Overthinking Phone Choices

Mudita Products
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Just sharing some personal experience for those in decision/research fatigue on the e-ink / minimalist phone options recently.

I had in the last weeks reached a point of overwhelm. I knew I wanted out of flagship phones.

Then began my slow decent into madness as I realized how many new “simple” phone options there are and how little is realistically known about them.

TLDR is - The exact patterns in my mind that have led me to wanting a different device in my life were making this decision harder, and in reflecting on that led me to this decision - I’m going to try the Kompakt and will return if it has significant issues.

The phones I considered and my concerns
Here I actually wrote out my thoughts on 5 phones with detailed notes and then realized I was adding to the noise. Here’s the actual boiled down choice:

  • Minimal Phone - Has full android
  • Mudita Kompakt - limited os / degoogled

I pre-ordered the Kompakt - then my FOMO started as I saw reviewers with the Minimal Phone. So I somehow pre-ordered that. Then I thought I’d cancel one. Then I thought maybe I’d cancel both. Then I decided I’d keep both and decide once I tried them. Then I thought I’ll just decide in the coming weeks and look at reviews for a bit.
See where this is going?

OH I KEPT THINKING ABOUT IT.

So I’m watching all these reviews, looking at all these forums. Looking at hardware, software, vibe, cost, durabillity, company reputations.

A serious stumbling block for me has been the idea that I might have a huge issue at some point because of the limitations of the Kompakt OS. Like needing a airline app, or a transit app, or not being able to access a critical communication. Google maps is one of the larger concerns plaguing me in the design of our modern world.

It kept me up a few times at night and I started to follow all these “mindful tech” reviewers and started googling it, filtering reviews for “kompakt” and “minimal phone” by ‘last day’ to get the BEST information.

And then the it hit me like something between a freight train and a complete relief.

I don’t know.

I have no idea what I want. What I think I want in a device could be unhelpful for me. I don’t know if they are durable. I don’t know if they’ll be updated. I don’t know if side-loading will be a nightmare, a relief. or something I even want to do.

I know that I am over-programmed for smartphones, dependent and afraid.

In all of this I know deep down that I could loose myself in e-ink socials just as well as color flagships. My constant need for answers or comparisons or having the best is constantly reinforced by constant connectivity.

So I chose the device that is actually doing something different. I’m going to see what a degoogled life feels like.
I’m giving it a go - and if its crap it I’ll return it and move on to the next thing. If I really need something like navigation - I can likely side load an approximation of what I need or find a work around - I know that I’m technical enough to navigate that.

But I think I could actually use less certainty in my life. My anxiety and tendency towards digital addictions and researching are often a misguided desire to impose certainty where there is none.

My maybe strange meditation on this choice

What if I am lost?
Then I can ask for help.
I want to be more connected to those around me.

What if I miss a notification or can't look something up?
Take a breath - the information will find me if/when it needs to.
I value, above all, living in the moment with presence and awareness.

What if I need something critical that is now almost always app based?
It is okay to take 10 extra minutes of planning to operate 
in a society optimized for smartphones.
I have lost many more hours than that to smartphones
                  -every-
                         -single-
                                 -day-

Choose the right path for yourself - make a choice and move on.

We can (and will) find out if it was a good choice later - and for me I feel peace in mine.

Thanks for reading if you got this far!

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I really appreciate this post. Overthinking fatigue is real. It has been very helpful reading about user experiences on the Kompakt to get some kind of idea what it is I need/want (not sure yet). Right now a dumbed down iPhone is still very convenient for just in case scenarios and I would say I’ve got to the ideal usage point (not checking unnecessarily), but for some reason I don’t like being an iPhone user. I am not sure what to make of this line of thinking, but the philosophy of the Mudita company appeals greatly to me, and also I am thinking choosing a device that does something different may be the way to go.

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Overthinking that much on such a thing that our ancestors never had to use make me mad about Capitalism.
Don’t let marketing eat you like this, take a breath and think only about what is really important. It’s just a phone, a tool that you can ultimately forget to take with you without any consequences.
Take care of you.

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This is exactly where I was (and to an extent still am). I like the Apple ecosystem but I am done with carrying a dopamine trap in my pocket. I am still carrying a heavily dumbed-down switched-off iPhone in my backpack (for the excellent camera, and browser for emergencies only).

In the end I bought a Kompakt (after experiencing weeks of decision fatigue between Kompakt / Minimal Phone / Light Phone 3 :face_with_spiral_eyes:) as my secondary digital detox device initially, with a view to making a permanent move eventually :blush:

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Hey @Danny , thanks for your very inspiring post. You’re probably speaking for many of the users of this forum. We’re all looking for change, weighing up how far the change should go and what sacrifices we’re willing to make. We design our dream tool in our heads, and our requirements, wishes, and hopes give rise to a different device in each of us. The critical point is reached when we hold the actual device in our hands and try to reconcile it with the design in our heads. We’re probably all at exactly this point right now.

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^ Brilliant.

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I think it’s already under the scope of psychology, that too much choices in all areas of life make people waste time on making the choice and be less happy with the choice they’ve made, always feeling under their skin there might have been a better choice… Add perfectionism and overthinking and that’s me!
A good idea is to have default decisions on something like lunch or phone or a brand of kitchenware. What to buy from the grocery today? No time to think much, I’ll take what always worked so far. Doesn’t seem “smart” but perfect is the enemy of good, and we don’t have time to waste on man-made dillemas!

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@danny Welcome to the Mudita Forum! We’re glad you’re here. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Totally get the overthinking, I think we’ve all been there.
The “perfect phone” really depends on what you need. For some, it’s full control and minimal distractions. For others, it connecting your car & toaster, plus having the ability to pay with your phone.
Here’s where Mudita Kompakt is different- It’s not trying to be everything to everyone, just the right things, done mindfully. To me, it’s worth it, if you’re craving more peace and less noise.

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I felt the same way a few weeks ago. I was so sure the LP3 was for me, but now with the Minimal Phone & Kompakt out, I started weighing the pros and cons of each phone. Without making this post so long, now I feel like I actually have to experience the phones to figure out which is right for me because the reviews aren’t super helpful.

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Is there one you are leaning more towards?

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It was the Light Phone 3 for so long and the biggest reason why is repairability and build. The Light Phone 3 has a removeable battery backing and is made to last at least a decade, as long as you take care of it.

Check out this topic for Mudita’s repairability: Kompakt repairability - #13 by jfoigjboiwjefaij – In sum, although the 4 years of warranty is wonderful, once the warranty ends, it’s out of pocket and well for me, a different country is so much farther away than NYC (I live in California).

The reason I’m still considering the Kompakt, I shared here on this topic: Optomized vs. Not? - #6 by muxbree – In sum, the three things I find extremely valuable in this phone are: e-ink screen, Offline+ mode & rounded edges.

All in all, both devices are de-Googled and are made to be used as little as possible. They both have pros and cons. Like someone else mentioned in a third topic, wish they made a combined phone with all the beenfits of each. Now, I just need to try both of them for myself. I could see either being my daily drive. So, I’m in the middle.

OP highlighted the overthinking I was going through myself.

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I feel your pain. I use a two device method - I have been using a Nokia 800 tough alongside a iPad Pro for the last two years, the iPad is much more awkward to carry around than a smartphone which really helps because you’re much less likely to take it with you unless absolutely necessary.

The Kompakt is perfect for me and it’s a massive upgrade on the Nokia but for someone coming from a smartphone to a Kompakt I could see why they may struggle.

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Thanks for all the replies!

It’s helpful to hear from others with shared experiences. The contradiction of putting this much thought into something that is too help me be more mindful is absolutely not lost on me - I agree @polop I too am mad about capitalism.

Not even just this situation but on a daily basis the amount of rhought that is needed to not accidentally buy complete garbage is absurd. I feel like the average consumer is a a brief rest area on a products life from creation to landfill.

I’ll update when I get the device and get a chance to get familiar.

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