articles\",\"Mobile\",\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/\",\"name\":\"I Used a Dumbphone for a Week: What I Learned| PlanHub.ca\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-16T19:37:55+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-16T19:37:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"I used a dumbphone for a week, testing the AGM M9 and Maxwest Ranger 4G to see how they affected screen time, apps, attention...\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1542},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/dumbphone-for-a-week\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Mobile\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/category\\\/mobile\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"I Used Two Dumbphones for a Week: Here\u2019s What I Learned\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"PlanHub.ca The Blog - Promotions, Guides, News and more!\",\"description\":\"PlanHub.ca\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"PlanHub.ca The Blog\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"PlanHub.ca\",\"alternateName\":\"PlanHub.ca\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/logo_planhub_horizontal_vert-2-2.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/04\\\/logo_planhub_horizontal_vert-2-2.png\",\"width\":900,\"height\":360,\"caption\":\"PlanHub.ca\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/planhub.ca\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/PlanHub_ca\",\"https:\\\/\\\/ca.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/planhub-ca\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5ecfc59983e63eb2b1d8095b96929828\",\"name\":\"Julien Junet\",\"pronouns\":\"he\\\/him\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5c7b073a472aada4b7dfe77caaae50b52a840a5ec45cb3c825eeeeea6334be00?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5c7b073a472aada4b7dfe77caaae50b52a840a5ec45cb3c825eeeeea6334be00?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/5c7b073a472aada4b7dfe77caaae50b52a840a5ec45cb3c825eeeeea6334be00?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Julien Junet\"},\"description\":\"Driven by one simple question: how does technology shape our habits, choices, and instincts? Blending music, visual art, internet culture, and digital strategy, Julien Junet contributes to PlanHub through content, community work, moderation, and social media. He is also an editor and writer for Branchez-vous.com. His playground is telecom, AI, forums, online communities, hidden trends, and overlooked angles. His goal: cut through the noise, extract what matters, and help readers see what\u2019s coming next.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/author\\\/julien-junet\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/jujunet\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.planhub.ca\\\/blog\\\/en\\\/author\\\/julien-junet\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"I Used a Dumbphone for a Week: What I Learned| PlanHub.ca","description":"I used a dumbphone for a week, testing the AGM M9 and Maxwest Ranger 4G to see how they affected screen time, apps, attention...","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"I Used a Dumbphone for a Week: What I Learned| PlanHub.ca","og_description":"I used a dumbphone for a week, testing the AGM M9 and Maxwest Ranger 4G to see how they affected screen time, apps, attention...","og_url":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/","og_site_name":"PlanHub.ca The Blog - Promotions, Guides, News and more!","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/planhub.ca","article_published_time":"2026-07-16T19:37:55+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-16T19:37:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1542,"url":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Julien Junet","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@PlanHub_ca","twitter_site":"@PlanHub_ca","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Julien Junet","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/"},"author":{"name":"Julien Junet","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/5ecfc59983e63eb2b1d8095b96929828"},"headline":"I Used Two Dumbphones for a Week: Here\u2019s What I Learned","datePublished":"2026-07-16T19:37:55+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-16T19:37:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/"},"wordCount":1757,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg","keywords":["dumpphone","mobile"],"articleSection":["Articles","Mobile","News"],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/","url":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/","name":"I Used a Dumbphone for a Week: What I Learned| PlanHub.ca","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg","datePublished":"2026-07-16T19:37:55+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-16T19:37:58+00:00","description":"I used a dumbphone for a week, testing the AGM M9 and Maxwest Ranger 4G to see how they affected screen time, apps, attention...","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/agm-m9_edited.jpeg","width":2000,"height":1542},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/dumbphone-for-a-week\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Mobile","item":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/category\/mobile\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"I Used Two Dumbphones for a Week: Here\u2019s What I Learned"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/","name":"PlanHub.ca The Blog - Promotions, Guides, News and more!","description":"PlanHub.ca","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#organization"},"alternateName":"PlanHub.ca The Blog","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#organization","name":"PlanHub.ca","alternateName":"PlanHub.ca","url":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo_planhub_horizontal_vert-2-2.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/logo_planhub_horizontal_vert-2-2.png","width":900,"height":360,"caption":"PlanHub.ca"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/planhub.ca","https:\/\/x.com\/PlanHub_ca","https:\/\/ca.linkedin.com\/company\/planhub-ca"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/5ecfc59983e63eb2b1d8095b96929828","name":"Julien Junet","pronouns":"he\/him","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5c7b073a472aada4b7dfe77caaae50b52a840a5ec45cb3c825eeeeea6334be00?s=96&d=blank&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5c7b073a472aada4b7dfe77caaae50b52a840a5ec45cb3c825eeeeea6334be00?s=96&d=blank&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/5c7b073a472aada4b7dfe77caaae50b52a840a5ec45cb3c825eeeeea6334be00?s=96&d=blank&r=g","caption":"Julien Junet"},"description":"Driven by one simple question: how does technology shape our habits, choices, and instincts? Blending music, visual art, internet culture, and digital strategy, Julien Junet contributes to PlanHub through content, community work, moderation, and social media. He is also an editor and writer for Branchez-vous.com. His playground is telecom, AI, forums, online communities, hidden trends, and overlooked angles. His goal: cut through the noise, extract what matters, and help readers see what\u2019s coming next.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/author\/julien-junet\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jujunet\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/author\/julien-junet\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28598"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28599,"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28598\/revisions\/28599"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.planhub.ca\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}