GoKawiilEdgar Cervantes / Android Authority
While I’ve never spoken about this publicly before now, 2022 was a tough year for me. After my Pixel 7 broke, I found myself without a phone, and with plenty of rising family expenses, I didn’t feel like I could just run out and buy one either. What I did have was a collection of older work devices from OnePlus and a few other brands that worked well as Wi-Fi devices, but no longer supported the necessary bands to work correctly on any US network.
During this time, I saved up for a new device and relied on a combination of my home network, public Wi-Fi networks, and hotspotting off my wife’s phone as a way to manage the situation.
It’s true that for some people, it’s technically possible to get by without phone service in this day and age. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. The adjustment period was rough, but I have to admit that the experience wasn’t all bad.
Have you ever spent a long period without a phone or cell service? 58 votes Yes, and it wasn't so bad. 36 % Yes, and it was miserable. 10 % No, I've never tried something like that. 52 % Other (Tell us in the comments) 2 %
Learning how to do things without constant connectivity
Megan Ellis / Android Authority
Life without phone service isn’t impossible, but it certainly requires adjustments to how you use your phone. This means using alternative methods for calling and texting, as well as planning out your day and week so the lack of phone service doesn’t slow you down.
I opted to use Google Voice at the time, as it allowed me to place phone calls and receive texts without needing a dedicated phone service. Of course, this came with its own obstacles. The biggest problem with most VoIP services is that two-factor identification support is usually inconsistent at best, and many times, you’ll find a complete lack of support. For most things, I was able to get around this by setting up an authenticator app as an alternative, but I also had to use my wife’s number in a few cases where there was no support for other methods.
To live without constant phone connectivity, you have to plan ahead in a way that most of us take for granted.
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