This 3D-printed 1980s brick phone brings back the days when mobile phones were just for making calls

In a nutshell: A lot of people cite the 1990s Nokia 3210 as the old-school brick-like mobile phone. But for something that fits the description a lot closer, go back another decade to the 1980's and the first handheld mobile phones: brick phones. Now, a designer has 3D-printed one of these devices, retaining the originals' primary function of making and receiving calls – so there are no modern smartphone distractions.

Cologne-based designer and maker Kevin Noki created the ADHD ONE, the first part of the name being an acronym for Anti Distraction Handset Device.

The device resembles a snazzy update of 1980s brick phones sported by the likes of Wall Street's Gordon Gekko, such as the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. There's the physical 19-key keypad, small display, and a concerning large antenna.

The phone has a much more modern set of internals. It's powered by a Raspberry Pi Pico and features an FSC-BT1026C Bluetooth module based on Qualcomm's QCC3024 chip. There's also a rechargeable lithium battery, charging controller, and custom-printed circuit board.

Unlike the 1980s originals, the ADHD ONE doesn't have its own cellular connectivity. Instead, it relies on a Bluetooth connection to an iPhone to make and receive calls, so it's not like you can completely replace your distraction-filled smartphone with one of these, but you can at least keep it hidden in a drawer.

Noki designed the phone's enclosure using Autodesk Fusion before 3D-printing the components. He's made the files available on his website for €29.99 ($33.68). The package includes 3D-printable STL files for the main housing, back panels, internal mounting frame, display cover, battery holder, and all 19 keypad buttons.

There are also three speaker grille designs (Classic, Holes, and Stripes), three antenna options (Retro, Slim, and Screw), and an alternative housing without an antenna hole. Other included files cover ready-to-flash firmware in UF2 format, Gerber and drill files for manufacturing the custom PCB, a bill of materials with component sourcing notes, and a quick-start guide to assembling the device.

The package doesn't include the firmware's source code, editable 3D/CAD files, or editable PCB design files. It's also a digital download, so no physical components are supplied. Buyers receive a ZIP file of approximately 20MB immediately after payment. The files are licensed for personal use only, meaning they cannot be redistributed or resold.

Several devices have been released in recent years promising a break from the distractions – such as depression-inducing social media apps – found on smartphones. There were the $299 Light Flip and Light Phone III, the Minimal Phone, and Commodore's Callback 8020, to name a few.