A Simple Switch Brings Calm And Focus

Quick Smiles:

• Innovative smartphone button helps users unplug instantly
• Expert advice encourages mindful digital habits for wellbeing
• Ethical design pairs high-tech features with sustainability

Imagine regaining your peace of mind with the simple flick of a button. That’s the intention behind the Fairphone 6, which introduces a thoughtful design element for users seeking a healthier relationship with technology.

Unlike modern phones dominated by touchscreens, this device features a striking lime-colored button that activates ‘Fairphone Moments’—a mindful mode that silences distractions and allows access to just five essential apps. This tactile switch serves as a daily reminder to choose calm over constant notifications, according to Miquel Ballester, Fairphone’s co-founder and head of product. He shares, “We wanted the moment of ‘unplugging’ to feel intentional and easy to use. So, there’s a real, tactile lime switch on the side of the phone. It’s both a function control and a little reminder that you’re choosing calm over constant notifications.”

Studies show the overwhelming flood of alerts can negatively impact mental health, affecting productivity and raising stress levels—even when you don’t interact with your phone. Psychotherapist and anxiety expert Kamalyn Kaur explains, “Each and every single notification you get triggers a mini stress response. On a physiological level, this is going to result in a spike of cortisol and adrenaline in your body.” She continues, “Over time, the more notifications you get, the more you’re constantly switched on and on edge. This ends up leading to mental fatigue and emotional dysregulation, and you’re never truly able to switch off.”

Digital overload can leave anyone feeling drained. But as Kaur encourages, it’s about making proactive choices. She recommends settings that only let vital notifications through, creating ‘connection curfews’ to switch off devices at night, and establishing ‘digital doorways’—scheduled times for checking phones.

Meditation teacher Chloë Webster is one advocate of this practical approach. Every Friday at 9pm, she commits to a full digital detox, supported by her own phone’s settings. She looks forward to this routine, saying, “I just imagine that social media turns off. I wanted to really be present on my weekend. Two days almost resets your brain.”

Fairphone’s team hopes their innovation supports these kinds of lifestyle choices, where high performance meets the power to unplug anytime. Ballester describes it as achieving “both power and peace in a single device.”

The Fairphone 6 also stands out for its ethical core. The phone is backed by a five-year warranty and at least eight years of software updates. Its unique modular design means key parts—like the battery, screen, and camera—are easy to replace at home. The company is committed to fair pay, transparent supply chains, and minimizing environmental impact.

For Stewart Newman, head of utilities at The Midcounties Co-operative, which exclusively offers Fairphone 6 with a SIM in the UK, values are central. “Your Co-op Mobile and Fairphone have a deep-rooted connection based on shared ethical principles, including sustainability, fairness and social responsibility. Fast-forward to today and we’re its longest-standing UK partner.”

In the end, making positive changes to your digital habits can be as empowering as pressing a button. Webster and Kaur both remind us it’s about taking small, intentional steps: “Do I want to stay the same this time next year? Do I still want to be scrolling on my phone? It’s about taking the reins a little bit and setting a boundary.”

Sometimes, a little switch makes all the difference.

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