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Looking for the simplest possible cell-phone with following features:

  • physical keypad (like the old phones before the iPhone era)
  • simple phone-book - like old Nokia phones and like...
  • allows phone calls
  • allows SMS
  • and allows create an wifi hotspot (for my tablet) using the operator's 3G/4G.
  • that's all - e.g. don't need radio, GPS, camera, hairdryer :), etc...

Maybe, would be nice to have:

  • nice design (woman friendly) :)
  • somewhat rugged/watertight (but see the previous)
  • long lasting battery

Exists such simple phone which allows create an WiFi-hotspot? My googling, even searching Alibaba and such - failed.

If the phone will "know" more - I don't care, until it will have the all wanted features (mainly the physical keyboard - e.g NOT touchscreen and allows the hotspot).

EDIT

Because probably i'm not enough clear, adding the example picture of the keypad. Don't want QUERY, sliding anything... just a such simple phone. Also added the example of the simple hotspot device. Looking for a combination of two. :) That's all. Nothing complicated, nor magical. :)

enter image description here

enter image description here

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  • My advice is carry a second hotspot device around. Alternatively get the android blackberry if you want physical buttons. Simpe and hotspot are kinda opposites.
    – William
    Commented Jun 9, 2018 at 0:18

3 Answers 3

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https://us.alcatelmobile.com/alcatel-goflip-v/

DESIGN
Sizes: 4.13 x 2.08 x .736 in.
Weight: 4.16oz
Color: Black
Finish: Micro textured back cover
MEMORY
ROM/RAM: 8GB ROM / 1GB RAM
SD Support: microSD™ up to 32GB
FEATURES
Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 210, MSM8909
Speed & Type: 1.1GHz quad-core
Operating System and Version No.: AOSP based OS
Sensors: GPS (A-GPS)
WEA Enabled: Yes
TTY/TTD Enabled: Yes
SAR Rating: Maximum 1.08W/kg (head) / 1.32W/kg (body)
INTERNAL DISPLAY
Size: 2.8-inch
Type: TFT-TN
Resolution: QVGA (320×240)
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Glass Type: PMMA (Acrylic)
EXTERNAL DISPLAY
Size: 1.44-inch
Type: TFT-TN
Resolution: 128×128
Aspect Ratio: 1:1
Glass Type: PMMA (Acrylic)
CONNECTIVIY
GSM: 2/5 (1900/850MHz) UMTS: 2/4/5
LTE: 2/4/5/13
VoLTE: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Up to 10 devices
VoWiFi: Yes
Wi-Fi Specs: 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth: 4.2
USB Type: Micro-USB
SIM Type: Nano 4FF
Card Slot: Single
BATTERY
Size: 1350mAh
Standby Time: Up to 300hrs (4G LTE)
Talk Time: Up to 6.5hrs (4G/VoLTE)
Charging Time Until Full: 3.5hrs
Fast Charge: No
REAR CAMERA
Type: 2MP
Flash Type: N/A
Focus: Fixed-Focus
Video Capture: 720p @30fps
Video Playback: 1080p @30fps
SOUND
HD Voice: Yes
Microphone: Dual with noise cancellation
Default Music Player: Media Center
Supported Formats: MP3, MIDI and WAV
HAC Rating: M4/T4
Headset Jack Size: 3.5mm jack
Speaker Size (In Watts): 0.7w IN BOX
Quick Start Guide
AC Charger

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    That does look like a good match, but if you could condense the specs down to the relevant info that'd be great.
    – JMY1000 ♦
    Commented Jun 27 at 4:06
  • Try edit the answer. I accepted it (even if the question is few years old, just would be nice to have nice-ly formatted answer.
    – clt60
    Commented Jun 27 at 18:59
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The big issue you're going to run into is the need for a hotspot. While there are still recycled and cheap phones made by one or two manufacturers which possess the other features, it's very rare for any of them to also serve as a hotspot. They are considered entry-level phones and usually use a proprietary operating system so everything "looks like the old days" and a user would need to buy a better phone to add new apps.

I highly recommend you migrate to Android, as address books and such haven't changed much. Also, most of the mid-to-high range phones serve as a hotspot through their provider, though whether or not you can use it without wrecking yourself financially is up to your service provider contract.

This is a list of phones which have the other features you want. For a decent device which also has the keyboard as a physical component, Blackberry is your likely brand. Most manufacturers simply don't use this now, as it's additional hardware (so additional expense), can be physically damaged through use, and the Android store features many, many options for free touchscreen keyboard alternatives to the one installed on a touchscreen phone when you get it.

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  • Unfortunately, no one of the listed phones are "ok". (No one is an classic keypad-like phone, without touchscreen). Looks like that you're right and simply no phone of such features exists. +1
    – clt60
    Commented Jun 6, 2018 at 21:34
  • You're looking for a keyboard type called "T9" then; the kind where you cycled through letters tied to the phone number keys to text. These do exist, but there are none which contain anything but the absolute most rudimentary functions. You will not find one that is a hotspot.
    – CDove
    Commented Jun 7, 2018 at 11:59
  • Yes, the classic keypad e.g. numbers, + * and # and the letters as you described. With hotspot. Unfortunately, me also find no one... :( And honestly do not understand why. Here are pure hotspot devices, (like this) here are simple phones also, so don't understand why can't combine the two.
    – clt60
    Commented Jun 7, 2018 at 16:53
  • You can technically combine them. The market for them is just so small that no-one cares to do it. That, and the software for hotspots are usually written for iOS and Android, which T9 phones don't use. Dedicated hotspots use router hardware instead of software emulation, so they're different devices from phones entirely.
    – CDove
    Commented Jun 7, 2018 at 17:32
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Any mod capable Moto Z series device can be equipped with a Livermorium sliding keyboard mod, although as of answering this question it is out of stock from the manufacturer but should be available by years end again.

The big issue here is the requirement for a hotspot, which most older phones would not support properly... So stepping up to a newer device is a requirement, adding in all the things you don't need (like GPS for example).

Your other requirement of a simple phonebook could be handled by any number of Android applications available from the Play Store, but that would be trial and error based on what the user likes and is beyond the scope of hardwarerec.

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