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I’d quite like to get a small, cheap, light phone to take on rides, to leave the large, expensive phone at home but still have a means of contact.
I’m also looking for a means for the kids to have a wifi hotspot in the car without using my other phone for longer weekend trips, so either I’d swap the sim over to a 3G Wi-Fi dongle thing I’ve got kicking around or just leave the “bike” phone plugged in in the car with hotspot turned on.
Any recommendations for something that would fit the bill? One of those tiny phones meant for smuggling into jails would be ideal if they’re not compromised in some other way like rubbish battery life otherwise a standard old school type ohone would be great.
I’ve always thought having a second phone would be a huge faff - swapping SIMs etc, and what if your old riding phone used a different sized SIM?
It’s a compromise but I went for a smaller phone (iPhone mini) and a decent case:
https://maap.cc/uk/products/maap-x-bellroy-all-conditions-phone-pocket-black
It fits easily into a jersey pocket and I’ve used it on some horribly wet and muddy rides, everything inside remains clean and dry.
The 'new' 3310, or one of Nokia's other dumb phones? Think they all hotspot, but might be limited to 3g?
Some of the Nokia feature phones show wifi hotspot as a 'feature' some don't.
I think this is the cheapest that shows 4g hotspot as a feature.
https://www.nokia.com/phones/en_gb/nokia-6300-4g?sku=16LIOB01A12
Claims to do Google maps and music too so could be an ideal back pocket phone for riding, running, etc.
Yeah, in traditional STW avoid-the-actual-question fashion, just sounds like you just got the wrong phone. Maybe try a smaller/less expensive one 😉. Two phones is just an added ballache/expense. Personally I’ve never damaged my phone (touch wood 😀) despite many crashes over the years. And if I did, so what? Head to nearest phone shop, buy a new one, login to restore everything & claim on insurance.
I asked a similar question not so long ago...
And still ended up with the standard Moto G that most people after a cheap phone get...
Nokia 4300 4g
Think old school Nokia with 4g tethering and WhatsApp and GPS.
As a smart phone it's a pain in the arse but as a dumb phone it's brilliant.
That Nokia only has a 1500mah battery, I know it's only just 'smart', but using it as a hotspot it won't last long will it??
My cheap, indestructible (so far) and waterproof, blackview has nearly 4x the battery size. I think I paid around £150 several years back.
PS this loggin out all the time thing is a real PITA still if any mods are looking
Thanks all, some great suggestions there - the Nokia 6300 sounds good. 3G would be fine, that’s mostly so the kids can play Minecraft etc online in the car, hence battery life in hotspot mode doesn’t matter much as it will be connected to power.
sounds like you just got the wrong phone
Yes but no but …. It’s a company phone so no choice and it’s effectively “free”, but even if it wasn’t I genuinely use the smartphone features all the time - calendar, email, shared office docs etc so would need want this form factor anyway.
Oh - one other thing - it would be a different SIM to the main phone, no swapping between them.
I'm using a Cubot KingKong MINI 3, 4.5" Mini Smartphone. About £120. Thats the latest version I'm waiting to arrive. I've used the mk 2 version for the last couple of years. For on bike nav & everything else as it's my only phone.
yeah ive been using a king kong mini as well. Its the mk1, cost about 90 notes iirc. I thought it would be a short term thing til i found something 'better', but ive had it nearly 3 years now and it's been good. Very small and light, 'waterproof' and shockproof. The camera is meh but otherwise it's a great phone to chuck in your pack when you are on the hill. As an actual phone and whatsapp/email device it is laughably good for the money
Am old iphone with a working but cracked screen for £25? I've hotspotted my way around europe with it running the laptop including teams so it's up to it.
Why not just hotspot from your regular phone when you are in the car?
Why not just hotspot from your regular phone when you are in the car?
It’s a company provided phone so using it as a hotspot for the kids gaming feels a bit wrong even if it is quite small amounts of data.