Comment Section for Can Using the Light Phone III Help Cure ‘Brain Rot’? - The New York Times

This New York Times article, titled "Can Using the Light Phone III Help Cure ‘Brain Rot’?", discusses the author's experience using the Light Phone III, a minimalist phone designed to reduce technological distractions. The author, Brian X. Chen, switched from his iPhone to the Light Phone for a week to see if it could alleviate his "brain rot," a term for the inability to think deeply due to excessive phone use. The Light Phone III, a $600 device from a Brooklyn start-up, has only basic apps and no web browser, app store, or email. It can place calls, send texts, take photos, show map directions, and play music or podcasts. The author enjoyed some aspects of the phone, including not feeling tempted to stare at the screen during idle moments and being more mindful of his surroundings. However, the lack of advanced smartphone features proved challenging. Chen was unable to access his virtual transit pass, generate a barcode to enter his gym, access his email, look up a new restaurant, or control his garage door. He also found texting to be sluggish due to the lack of autocorrect, and the photo quality was poor compared to modern smartphones. In conclusion, while the Light Phone III might be suitable as a secondary device for leisure or for people wanting to limit distractions, the author found that it is impractical as a primary phone in a society reliant on advanced smartphone features.