I barely lasted one week after trading my iPhone for a 'dumb' phone

• The Light Phone 2 is a phone without a web browser or app store.
• I swapped my new iPhone for a Light Phone 2 to see how long I'd last without social media.
• "Dumb phones" are becoming more popular amongst Gen Z, but I'm not convinced.

I traded in my new iPhone 14 Pro Max for a pared-down Light Phone 2, and I was shocked at how much I've come to depend on technology.

The Light Phone 2 belongs to a category of devices sometimes called "dumb phones." They're simplified phones without social media apps or a web browser. For $299, Light offers some escape from the online world.

I replaced my phone with a Light Phone 2 for a few outings to experience life without a small personal computer in my pocket. As a tech-obsessed Gen Zer, it was an anxiety-inducing.

I've had a smartphone since middle school, so it's hard to recall a time when cellphones were only used for calling and texting.

As a 24-year-old New Yorker, I use my iPhone for navigation, music, and connecting to the world around me. From playing virtual solitaire on the subway to quickly searching a recipe while I'm shopping for groceries, it's almost always in my hand.

I didn't expect it to feel so similar to a toddler toy when I held it next to the Light Phone 2. I observed vivid colors versus black and white, and endless entertainment versus a straightforward purpose.

Without my $1,000 "toy" to placate me in public, I was forced to be more in touch with my surroundings.

The Light Phone offers a limited range of features. I was able to call and text as soon as I activated the phone. To add the optional tools, which I desperately needed, I had to do so on Light's website.

From the website, I added the music tool, directions, a calendar, a podcast tool, and notes.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the navigation worked in New York City. I worried there would only be directions for driving, but there was a public transportation option.

As for entertainment, I didn't download music files for listening, but I was able to get my favorite podcasts on the Light Phone via the online dashboard on my laptop.

Instead of mindlessly scrolling social media while waiting for my coffee order, I was listening to podcasts and learning something new. I appreciated the opportunity, but I missed my TikTok "For You" page.

The Light Phone 2 is for "going light," according to the message on the box. And, the notion is becoming more mainstream through collaborations with public figures like Kendrick Lamar, who launched a limited-edition version of the phone earlier this year that quickly sold out.

There are crops of Gen Zers who are pushing back on today's technology and seeking out dumb phones as a way to limit screen time and connect IRL.

But, after a week of downgrading, I'm not fully convinced I'm ready to turn away from instant access to information or a quick distraction from my own thoughts.

The Light Phone helped me live in the moment and be more aware of my surroundings, but I found myself missing the convenience of having a camera, computer, and a lifeline to the wider world in my back pocket.

So for now, it's back to my iPhone — and all of its pros and cons. But it's nice to know that a quieter, pared-down device like the Light Phone exists for when I'm thinking about slowing down and doing a digital detox.