Is WhatsApp supposed to be a selling point?
this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2026
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Android
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In South America, it's absolutely essential.
Right?
I see that and am instantly turned off
I hope you realize we and most people here are in an extremely small minority. It's absolutely a selling point for many people with in general and who would be interested in something like this. It sucks but it's true.
I'm gonna guess that most people (myself included) saw the candybar format and the word "Nokia" and assumed it was a "dumb" phone. I'm guessing they looked at the messaging app with the largest or broadest market share and used that as a point to clarify that it's a "smart" phone.
Indeed.
WhatsApp is Meta and should be avoided as much as possible, but there are some countries where it's everywhere.
I just looked up a flat rental for summer, got contacted by the agency on Whatsapp. I'm not going to try to convert a real estate agent to Delta chat or Signal.
It's also more popular with older folks who this phone probably targets.
older folks with a Lineage OS phone ? wtf ?
that said, im 61 and interested, so maybe you're right ? I don't use Whatsapp though
I think the point he is making is more that older people who dint need anything more than a chat app? They typically don't need the latest trending app after all so running Lineage might not be as big of an issue as compared to the average 20+ year old.
Doesn't it say it runs on LineageOS? If so I assume you can just as easily install Signal on it.
sure, but why is WhatsApp a selling point...
used to be Facebook was the selling point for he simple minded... now it's moved to whatsapp
Because unfortunately Whatsapp is everywhere. Someone might want a phone like this just because it's cheap. Or maybe they want something small they can comfortably use with one hand. And if Whatsapp can be uninstalled digital minimalists can want it too.
Swap WhatsApp for Signal and you got yourself a deal
From their FAQ:
Do you support WhatsApp, Messenger and Signal?
Yes we do! These also work with push notifications via MicroG or Google Play Services to ensure you get instant updates!
Wow, yall posts like this usually hawk $600 phones after their schpiel but this seems actually affordable (βΒ£150)
LineageOS 21 on a Nokia-style shell is a solid foundation, but the real question is what SoC actually drives this. WhatsApp compatibility has historically been hit or miss on custom ROMs, and the Maps situation depends entirely on whether MicroG GMS is included. The Reddit thread mentions a store launch, so pricing and actual availability matter as much as the software.
Still convenient for ppl who hate/don't use What'sApp. I'm sure Signal works just fine.
... oh, wait, this is Lineage based, like a one-time thing? Eh :(
The DumbDroid store has been floating around r/dumbphones for a bit now, and the Dumber Mini is the most polished piece of hardware to come out of it. LineageOS 21 on a Nokia-style shell with WhatsApp and Maps covers the three things that actually kill feature phone adoption. The real test is whether this ships as an actual device or stays as another ROM project that Reddit loves and nobody actually buys.
Need this.
Can't find anything about the battery being removeable or not. Would like to know that. If it does have that, i might try this one out! Sounds very interesting.