runjake 6 hours ago

The web browser of course. It can do most anything an app can do including taking photos and recording audio.

I don’t know if there is another correct answer, right?

  • paulcole 5 hours ago

    I mean this is like picking “satellite phone” if you could take one thing to a desert island with you. Kind of a boring answer even if it’s technically correct.

beAbU 9 hours ago

OP, from your replies here it seems you came into this with your own opinions.

What is the one app you would keep, and why is it ChatGPT?

Quinzel 13 hours ago

Safari. Because at least you can access most other services from that. The navigation might be a bit shit, but you’re still connected.

  • owebmaster 10 hours ago

    Definitely not safari because its PWA implemention is lame.

  • brike 13 hours ago

    cheater....

    • dcminter 11 hours ago

      I mean "Firefox" was my first thought too, I blame the question ;)

      Assuming pre-installed stuff is a given (in which case I guess I'm managing with Chrome) then here in Sweden I'd have to go with BankID so I could still do ecommerce stuff.

walthamstow 12 hours ago

Google Maps or OSMAnd, assuming I get phone calls and texts for free.

Banking I can do on a computer, I live in a place with great public transport so losing Uber would not be the end of the world

cypherg 3 hours ago

Instagram because it's by far the app that gets the most use on an hour by hour basis. Endless content plus messaging.

mikewarot 3 hours ago

The actual phone call app, of course. It's not really a phone without it.

hulitu an hour ago

> If you could only keep one app on your phone, what would it be?

The phone app.

Bender 10 hours ago

SMS/Texting. All I use the phone for is voice and text. In fact I miss my old Danger Sidekick II for its nice physical keyboard, tiny phone with a slide-up screen. It was perfect for me.

Kuyawa 10 hours ago

Brave. I could access the whole world with it, no ads, AI at my fingertips, maps, banks, crypto wallets, chats, apps, there is absolutely nothing I can't do and if there is, I'd build it.

ValdikSS 6 hours ago

Email client I guess.

Basically the only thing I really miss in the feature phones is email client.

koliber 10 hours ago

Notion.

Or the Telephone app that allows me to make phone calls, if we are pedantic.

codingdave 8 hours ago

Merlin Bird ID.

I can do everything else at home on my PC.

anenefan 13 hours ago

I'm in a very rural area so the first on any cheapie android phones is a good GPS program - doesn't need mobile network coverage to get position, time and speed of travel.

d--b 2 hours ago

2 Factor authentication.

I can do everything else on dumb phone + computer + camera, but 2FA is the reason I simply cannot drop the smartphone.

  • ValdikSS 2 hours ago

    There are feature phones which support applications (not Android-based), but indeed nobody made an OTP authenticator for it.

swah 9 hours ago

Whatsapp but if I had no family then Safari.

almosthere 14 hours ago

assuming Phone is just a feature not an app, then maps

  • brike 14 hours ago

    interesting, I thought people are going to mention Notion, ChatGPT, tasks, but now maps:)

    why it's the main app that you need? are you travelling a lot?

    • dcminter 11 hours ago

      > I thought people are going to mention Notion, ChatGPT, tasks ...

      I'd bet good money that most people have neither Notion nor ChatGPT apps installed on their phones. How many people do you think don't use Maps or an equivalent whenever they're away from home?

    • rolph 13 hours ago

      maps are the most useful on phone as you tend to take maps with you.

      most other apps are sedentary.

paulcole 5 hours ago

I’ll try to not be boring here with my answer.

If I could only do one thing with my phone (app-wise) it’d either be music or podcasts. If I had to pick one, I’d go with podcasts.

So I’m going to say my podcast app of choice, OverCast.

davydm 13 hours ago

Banking - no ways I want to waste time at a physical bank.

Sure, I'd miss all the messaging channels, but I could tell people they can only sms me.

  • KomoD 5 hours ago

    > but I could tell people they can only sms me.

    Well, you wouldn't be able to keep the messages app would you? So they can't :)

  • brike 13 hours ago

    you had to have millions on your bank account if it's the most important app for you:)

pajko 9 hours ago

OsmAnd+

shakna 14 hours ago

Messages.