I thought I was already quite good at not being distracted by my phone as I had stopped all social media, but I still found myself scrolling newsfeeds, when I just wanted a headline... So I changed to Balance and it has brought much more freedom and removed a before unknown agitation. I will never go back
Balance Phone strikes just the right balance between what to allow and what to block. Addictive sites and apps related to social media, chatrooms, pornography, etc. are blocked – yet I can still access my emails, catch up on news, access my meditation app, etc. which is awesome! I like that we have a choice of using the Balance home screen or Samsung's UI - as well as the choice of having all browsers blocked if we want to. Somehow, the developers knew and understood EXACTLY where to restrict, and where to allow us some choices. This phone is an answered prayer - it feels like I have more time & energy than I used to. It's amazing how draining all that addictive stuff can be. Thank you, Balance!!!
This has changed my life. As someone with a long history of consuming adult entertainment, and knowing that I don't have the willpower to control my urges it is so relieving to know I have a safe device that I cannot manipulate or use workarounds to access adult content. A bonus benefit is that I no longer feel the need to check social media all the time. I feel free, I get so much more done now.
Really good overall. A couple of weird blips- it won't let me use the top search bar for general searches, only specific URLs. Also won't let me use DuckDuckGo. Can't complain over much though. Cheers!
Bought it as the first smart phone for our son, and so far it’s meeting our expectation for safety, as well as his in terms of looking smart and feeling part of a group (one that we would have hoped did not exist but that’s apparently life now) Our plan is to keep him off advertisement platforms (eg “SoMe” and gaming) and free internet browsing for approx the rest of his life (right!) and we hope BP can help us stay on this track for long🙏🏼
I've been using my Balance Phone for two months and it's been a real game-changer for me. I didn't like how easy it was to mindlessly scroll on my iPhone. I didn't like how I was checking Instagram multiple times a day just out of habit. I work in a newsroom a few days a week and felt like there was an overload of information in my life. I wasn't sure if the Balance Phone would be a temporary thing for me but two months in and I am so pleased I bought it. I have been listening to more audiobooks and music instead of scrolling. If I need to post on Instagram (for work) I use my old iPhone living upstairs (on wifi) and out of the way and I am more conscious of how and when I am using the app. Last week I had to switch back to my iPhone as I was covering a festival with a designated app which I couldn't use on the Balance Phone. The old bad scrolling habits returned immediately and when the conference was over, I was delighted to switch back to the Balance Phone. The main app I would like to use on my Balance Phone but can't is HSBC but I just use my laptop instead. Having used and got used to this phone myself, I plan to get one for my 12 year old when she is ready.
The experiens with a balance phone.
I have been 1 month seen i started and I very thankfull about this decision because, I have been doing more activities than before.
Otherwise, I use the mobilephone as an important object in my job: gruops chat, gmail, excel and others documents on the day. So get out of scrouling and keep trap in youtube or instagram had been a problem before, increasing the hours of use of my device.
I have nothing bad to say right now about my experiens with a balance phone, if this tought change I would love to give my problem as a way to improve a product I belive is the key for a better society.
Great product but definitely a few bugs to fix:
1) balance won't allow me to add my joint Monzo bank account
2) the camera sucks and appears to use AI to finish photos, resulting in weird glitches in the pictures
I really needed android auto to silence my kids sometimes, thanks for that.
Really good foundation, to grow off of when managing your more toxic digital habits. Like anything Balance isnt a magic fix, it takes time, patience and forgiveness, but progress can be made.
Couple of UI elements are frustrating, some app names change slightly, multiple capitals for example, like BBC - Bbc, and NHS - Nhs, might not bother everyone but my eyes and brain itch when I see it. Being asked at least once a day to chose a Home UI is annoying, I'd prefer it just be locked in permanently. Not being able to use Google images for references can be very frustrating, if you could integrate this somehow into Google Safe search, if you have it on you can see images, if you have it off you can't, that would be much more useful so you dont miss out on a useful resource. Some app blocking is interesting, cant use Shazam of example, a staple app I have had and used for years for music identification, pretty annoying. I also feel that it's very easy to overwhelm the phone, even with 3 apps open. Audible playing, Strava running, and having the Camera going and the phone chuggs and thats with no other apps in the background. Tried clearing app caches often, but no major difference.
More than anything Im going to stick with the phone, yes there are some gripes but I feel the overall purpose goes beyond those issues. I would have to encounter a pretty major speedbump to swap back on to anything else.
I feel I am changing a lot of habits using the phone, but I also feel I am missing out on some quality of life features.
We have bought Balance phone for our daughter and we're very pleased. She is happy that she can call us and do basic things, we do not see her glued to her phone. We recommend it!
Esto es como cuando te quieres poner a dieta pero llenas tu despensa de comida no apropiada. Pues te metes un atracón en cualquier momento de malestar porque la tienes a mano. Gracias a este móvil he conseguido apartar la tentación en aquellos momentos en que me era inevitable acudir al impulso. Es como si hubiera tirado los alimentos procesados y llenar la nevera de productos saludables. Solo puedo daros las gracias.
Great way to keep our teenager safe from harmful content.
The balance phone has been amazing for me. In the past, I had "broken through" any barrier I had set for myself - screen time apps, not taking my phone into bed etc. It was particularly difficult because I rely on my phone for managing a chronic illness and therefore HAVE to have it on me at all times.
I was initially worried that I would not use the balamce phone - keeping my old one nearby and just using it for social media instead, until the balance phone just collects dust in the cupboard. I'm happy to report that the opposite has happened and I don't even remember where my old phone is. The great thing is thay I don't FEEL like I'm being restricted on the balance phone. I've accepted that is has certain functions and doesn't have others, and I use the functions it does have as much as I want without feeling bad about time on my phone. My screen time is 2-3hours lower every day and I feel more focused overall. The only thing I dislike is the phone's size - no need for the huge screen if I'm not spending hours on it:)
I decided to buy a Balance Phone after finiahing Cal Newport's "Digital Minimalism". Since getting it last month, I've felt less anxious and more focused both at work and at home than I've felt in a long time. The amount of time that freed up from not being able to scroll on social media all the time is truly terrific.
My only complaint is that the UI makes the core smartphone features - calling and taking photos - a bit hard to open as you have to navigate through the app list to get to them.
It's practical and does the job. Has all the things you need, and just because the phone is "balanced" doesn't mean it gives up on Samsung's AI features, yet the only flaw is that you can't access Images on any browser.
It's so freeing not even having the choice to go on social media. The Balance team were also able to remove browsers permanently on my phone which has been a huge help. Anything I need to do on the internet can be done on my laptop. I would highly recommend this to anyone, especially if you've tried blocking apps in the past and are disappointed in how easy they are to circumvent when you're desperate (I know the struggle!). The balance phone is the one!
I bought a balance phone out of pure desperation, after spending night after night scrolling until early in the morning. I was apprehensive about finding nothing to do, until I realised that that was exactly the problem. I was filling spare time with social media instead of working on things I enjoyed, reading and just... being bored and thinking. I am now forced into finding ways to fill my time that actually matter, and not drowning in negativity and pointless time wasting online.
Im not going to pretend it wasn't a huge difference. It takes time to adjust. But the beauty of this phone is you don't lose the important apps that you rely on day to day. This is the perfect middle option between a smartphone and a traditional dumb phone.
I highly recommend this phone if you are wasting time you'd rather claim back, so far it has been worth every penny.
Bought this for my son as his first phone. I wanted him to have a phone with whats app but without social media so the balance phone is perfect for him and I have peace of mind.
Have been using a dumb phone for the last three years and was lacking whatsapp. Am now using the Balance phone as a home phone, connected to the home wifi for only whatsapp and it is perfect :-)
Ideal si lo que quieres es llevar una vida más tranquila y libre del contenido rápido que te engancha y empeora tu vida
