The best dumb phone in NZ is a simple 4G phone that does calls, texts and little else, so you can step away from a smartphone without losing the ability to stay in touch. A dumb phone, also called a basic phone or a feature phone, has no app store and no social media, which is exactly why people choose one.
The main types of dumb phone are easy to tell apart. Flip phones such as the Oricom EZY7510 and the Artfone 4G foldable fold shut to protect the keys and screen. Candy-bar phones such as the Artfone big button 4G phone are one solid block with a keypad. Touchscreen feature phones such as the Opel TouchFlip 4G add a screen to a keypad design.
The detail that matters most in New Zealand is 4G. Carriers are retiring 3G, so a phone needs 4G and VoLTE to keep working, and you should look for 4G band 28, the band most widely used on local networks. Then compare the screen size, the battery, whether it has an SOS button and whether you want a flip or a bar.
This guide compares four dumb phones that ship to New Zealand, from the budget Artfone foldable up to the Opel TouchFlip 4G.
Best dumb phones comparison
| Product | Best for | Key feature | Design | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricom EZY7510 | Best for Seniors | Talking keypad, SOS | Flip | 3 ratings |
| Artfone Big Button 4G | Best Basic Phone | SOS, charging dock | Candy bar | 3.7/5 (604 reviews) |
| Artfone 4G Foldable | Best Budget Flip | External colour screen | Flip | 3.3/5 (303 reviews) |
| Opel TouchFlip 4G | Best With Touchscreen | Keypad + touchscreen | Flip | 3.7/5 (14 ratings) |
1. Oricom EZY7510 Flip Phone – Best Dumb Phone for Seniors
The Oricom EZY7510 is the best dumb phone for seniors in NZ. It is a simple flip phone built around accessibility, with a high-contrast keypad, a talking keypad that announces each key you press, a loud ringer and hearing aid and T-Coil compatibility.
The big safety feature is the SOS emergency call button, and the listing also mentions GPS location support, which suits anyone who wants family to know where they are. It has a dual colour LCD, a 2 megapixel camera, dual SIM and an SD card slot that expands storage up to 32GB.
It is sold by Amazon AU with free delivery to New Zealand, and 4G compatibility means it should keep working as 3G networks are retired. The listing has only 3 ratings, and it does not publish its network band list, so check that it supports 4G band 28 with your carrier before you buy.
Pros
- Talking keypad that announces each key press
- SOS emergency call button and GPS location support
- Hearing aid and T-Coil compatible
- Loud ringer and a high-contrast keypad
- Dual SIM and SD card slot
- Free delivery to New Zealand
Cons
- Only 3 ratings on the listing
- The listing does not publish a network band list
- One of the more expensive basic phones in this guide
- Basic 2 megapixel camera
Key specs: Flip design, 4G compatible, dual colour LCD, dual SIM, SD card slot up to 32GB, 2MP camera, SOS emergency button, GPS location, talking keypad, loud ringer, hearing aid and T-Coil compatible.
2. Artfone Big Button 4G Phone – Best Basic Phone for Calls and Texts
The Artfone big button 4G phone is the best basic phone for people who only want calls and texts. It is a classic candy-bar dumb phone with a 1.77 inch screen, large fonts, clear menu icons and big keys, and its main job is making calls and sending and receiving SMS messages.
It has an SOS button on the back that calls up to 5 numbers in turn until someone answers, a loud speaker, a torch with its own side button and a charging dock with a USB-C cable. The 1800mAh battery gives 5 to 6 hours of talk time and about 5 to 9 days of standby, and storage expands to 64GB for MP3 and FM radio.
It supports 4G, 3G and 2G, and the listing suggests a Telstra SIM, which tells you it is tuned for Australia, so confirm 4G band 28 support with your NZ carrier. It is the most proven phone here, with 604 ratings averaging 3.7 out of 5, and it uses a single nano SIM.
Pros
- Simple candy-bar design with large fonts and big keys
- SOS button that calls up to 5 numbers
- 1800mAh battery with 5 to 9 days of standby
- Charging dock and USB-C cable included
- Expandable storage up to 64GB
- Free delivery to New Zealand
Cons
- Tuned for Australian networks, so confirm NZ band support
- Single SIM only
- 3.7 out of 5 rating from 604 reviews
- Very small 1.77 inch screen
Key specs: 1.77 inch screen. 4G, 3G, 2G. Single nano SIM. 1800mAh battery with charging dock and USB-C. SOS button with 5 numbers. Bluetooth, FM radio, MP3, torch. Storage expands to 64GB.
3. Artfone 4G Foldable Phone – Best Budget Flip Phone
The Artfone 4G foldable phone is the best budget flip phone in this guide. It gives you a proper clamshell design with a 2.4 inch HD internal screen and a 1.8 inch external colour display, so you can see who is calling without opening it.
It has an SOS button on the back that calls up to 5 preset numbers, Bluetooth, an FM radio, an MP3 player, a torch on a side button and a 0.3 megapixel camera. A charging dock is included in the box.
The battery is only 1050mAh, which the listing rates at 5 to 7 days of standby and 5 to 6 hours of talk time. It supports 4G, 3G and 2G and suggests a Telstra SIM, so check NZ band support before you buy. It has 303 ratings averaging 3.3 out of 5.
Pros
- Clamshell design with an external colour display
- 2.4 inch HD internal screen
- SOS button that calls up to 5 numbers
- Charging dock included
- Free delivery to New Zealand
Cons
- Small 1050mAh battery
- Camera is only 0.3 megapixels
- 3.3 out of 5 rating from 303 reviews
- Tuned for Australian networks, so confirm NZ band support
Key specs: 2.4 inch internal HD screen, 1.8 inch external colour screen. 4G LTE, 3G, 2G. 1050mAh battery with charging dock. SOS button. Bluetooth, MP3, FM radio, torch, 0.3MP camera.
4. Opel Mobile TouchFlip 4G – Best Flip Phone With a Touchscreen
The Opel Mobile TouchFlip 4G is the best flip phone here for people who want a physical keypad and a touchscreen in the same phone. It is Australian stock with a tactile keypad for dialling and texting when flipped open and a large touchscreen for navigation.
It has a built-in camera, expandable memory for contacts, photos and apps, and 4G connectivity for voice calls. It is a feature phone rather than a smartphone, so it is a middle path for people who find a fully button-based phone fiddly but do not want a full smartphone.
The listing is short on detail and does not publish a band list, so confirm 4G band 28 support before you buy. It has 14 ratings averaging 3.7 out of 5 and is the most expensive phone in this guide.
Pros
- Physical keypad plus a large touchscreen
- Built-in camera
- Expandable memory
- 4G calling
- Australian stock with free delivery to New Zealand
Cons
- The most expensive phone in this guide
- The listing does not publish a band list or a full spec sheet
- Only 14 ratings on the listing
Key specs: Flip design with a physical keypad and a large touchscreen. 4G. Built-in camera. Expandable memory. Full specifications not published on the listing.
How to choose a dumb phone in NZ
Start with who it is for. For seniors, pick the Oricom EZY7510 for its talking keypad, SOS button and hearing aid compatibility. For a child or someone who just wants calls and texts, the Artfone big button 4G phone or the Artfone foldable are simple and inexpensive, and both have an SOS button.
Then check the network. These phones are sold from Australia, so confirm 4G band 28 and VoLTE support with Spark, One NZ or 2degrees before you order. If you decide a dumb phone is too limited, see our guides to the best cheap smartphones and the best smartphones, or the tougher best rugged phones.
Verdict
The Artfone big button 4G phone is the best dumb phone for most people, with an SOS button, a charging dock and the largest number of ratings. The Oricom EZY7510 is the best flip phone for seniors and the Artfone 4G foldable is the best budget flip.
If you want a keypad and a touchscreen, the Opel TouchFlip 4G is the pick. Whichever you choose, check the band list with your carrier first, because basic phones sold from Australia do not always publish their NZ bands.
FAQs
What is the best dumb phone in NZ?
The Artfone big button 4G phone is the best basic dumb phone in this guide, with an SOS button, a charging dock and 604 ratings. For a flip phone, the Oricom EZY7510 is the best for seniors and the Artfone 4G foldable is the best budget choice.
What is the best flip phone in NZ?
The Oricom EZY7510 is the best flip phone for seniors, the Artfone 4G foldable is the best budget flip, and the Opel TouchFlip 4G is the best flip with a touchscreen. All three are sold by Amazon with free delivery to New Zealand.
What does dumb phone mean?
A dumb phone is a basic phone that does calls, texts and a few simple extras such as a torch, FM radio and an alarm, without app stores, social media or a full web browser. It is also called a feature phone or a basic phone.
What is the best dumb phone for kids in NZ?
A simple phone with SOS support is the safest start. The Artfone big button 4G phone and Artfone 4G foldable both have an SOS button that calls up to 5 numbers, a basic camera or none at all, and no internet access, which keeps a child focused on calls and texts.
What is the best dumb phone for teens or tweens?
The Artfone 4G foldable suits teens and tweens best because a flip design feels more like a normal phone, and it has Bluetooth, MP3 and FM radio. The Opel TouchFlip 4G adds a camera and a touchscreen for teens who want a little more.
What is the best dumb phone for texting?
The Opel TouchFlip 4G has a tactile keypad for texting when flipped open, and the Oricom EZY7510 has a high-contrast keypad with a talking keypad. Both are easier to text on than a candy-bar phone with a tiny screen.
Is there a Nokia dumb phone I can buy?
Nokia and HMD make well-known basic phones such as the Nokia 105 4G, but the Nokia and HMD listings we found are either US-carrier versions that only work with T-Mobile, or UK imports with about $43 delivery. None met our free-delivery bar, so none made the guide.
Can a dumb phone have GPS, maps, Spotify or a hotspot?
Not properly. The Oricom EZY7510 lists GPS location for its SOS feature, but none of these phones has a maps app, Spotify or a mobile hotspot. They play MP3 files and FM radio, and if you need maps or hotspot, a smartphone is the better choice.
Will a dumb phone work in New Zealand?
It needs to support 4G, because NZ carriers are retiring their 3G networks. Look for 4G band 28 and VoLTE support, and note that the phones here are sold from Australia, so check with your carrier that the model is accepted on its network before you buy.
What is the best cheap dumb phone?
The Artfone big button 4G phone is the cheapest basic phone in this guide with a strong track record, and the Artfone 4G foldable is the cheapest flip phone. Both ship free to New Zealand.
