The 9 Best Basic Cell Phones of 2021

Best Overall: Sonim XP3 XP3800

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If your priority for a basic cell phone is to stay connected no matter where you are or what conditions you find yourself in, then Sonim's XP3 will fit the bill nicely. Built to withstand even the most hazardous and extreme environments, the XP3 will make sure you're never out of touch even in an emergency.

With a 100db+ dual speaker system and advanced noise cancellation, you'll be able to make and receive calls loud and clear even over storms, sirens, and helicopters, and large tactile buttons allow quick access to Push-To-Talk capabilities and other phone features.

The XP3 doesn't just stop at making phone calls, however, as it also includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth along with a 5MP rear camera for taking snapshots and video clips that can be transferred to a computer or sent out over MMS, and you can add a Micro SD card for extra storage. The 1,500mAh battery will also keep you powered out in the field for days, and it's removable so you can easily keep a spare or two on hand.

Best Rugged: Plum Ram 7 E700blk

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It's really hard to beat a basic cell phone when it comes to getting one with a rugged design, since there are no big glass screens or fancy cameras to worry about, but even among basic cell phones, Plum's Ram 7 stands out from the pack as a cell phone that can withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it.

The Plum Ram 7 is not only IP68 certified for water and dust resistance, but it's also Military Grade shockproof, scratch-resistant, and will survive extreme drops unscathed. It can stay submerged in up to 2 feet of water for up to 30 minutes without any problems, so of course extreme elements like rain, snow, wind, and storms are no match for it.

Despite this rugged design, however, the Ram 7 doesn't skimp on features, with a big 2.4-inch display, a 5MP back camera and 2MP selfie camera, and 64MB of RAM for storing your pictures, videos, and music, plus an SD card slot that lets you add even more storage. The 1,700mAh battery will give you 24 hours of talk time or 900 hours of standby time, so unlike the modern iPhone and Android phones of today this one can go weeks between charges, and it also offers dual SIM capabilities, making it great for travellers. 

Best for Verizon: Kyocera DuraXV Extreme E4810

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If you're looking for a durable cell phone with a more traditional clamshell design, then Kyocera's DuraXV has you covered, with its Military Standard protection against pretty much everything either you or the elements can throw at it.

This includes dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, rainstorms, low pressure, solar radiation, salt fog, humidity, snow and freezing rain, and more. Plus you can drop it from up to five feet onto solid concrete without any serious damage, or drop it into 6.5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. In fact, it's even certified for use in Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations, which means it's guaranteed to be safe in many industrial areas where flammable gases may be present in smaller concentrations.

This DuraXV Extreme also includes a 5MP auto-focus camera with an LED flash and video recording capabilities, and it's one of the loudest speakerphones on the market, with 100dB+ front-facing speakers, making it perfect for calling in noisy areas. It can also act as an LTE mobile hotspot for up to 10 other devices, and the 1,770mAh battery will keep you going for weeks between recharges.

Best for Seniors: Jitterbug Flip

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The Jitterbug Flip is a friendly red clamshell phone that's designed with seniors in mind. It's a compact flip phone with a 3.2-inch display with bright text and easy visibility. The device itself is light at just 4.7 ounces and comes with a physical keyboard that are backlit allowing easy use in low light. Navigation is made easy by simple, clearly labeled buttons and directional arrows.

The 5Star feature is a service that allows the Flip to double as a personal safety device. There's an emergency button that allows you to contact agents 24/7, essentially giving you a Life Alert feature in the case of accidents, falls, and other crises. The one downside is that using 5Star will require a subscription in addition to GreatCall's carrier service.

Best for T-Mobile: Alcatel Go Flip 3

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The Alcatel Go Flip 3 is a basic cell phone sold on T-Mobile. It has a simple black clamshell design and operates on the carrier's 4G LTE network. That puts it above many other phones on this list that are limited to just 3G. It additionally supports dual-band Wi-Fi, VoLTE, and Bluetooth 4.2 allowing it to work with headphones for music playback.

Specs aren't bad considering how basic the device is. You get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 processor, 512MB of RAM, and can expand storage to 32GB. Perhaps most interestingly, the phone supports Google Assistant, allows web browsing, and can handle email and calendar appointments giving you key smartphone features without making it too complicated.

Best for Texting: ZTE Altair 2 Z432

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Just because texting is your thing doesn't mean that you need to jump into the world of more expensive and complicated smartphones when there are basic cell phones like the ZTE Altair 2 to cover your needs.

With a full QWERTY keyboard, you'll easily be able to text your friends and family, and some would argue that it's even easier than using a touchscreen. There's also a large 2.4-inch display so there will be plenty of room to read incoming texts, as well as clearly seeing menus and caller ID for incoming calls.

The design clearly borrows from the more traditional Blackberry PDAs of yesteryear, although it's slim and compact enough to fit into a shirt or jeans pocket when not in use, and you can also lock the keyboard so you won't need to worry about pocket dialing or texting.

The ZTE Altair 2 also includes a built-in MP3 player, GPS, and Bluetooth connectivity, and you can add to its internal storage with a 32GB card to store your favourite photos and songs, and while the battery only offers up four hours of talk time, it actually provides a staggering 240 hours of standby time, since this clearly a device that's designed more for texting than talking.

Best Battery Life: Nokia 3310 3G

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One of the great things about basic cell phones is that they provide battery life that's measured in days rather than hours, but even then there are those that stand out from the pack, and if you're looking for a cell phone that will endure, the Nokia 3310 provides staggeringly great battery life even by basic cell phone standards.

With over six hours of talk time and 27 days of standby time, this is a cell phone that you may want to keep around as an emergency backup even if you're a smartphone user. It makes a great option for keeping in your glove compartment or just around your home for those times when you might find yourself stranded with a dead battery and no power source in sight.

There's more to the Nokia 3110 than just fantastic battery life, however. It also offers a basic 2MP camera, a built-in FM radio, and Bluetooth connectivity, plus a large 2.4-inch display that will let you see caller ID information and easily navigate the menus.It even includes the classic Snake game that Nokia phones are known for. The body of the phone also features a tactile finish for a better feel in your hand and to make it easier to hold onto.

Check out our guide for ways to make your cell phone battery last longer.

Best for Whatsapp: Plum A105RED

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Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has become a popular app for sending text messages and making calls without the need for a cellular network. The Plum A105RED basic cell phone is built specifically for WhatsApp users, having a dedicated button for quick and easy access to the app. 

Using WhatsApp allows you to make phone calls and send text messages internationally for free, making it perfect for overseas travel or studying abroad. It's also great for sending messages and making calls between desktops and mobile devices so you can stay connected to friends and family no matter what devices you all use. The Plum A105RED also has dual SIM card slots to allow for international travel or to let you have one number for business calls and another for personal contacts.