As a male reader, I can say that I have never judged any other guys based on their phone choice. I carry an iPhone 4, which is a little dated, and I have friends who still willingly carry old candy bar phones because it fits their lifestyle. There is something almost more attractive when you are carrying a simpler phone. It avoids all of the distractions that most of us, including myself, have with our phones.

I'd have to agree with jimi_adams. New phones offer anything that you could need (and even not need) on a mobile device. Although this is convenient, I often find myself too distracted by my phone because, well...it does everything for me. When I see someone with a simpler phone that provides the basic functions that they need (i.e. call and text), it feels uncomplicated and more freeing. I definitely do not judge a person based on their phone choice, if anything, I like the variety.

I don't feel inferior when I'm around people with smartphones - quite the opposite, actually. Why? Because my phone doesn't have internet access or apps, so I'm not constantly on it. My biggest pet peeve is people who lay their phone on the table at dinner and then constantly check it. What on earth is so important on your phone that you'd rather check it than talk to the people you're physically with? I dread the day my clunky old phone dies and the only choices left might be smartphones.

Well, I know I stare at my phone. So that's one person.

Agreed with AnnieFeeya - that's one of my pet peeves too. I do have an older iphone (yeah - don't even know the model #) and I really dislike it. I only carry it around for directions or to make emergency calls. I really don't have the inclination to bust it out when I am with other people.

Wow, that's shallow. I never judge people on their choice of phone. Some people just don't want to be bothered by a smartphone. That's not who they are.
Otoh, as a geek, I'm fascinated by other people's toys and love to compare my gadgets. But I figure it's like a bunch of kids sitting around comparing their matchbox cars. Each one has a set of unique features and it's fun to play with them. No judgement.

93.78% of statistics are made up. And since when is an iPhone 4 out of date? I was carrying around the Zack Morris of cell phones up until a month or 2 ago.

I don't judge people on what type of phone they have, but I do a doubletake when I see a dumbphone. They're just very uncommon now, so I'm amazed when I see one. Everyone in our family and all of our friends use smartphones.

Yep, I carry an old style flip phone (a.k.a. "dumb phone"), but I've never felt embarrassed about it. It's a conscious choice on my part for many reasons, probably the main one being that I wish to cut down on my screen time since I work at a desk all day.

Also, I don't think the Phone Stack game you mention is primarily about displaying your pricey phone; It's more about preventing people from pulling out their phones in the middle of a conversation.(which does happen to be a major pet peeve of mine).

this feels like a thinly-veiled ad to promote cool cell phone cases.

Alright, I'll admit it. When I'm surrounded by people on the train I'll take a gander at what phone the person next to me is using and I constantly wonder if people are doing it to me, too (I call that paranoia). But I don't think I judge people for what phone they have beyond "I love Apple, too!" Mostly because the iPhone 4 I have now was a replacement for a 5+ year old flip phone that I only got rid of a little over a year ago. However, THAT phone I was embarrassed of. The thing could only handle text messages at the end -- it wasn't even a phone anymore.

Most phones I see are in cases and I'm not savvy enough to identify them.

However, I think the photo is a hoot. The watch is so prominent. Remember when watches were the hot status item? Now it's phones.

What AnnieFeeya said.
My mobile is a simple Virgin model and I am on "pay as you go". I figured a cell phone is a useful thing in case I get stuck on the road or something like that. I have it had for 5 years and if anything, I use it to check time (because I don't wear a watch).
I think people are too obsessed with their mobile devices and I don't understand why somebody needs to have a loud personal conversation while grocery shopping etc. The other day, I had to listen to a stupid brag about how much this guy sold his winter tires for on Kijii (while his wife went through a rack of sweaters). I was going to ask him if he thinks we all (i.e. other customers) need to hear this but I supressed the urge.

I do have iphone 5, but it's not mine - it's my employer's. I need to be accessible every day till 8 pm (including weekends) so that's why. I would prefer to not have it (so that nobody can bug me on weekends) but unfortunately my job requires it. It's a great toy to take pictures of my dogs with, that's all. I have no need to use it for surfing or for obsessive texting.
I think people quickly forgot that we used to live without mobile devices just fine.

I continue to use the same phone I've had for almost a decade (we've been through some tough times together), so I'm obviously not too hung up on what kinds of phones other people use, though admittedly, some of the technology is pretty impressive. On the other hand, my younger friends are amazed that my 'antique' phone still works!

Since my phone continues to work well *and* I use it so rarely (mostly to keep in contact with my husband while I'm out and about and/or for emergencies), there's no point in replacing it. At this point, why feed the beast by spending money and contributing to landfill and environmental pollution if I don't have to? As an aside, I never talk on the phone during an exchange with someone and I don't text; texting and driving is scary.:0 And I wish people would keep their cell phones off in movie theaters - those lights are distracting.

Isn't it impolite to leave your phone on the table? Not just because you might check it. It's not appropriate to leave your keys or wallet or purse there either.

Oftentimes, texting is the best way to have a conversation with family members. It's hard to get many people on one phone call, especially when everyone has different schedules or in different time zones. So there are times where I am pretty much glued to my phone.

I have a flip phone, mostly because it fits its nice little pocket in my favorite purse. It fits all of my phone needs perfectly. I don't need a fancier one to augment my identity or complicate my life. And the low monthly cost is nice, too.

It's really disgusting to walk into a wireless store to purchase a replacement battery for the phone and hear the manager make a snarky remark about its age (4 years) and simplicity. Next one who does that gets kicked.

Adding to my previous comment - my cell phone is sooo old and so dumb, it doesn't even have a flip feature. In terms of what my choice of a phone says about me, I guess it would be that I'm an older, practical gal.:) 10 years later and it's still going and going . . .

I want to get a phone like Will Farrell...the smaller the better.

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/jeffreys/n11437/

I have an iPhone. It was a gift. I pretty much never use it to make calls, but it's comforting to have in case of emergency or sudden whim. I do like to play solitaire while waiting for our meals in restaurants, and since my partner is an iPhone addict (guess who gave me mine??) he's online or playing games, too, so our table conversation is limited. (We have lots of other opportunities to talk...)

I do not leave it on the table though, because once, early on, I walked away and left it behind. It's unnerving and annoying, even though they found it and locked it in their safe until I came in for it. Too expensive to "give away". So now the minute I stop using it, it goes back into it's reserved pocket in my purse.

And I certainly don't give a rip what anybody uses. So many people we know happen to have iPhones, I kind of forget how many other options are out there, so sometimes I'm surprised when someone points out that they have something else. That's mostly my disinterest in the topic at work. I'm not judging, I just default to thinking if I have something, so must you! (Because I am, obviously, not really thinking about it at all.)

My only phone shame is when the screen protector gets all dusty underneath. I am just not great at applying those things!

I tend to find that people with iPhones lack imagination and are the opposite of tech savvy. They only purchased an iPhone because that's the phone they've heard of. You know it's bad when I have to tell people about features their phone has. I love to talk apps and such but I've learned that iPhone users in my circle know nothing.

This article makes me sad.

Not only do I have a plain old flip phone, I turned off the data and text options (OK, mostly for financial reasons). My distraction device of choice while out and about is a plain, ordinary old printed on paper book. From the library. If the phone rings while I'm out in public and it's not an emergency I tell people I'll call them back, or I just won't answer it. I refuse to be a phone slave.

I always think of my flip phone as a Star Trek communicator. A couple of my guy friends tease me about my old phone, but only in a fun way. I don't think it's a big deal. \

I put my phone on the table at dinner only if I need it to check the time - I haven't worn a watch since I got a cell phone. I keep the ringer off. Otherwise, it's rude to give your phone more priority than the company you are with.

Yeaaah, no. Up until last year I had a Nokia "brick" phone, and probably still would (it still works) except that my husband has a tendancy to DESTROY all phones within a few months. When he killed the last one I gave him my Nokia and upgraded my own. I figured it had lasted since the 90s, it would have the best chance of survival. He saved up and eventually got a smartphone that he hasn't destroyed yet. But it's been only a couple months...give him time.

He likes Mac products (I hate them with a burning passion), but he still got an Android based phone. As do I. Not a one of my friends has an iPhone, but I couldn't tell you what they do have because we just don't care. It's not that big of a deal.

I, too, have a 5 year old dumb flip phone as my sole phone. It's red, makes calls, texts, tells time, and most importantly has 6 alarm settings. I have a really hard time waking up. I'm not tech-phobic, just cash strapped. I have the work i Pad for all the mobile device goodness, and the nook and paper books for distraction. Not looking to double my phone bill anytime soon. And should anyone want to judge me, go for it. :)

Judge anyone because of a PHONE? What a strange idea. I will, however, judge anyone who is attached to a phone by a virtual umbilical cord. A phone is a utilitarian electronic device. The end.

I have that bag in the photo and I LOVE it. HEX is such a cool store.

Unless you have a serious excuse related to work responsibilities or a family emergency, it's quite rude to put your phone on the table when dining with other people. That's what pockets, handbags, and vibrate setting are for. Social events are not the place for phones of any kind.

Meant to post this last night but what I see isn't people meaning to shout, look I have XXX phone!, What I do feel many people do is like to "look busy" by appearing to be reading texts, emails, and thus burying their faces into their phones, and thus walk around like that, and barely miss people along the way,.

Or they get in the elevator, and instead of making eye contact, they whip out their phone, and start swiping to avoid eye contact to " seem" busy.

My mobile phone has been dead for 3 days.....ahhh bliss!

what phone people carry should be a non-issue

there is unfortunately a lot of snobbery and inversed snobbery about that

I admit I use to always have the latest iphone on the market. It comes in handy when you take the train or travel. Now I have the oldest. My ipad (which I take everywhere) has put a stop to me upgrading my phone every year. Now I wont upgrade it until it takes a dump. :)