SanDisk Sansa Clip+

I switched to a Kyocera KY-42C specifically because you can sideload Whatsapp which I sadly need. The software is a bit crappy but enough if you just want to phone and rarely SMS, Whatsapp or e-mail. Don't forget about the other stuff usually handled by smartphones, like music (my old Sansa Clip+ still works) or GPS (the one in my car will do).

i still use a RockBox'd Sansa Clip+ with SuperMix 4 iems :)

Every couple of years, I buy a used Sansa Clip+ from ebay to replace the previous one that suffered physical damage. I transfer over the 128GB/256GB sd card. Voila - entire music collection in the size of a box of matches, no need for data connections, or a working phone, or fumbling with a screen when I'm working out.

You can get “broken” ones on EBay pretty cheap. Be careful prying them open though - there’s no aftermarket shells unfortunately. I spent a weekend not long ago upgrading a broken Sansa Clip+ with a new battery, RockBox, and a USB-C port - first one with USB-C AFAIK. Oh and I replaced all the SMD buttons too while I was at it. I’m very happy with how it turned out! I only wish I knew how to do something more advanced like adding Bluetooth audio capability that doesn’t just hook into the DAC output and sound terrible.

I have a tiny Sansa Clip+ mp3 player, flashed with Rockbox, which I use with a nice pair of Bose wired earbuds. It's an incredibly low-friction device. It has physical buttons so you can operate it without looking at it. It lasts for multiple days of continuous play, and I'm not an all-day-every-day kind of listener, so I seldom worry about charging it (and wired earbuds don't need charging either). It's got a 512 gigabyte microSD card in it, so for all intents and purposes it can fit unlimited music, and copying music to it is trivial. It masses 24 grams and can sit in a top pocket without weighing it down. It exists completely independently of my phone, laptop etc, and so I always have my favorite tunes (and an FM radio) wherever I go. Single tasking devices are great.

I wish even one thing I use everyday were as nice as a Sansa Clip+. Solid yet lightweight thick plastic with indestructible buttons.