Locking her smartphone in a desk drawer and taking out a feature phone before leaving the office every day is the strategy that Liu Xinran, a 26-year-old client manager at a trading company in Chongqing Municipality, southwest China, applies to disconnect from work.

Since adopting a basic phone in June, this ritual has helped her establish a clear boundary between work and personal life, as she often received work-related messages after hours.

"Using a basic phone helps me avoid unnecessary notifications from work-related group chats. In case of emergency, I can still be reached by phone call," she told newspaper Guangming Daily. For after-work activities like shopping or dining out, a basic phone's functionality suffices.

Liu refers to this practice as her "digital detox"—a conscious effort to disconnect from the pervasive digital world and prevent what she describes as "unintentional overtime."

Back to basics

Liu is part of a growing movement among young Chinese seeking to restore balance in a digitally saturated life. This practice involves temporarily stepping away from smartphones and other electronic devices to reduce their online presence and focus more on real-life social interactions.

According to the 53rd Statistical Report on Internet Development in China, released by the China Internet Network Information Center, the number of mobile Internet users in China had reached 1.091 billion as of December 2023—an increase of 25.62 million from December 2022.

The report highlights that 99.9 percent of Internet users access the web via mobile phones, with an average weekly online duration of 26.1 hours. However, for many young people, the actual hours spent online each week far exceed this average.

"For many, smartphones have become an addiction that is hard to shake," Wang Peng, an associate researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told newspaper Science and Technology Daily. "Some people subconsciously constantly check their phones and the absence of a signal can trigger intense feelings of helplessness in them."

To escape the dominance of smartphones, some young people are turning to basic phones, which offer a simpler, more focused way of life. These devices, often called "senior phones" and once deemed outdated, are now enjoying a revival among certain segments of the youth.

Song Jia, a programmer in Beijing, now uses a senior phone as a backup. "Senior phones are very affordable, typically costing under 300 yuan ($42), and they have long battery life," he told Beijing Review. An avid cyclist, Song appreciates the peace and quiet his feature phone provides during weekend rides in the outskirts of Beijing, allowing him to enjoy nature more fully. He also values the phone's durability, making it ideal for extended outdoor activities.

This shift to simpler devices is driven by different reasons—from a desire for increased focus to a craving for simplicity, and even nostalgia. For Jiang Chulin, a postgraduate student from Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, the decision to ditch his smartphone was born out of necessity during his preparation for the postgraduate exams last year, which ran from June to December.

"A smartphone is incredibly distracting," Jiang told Shanghai-based newspaper Xinmin Evening News. "Once you pick it up, it's hard to put it down for at least an hour; before you know it, you've wasted a lot of time." To regain focus, Jiang made a conscious decision to switch to a basic phone during his study sessions. The results: remarkable.

Jiang admits it was a struggle at first. "It took me about a week to adjust," he recalled. But he soon began to enjoy the peace that came from being free of a smartphone's constant distractions. Now, he sets aside one or two days a week to study in the library, entirely free from the temptations of his smartphone. He has also noticed considerable improvement in his sleep quality.

The appeal of basic phones has been gaining traction. A notable example occurred in June, when Nokia re-released the iconic Nokia 3210, originally launched in 1999. Priced at 379 yuan ($53), the phone quickly sold out upon release, with subsequent restocks disappearing equally swiftly.

A recent visit by a reporter from newspaper Jinan Daily to mobile phone stores in Jinan, Shandong Province, further underscored this trend. In late October, shop owners revealed that nearly half of their customers purchasing "senior phones" were young people. Retailers reported restocking these basic phones two to three times a month to keep up with demand.

To cater to the tastes of young buyers, many stores have even set up dedicated display areas starring these devices, showcasing them in vibrant colors and modern designs. Despite their retro appeal, these phones are not entirely stuck in the past. Many now include practical features like QR code payment capabilities, blending nostalgic simplicity with modern functionality to meet today's needs.

Interestingly, what was once seen as a disadvantage—a basic phone's low-resolution camera—has become part of the trending charm. The blurry, soft-focus photos these phones produce are now praised by young people for their retro aesthetic, offering a sentimental touch in an era dominated by high-definition, hyper-realistic, and often highly filtered, images.

Reconnecting with reality

But not everyone is on board with this new inclination. For some, transitioning from a smartphone to a basic phone remains a niche trend, as the former has become an indispensable part of daily life, and disconnecting from them might initially create a sense of emptiness.

"The absence of a smartphone might initially seem dull, but it compels you to seek more engaging activities rather than reflexively reaching for your phone," said a Chongqing resident by the name of Leon in an interview with newspaper Chongqing Daily.

Unlike many who simply use basic phones as an alternative, Huang has taken a more radical approach. Since 2021, he has completely abandoned smartphones altogether. "I opted for a phone about the size of a bank card," he explains. "It only offers essential functions like texting, calling, a calculator and a music player." Since the phone lacks QR code payment capabilities, Huang carries cash, a bank card and a public transportation card whenever he leaves home.

For Huang, this transition was not merely about disconnecting from the Internet­—it was about reconnecting with life in a more deliberate and mindful manner. "After switching to a basic phone, my device became a 'tool' once again," he says. He becomes more focused on what he is doing. For instance, when working out, he no longer listens to music but instead concentrates on his muscle movements. While running, he focuses on each step, paying close attention to the force and landing of each stride.

He added that when he goes out, he now discovers many interesting things that he had never noticed before.

"These small discoveries have shown that there are many interesting things that exist outside the digital realm," he said.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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