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I’m all for finding ways to spend less time staring at a screen, but I’m not entirely convinced that building a whole new phone is the answer. That’s the idea behind ADHD ONE, a gloriously chunky handset from Cologne-based designer Kevin Noki that looks like it’s escaped from the 1980s.
The name stands for Anti-Distraction Handset Device, and its purpose is quite simple. Rather than replacing your smartphone, it connects to an iPhone via Bluetooth, allowing you to make and receive calls while hiding your current phone in a drawer or other room.
It has a physical 19-key keyboard, a small OLED display, a microphone and a speaker, but none of the apps, social media feeds or notifications that make modern phones so difficult to put down. You can also use your iPhone’s Do Not Disturb settings to decide which contacts are allowed to get through.
There is, of course, a catch. ADHD ONE does not have an independent mobile connection, so your iPhone still needs to be nearby and within Bluetooth range. It’s less a replacement for your phone than a way to make calls without the usual distractions in your hand.
(Image credit: Kevin Noki)
3D-print your own retro handset
The ADHD ONE isn’t just a retro-looking shell around a modern phone. Noki designed the handset from scratch, using Autodesk Fusion to create the building before 3D printing its components.
Inside, a Raspberry Pi Pico handles the device’s functions, while a Bluetooth module takes care of call audio. There’s also a rechargeable battery, charge controller and custom circuit board, all packed into the wonderfully oversized housing.
The design also comes with some customization options. You can choose between three speaker grill styles and three antenna designs, including the kind of oversized air that makes the whole thing look like a prop from an old action movie. There’s even an alternative housing without an antenna, although that feels like half the fun is missing.
If you fancy making one yourself, Noki sells the digital build files for €29.99 (around £26). The package includes the 3D printable STL files, firmware, circuit board manufacturing files, a parts list and a quick-start guide. You must source the electronic components and the assembly yourself, however, and the files are licensed for personal use.
So is this a clever way to reduce smartphone distractions or an elaborate solution to a problem that can be solved by putting your phone in another room? Honestly, probably a bit of both.