The Sidephone: A Dumbphone with Physically Swappable Interfaces

This Sidephone, from Canadian start-up Side Technologies, is the latest distraction-reducing cell phone. It features a trick not seen on others, like the Light Phone and the Punkt MP02: A swappable physical UI. Users can choose between four different interfaces: A standard numerical keypad with T9 functionality, a numerical keypad with QWERTY functionality, a “Sundial” that works like an iPod’s click wheel, or a game controller. There are no pre-installed social media apps, nor browser. In addition to calls and text messages, the phone offers a camera, photo gallery, clock, contacts, settings, and files. If you’re desperate for a browser, you can install it separately through the company’s own app store, which also offers maps/navigation, calendar, e-mail apps, ride-sharing apps, other messaging apps (WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram), podcasts, music, and a voice recorder. But there are no social media apps on offer.The phone runs $300, and only works with T-Mobile. It comes with the standard numerical keypad; the others cost $30 each. Lastly, they offer silicone cases for $10.