# i want a handheld device thats not a phone **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003 "2017-02-16T20:04:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/21 "2017-02-16T23:38:33Z")
thanks everybody, good info. i had thought about a prepaid phone, with just minimal minutes on it, but the ones they sell were older and i was worried about obsolescence. and just was wondering if there was still such a thing as a smart nonphone - appearantly not. and i did not know that you could just buy a newer phone without a contract. mc ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/22 "2017-02-16T23:45:39Z")
My kid has an old phone of mine that he uses exactly this way. It doesn’t get service but he plays games and watches youtube videos and such by using our wifi. He even texted me the other day…he found some app he can use to text and make calls so if he’s got wifi he can even use it as a phone without phone service. Pretty nifty. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/23 "2017-02-17T00:00:22Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Just be careful if you do decide to get an iPod Touch. They are more expensive than you’d pay for a comparable android device, and if you get an older/used one it won’t take the latest iOS version and so won’t be able to use most itunes apps. If having the latest OS is an issue, he should be much more carful about getting an Android seeing as how even brand new Android phones won’t necessarily support Android 7.0, let alone older ones. Every iPod touch from the last 4 years or so is going to be able to run the vast majority of apps in the App Store. And if not, it will just download the last compatible version. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/24 "2017-02-17T00:19:42Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > i had thought about a prepaid phone, with just minimal minutes on it, but the ones they sell were older and i was worried about obsolescence. and just was wondering if there was still such a thing as a smart nonphone - appearantly not. But there is, most notably the iPod touch as others have already mentioned. I get you’re not an Apple fan, but it does exactly what you’re looking for. If you’re concerned about obsolescence, a current iPod touch is fairly similar to an iPhone 6 which was released about 2.5 years go. Generally speaking, Apple’s iOS devices see about 5 years of software support, so it’s still got some life left in it. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/25 "2017-02-17T02:52:51Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > **I can’t really suss spending so much on a limited device, when the same thing, with an unwanted and ignorable function, can be had for much less.** > > If I were to remove three icons from my Note II (Phone, Contacts, Voicemail) there would be no sign left it had phone capabilities. And it’s an awesome little tablet/media device. The devices in the CNet article are kind of like paying a premium price for a three-legged horse. 🙂 Contacts are useful for emailing; phone & v-mail could easily go. > [@mikecurtis](#): > > thanks everybody, good info. > > i had thought about a prepaid phone, with just minimal minutes on it, but the ones they sell were older and i was worried about obsolescence. and just was wondering if there was still such a thing as a smart nonphone - appearantly not. and i did not know that you could just buy a newer phone without a contract. > mc A newer phone w/o a contract is going to be more expensive than an older model. Unless you need the processing speed of a newer phone (gaming?), I’d go with an older model. When that becomes obsolete, get a then-older model (probably today’s latest & greatest two years from now); even buying two, three, or five older ones will quite likely be less money than one newer one today. IOW, I totally agree with **AB** ’s first (bolded) sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/26 "2017-02-17T04:30:04Z")
go buy a boost mobile phone from the budget price lines i have a couple old ones of theirs, use as mp3 players or mini tablet or e-reader etc. They do everything, even make phone calls if using google voice and are on wifi. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/27 "2017-02-17T05:04:06Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > If having the latest OS is an issue, he should be much more carful about getting an Android seeing as how even brand new Android phones won’t necessarily support Android 7.0, let alone older ones. > > Every iPod touch from the last 4 years or so is going to be able to run the vast majority of apps in the App Store. And if not, it will just download the last compatible version. I’m running Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and I haven’t encountered any problems downloading apps. Even a phone running Kit Kat should be adequate. Apps do get updated for Marshmallow and Nougat, but in my experience, they don’t break the apps for older versions of Android. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/28 "2017-02-17T05:08:53Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m running Android 5.0.1 Lollipop and I haven’t encountered any problems downloading apps. Even a phone running Kit Kat should be adequate. Apps do get updated for Marshmallow and Nougat, but in my experience, they don’t break the apps for older versions of Android. thanks for the info, i had to look up most of those words!! :o mc ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/29 "2017-02-17T05:26:59Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > thanks for the info, i had to look up most of those words!! :o > > mc Android gives names to the different versions of their OS. But basically, if you get a phone running version 4, it should run apps as well as a phone running a later version. I’m on version 5, but have no problems running apps. I’ve never been notified that my software is outdated, as I did when I had an iPhone. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/30 "2017-02-17T16:29:18Z")
For $50 or less you can get a decent used phone on eBay or an older-model Kindle Fire (beware, they are a bit fragile, but are dead simple to use). The latter won’t fit in your pocket, though, so just get an older used Moto or something and connect it to your wifi. Done. If I hadn’t broken it, I could still probably use my first smartphone circa 2009 for everything I want it for (ebooks, light internet browsing, simple apps). It also seemingly took the best pictures of any phone I’ve had, and had a nice slide-out keyboard that almost no phone has anymore. Miss that thing! It was some sort of Motorola. If I could remember the exact model, I’d pick one up for cheap as a backup, at least. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003/31 "2017-02-20T06:48:47Z")
I’m writing this on an iPod touch that hasn’t given me any trouble since I bought it in 2012. The button sticks a bit but it doesn’t even have any cracks. I recommend 'em! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-a-handheld-device-thats-not-a-phone/780003.md?page=1)