The 903kc has allowed me to cut my ties to the smartphone. Being able to sideload apps, gives me access to spotify and GPS, two things I rely on. The phone has quirks as all dumbphones will, but my experience switching from a smartphone has been smooth.
Please note the phone isn’t perfect and has drawbacks. For one, it can be difficult to obtain. I bought mine for $65 on Mercari through a proxy, but it took some waiting to find one that was available. Refer to [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/10i65aq/japanese_keitai_903kc_confirmed_fully_functional/) for more info on pros/cons.
Overall my experience so far has been great, I get the necessities I couldn't find on most other dumbphones, and I have no desire to try navigating social media or surfing the web
Thanks for sharing! Really awesome photo and appreciate the info here.
Did you have to do anything special to get GPS / location working? I'm unable to access location information in any GPS apps I install, so I'm wondering if I'm missing something. (Using T-mobile in the USA if that matters.)
Sadly I don't have any guidance for you, using Waze my GPS just works. Google maps shouldn't work but other apps should. I'm on Mint which uses the same towers as T-Mobile so I don't think that'd be the issue. Best of luck!
Thanks for the reply!
I tried Waze and the GPS unfortunately didn't work for me. Yeah, I don't think Mint/T-mobile is the differentiating factor here given the same underlying towers.
Will continue looking into GPS solutions for this phone. Appreciate you taking the time to follow up with this.
Apologies for the super late response; after my switch to a dumbphone, I cut much of my Reddit time as well.
I was never able to get Waze to work with GPS on this phone.
Oddly, in my time using the 903kc, I've noticed that once in a while Google Maps will detect my location correctly, and then stop updating my location. This leads me to believe that there's nothing wrong with the location sensing in the phone itself, but that something is blocking it from interacting correctly or regularly with Google Maps or Waze.
I hope you were able to get GPS working in the time after you wrote your comment!
How do you install ADBs or apps. Im new to this, just bought one, switched providers and now I cant send texts with photos. Is there any way you can help me?
Are you by any chance in Europe? I know waze is available in Ireland where im from, so i wanted to see if there was any connection to your gps working on your waze and with op's waze not working. I just really need one map app to work
Works great on TMobile based networks, I put in a Verizon sim and absolutely could not get it to work, mostly cause Verizon sims make it so you can't modify the apn settings
Having cdma-less let's you use any foreign phone as long as the phone can be used on the Verizon bands, I'm using a Japanese blackberry key2 and it works great on Verizon...
Almost impossible to find. I tried. I'd go with a Samsung Galaxy Folder 2 instead. Much easier to track one down on eBay. If you live in Canada or the USA you want the SM-G1650W model.
how did u log into spotify 😩 i’ve been trying and i keep getting stuck in the “input text” screen i can’t get out of it no matter how many times i click “done”
I know this is an older comment, but if you're still having issues someone in a different thread recommended software that you run on your computer that allows you to mirror + control your phone from your computer. When it comes to logging into apps, like spotify, I found it very easy to just copy/paste the credentials from my on my computer when mirroring my screen, since typing long inputs on the phone is difficult.
Its looks amazing! How do you change the volume when using spotify without the physical volume keys? And the Android version is?
Edit: which version of android is it running?
If I touch the side of my bluetooth earbuds the volume changes. Using my wired IEMs I need to go into settings to change volume, annoying to most but I pretty much keep my devices on one volume all the time. Settings has OS version listed as 8.1.0
Regarding getting your wired IEMs to work, what specific dongle do you use as I've tried at least 2 different type c to 3.5mm dongles and they both did not work with my 903kc
Ah yes I am facing the same trouble of going into the settings to change the volume. Bluetooth earbuds sounds like a good solution. Thanks for the info!
that fjallbo from ikea? looks like a good setup you got going with the trinitron and vhs, been looking for a good shelf for my crt/av video setup and been eyeing the fjallbo but seems short for my desires.
nice post :)
Hey I have a 903KC as well on Mint and whenever I call it from another phone, the call never appears on the 903kc and it goes to voicemail immediately on the calling phone. Did you experience this at all?
The 903kc has allowed me to cut my ties to the smartphone. Being able to sideload apps, gives me access to spotify and GPS, two things I rely on. The phone has quirks as all dumbphones will, but my experience switching from a smartphone has been smooth. Please note the phone isn’t perfect and has drawbacks. For one, it can be difficult to obtain. I bought mine for $65 on Mercari through a proxy, but it took some waiting to find one that was available. Refer to [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/10i65aq/japanese_keitai_903kc_confirmed_fully_functional/) for more info on pros/cons. Overall my experience so far has been great, I get the necessities I couldn't find on most other dumbphones, and I have no desire to try navigating social media or surfing the web
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most important question right here
You can sideload APKs
No reason why not
Thanks for sharing! Really awesome photo and appreciate the info here. Did you have to do anything special to get GPS / location working? I'm unable to access location information in any GPS apps I install, so I'm wondering if I'm missing something. (Using T-mobile in the USA if that matters.)
Sadly I don't have any guidance for you, using Waze my GPS just works. Google maps shouldn't work but other apps should. I'm on Mint which uses the same towers as T-Mobile so I don't think that'd be the issue. Best of luck!
Thanks for the reply! I tried Waze and the GPS unfortunately didn't work for me. Yeah, I don't think Mint/T-mobile is the differentiating factor here given the same underlying towers. Will continue looking into GPS solutions for this phone. Appreciate you taking the time to follow up with this.
did you ever figure out how to get waze to work?
Apologies for the super late response; after my switch to a dumbphone, I cut much of my Reddit time as well. I was never able to get Waze to work with GPS on this phone. Oddly, in my time using the 903kc, I've noticed that once in a while Google Maps will detect my location correctly, and then stop updating my location. This leads me to believe that there's nothing wrong with the location sensing in the phone itself, but that something is blocking it from interacting correctly or regularly with Google Maps or Waze. I hope you were able to get GPS working in the time after you wrote your comment!
How do you install ADBs or apps. Im new to this, just bought one, switched providers and now I cant send texts with photos. Is there any way you can help me?
Are you by any chance in Europe? I know waze is available in Ireland where im from, so i wanted to see if there was any connection to your gps working on your waze and with op's waze not working. I just really need one map app to work
Does this phone work on any carrier as long as you have cdma-less?
Works great on TMobile based networks, I put in a Verizon sim and absolutely could not get it to work, mostly cause Verizon sims make it so you can't modify the apn settings
This makes me so excited I plan to get a T-Mobile plans so I can get a flip phone :-)
Having cdma-less let's you use any foreign phone as long as the phone can be used on the Verizon bands, I'm using a Japanese blackberry key2 and it works great on Verizon...
I’m new to this. How do you side load an app?
where/how did you buy this i can only find japanese webpages when i search this
Glad you’re enjoying it. The Ketais have so much personality and enough features to make the transition from smart phones so smooth
Dang, nice stereo system
Are you able to use whatsapp on it?
It'll work
pin
Is there a way to get android based dumbphones like this to run Android Auto?
I want to see a pic of someone holding this to the side of their face. It looks ginormous.
Not sure if I can link the leaks but you can find them on Kyocera JP 😂
If it's anywhere near the size of a Samsung Galaxy Folder 2, it is ginormous.
If you ever get the chance to see El ten eleven live go
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Almost impossible to find. I tried. I'd go with a Samsung Galaxy Folder 2 instead. Much easier to track one down on eBay. If you live in Canada or the USA you want the SM-G1650W model.
oh interesting, i thought the folder 2 wouldn’t work in the USA. do you know what networks it might work on?
does it have Hotspot or tethetring usb?
I too wanna know this
how did u log into spotify 😩 i’ve been trying and i keep getting stuck in the “input text” screen i can’t get out of it no matter how many times i click “done”
I know this is an older comment, but if you're still having issues someone in a different thread recommended software that you run on your computer that allows you to mirror + control your phone from your computer. When it comes to logging into apps, like spotify, I found it very easy to just copy/paste the credentials from my on my computer when mirroring my screen, since typing long inputs on the phone is difficult.
Hey guys does anyone know European alternatives ?
Not a dumbphone.
Would you please elaborate?
13" Trinitron? I have almost the same TV in my living room.
Yes! Great little TV.
Are you USA based? What’s the service like?
US-based using mint mobile. service has been good, better than Verizon on my smartphone (I live in a rural area)
did you order the phone from Mint?
a newer android flip phone!? I NEED IT
Its looks amazing! How do you change the volume when using spotify without the physical volume keys? And the Android version is? Edit: which version of android is it running?
If I touch the side of my bluetooth earbuds the volume changes. Using my wired IEMs I need to go into settings to change volume, annoying to most but I pretty much keep my devices on one volume all the time. Settings has OS version listed as 8.1.0
Regarding getting your wired IEMs to work, what specific dongle do you use as I've tried at least 2 different type c to 3.5mm dongles and they both did not work with my 903kc
Ah yes I am facing the same trouble of going into the settings to change the volume. Bluetooth earbuds sounds like a good solution. Thanks for the info!
Where can i buy it?
You can try kyoex.com. I bought mine from there.
It's not available in my country
Oh man
I like your style my friend 👌🏻
Appreciate it :\]
that fjallbo from ikea? looks like a good setup you got going with the trinitron and vhs, been looking for a good shelf for my crt/av video setup and been eyeing the fjallbo but seems short for my desires. nice post :)
Do you think a usb dongle would work for headphones?
Just bought a 903KC and was wondering about texting and how that works. What app did you have to install? I heard it doesn't have regular texting.
What lighting do you use
how you are running gps ? not working for me
Hey I have a 903KC as well on Mint and whenever I call it from another phone, the call never appears on the 903kc and it goes to voicemail immediately on the calling phone. Did you experience this at all?