Balance Phone

Great experience so far! Exactly what I was looking for!

L'hem comprat com a primer telèfon per a la nostra filla adolescent, i estem molt satisfets amb el producte. Ha permès que ella tingui resoltes les seves necessitats de comunicació, per a les que ens demanava tenir mòbil, però minimitzant els riscos que feien que nosaltres inicialment volguéssim posposar (accés a xarxes socials i/o altres aplicacions).

Llevamos poco tiempo de uso, pero estamos viendo que Balance phone nos ha dado, en España, la posibilidad de que nuestra hija de 12 años pueda tener un smartphone con más garantías en cuanto al acceso a información adecuada a su edad. Las alternativas que existen en el mercado para un uso responsable de este tipo de aparatos mediante apps o sistemas de control parental no nos convencían. Pensamos que aún queda mucho por hacer al respecto, pero Balance phone es un buen comienzo.

I came to the Balance Phone having used a dumbphone for the past couple of years (The AGM M9). Prior to this I was spending 5+ hours a day on my old iPhone browsing content, generally wasting time and it was having a detrimental effect on my life.

Having switched to the dumbphone my usage was down to less than 30 minutes a day and my mental health has improved noticeably, so I was very hesitant to switch back to a smartphone but required some of the practical apps such as online banking and travel apps.

The Balance Phone

Pros

I like the fact that the Balance OS software is built in so it can’t be tampered with or removed in any way.
The home screen is generally very clear and easy to navigate.
My usage is similar to my old dumbphone of less than 30 minutes a day, which is the main plus point.
I have been able to use banking apps, maps, a good camera, music and other practical apps which I didn’t have on the old dumbphone.

Cons

The fingerprint scanner on the side of the phone sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. I presume this is an issue with the Galaxy A16 specifically.
I would like a way to minimize the home screen so that it all fits on one screen.
I added an additional blocking app to the Balance Phone to block news and shopping apps. It would be good if the Balance Phone came with an app that could block additional categories of apps as an optional extra.
The A16 is on the larger size of phones, I would prefer a smaller sized phone.

Conclusion

Overall, I am very happy with the Balance Phone. I have found a smart phone that allows me to use practical applications but blocks the harmful and distracting apps.
My screen time is the same as it was with the dumbphone of around 30 minutes or less per day. I would like to see the Balance Phone develop in future with amendments to the home screen and the option to block additional app categories at the user’s discretion.

I have also recommended the phone to a friend who is currently using a dumbphone for the same reasons as I was.

The people that invented the Balance Phone are heroes in my eyes. Thank you for the peace of mind it has given us... allowing our teenager to have a smart phone but knowing that she will not be exposed to harmful or addictive content. The Balance phone is allowing our daughter to use a smartphone but safely. Simple but genius. The whole world needs to hear about this phone.