# Smartphone-Inspired Fidget Toys The 'Substitute Phones' Mimic the Look and Feel of a Smartphone By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2017-11-28 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/substitute-phone References: [digitaltrends](https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/substitute-phone-perfect-for-fidgeting/) & [klemensschillinger](http://www.klemensschillinger.com/portfolio/substitute-phones/) Many smartphone users will reach for their device when they're feeling bored even if they don't have a reason to actually use it, so the 'Substitute Phones' are designed as an analog way to satisfy your [itch to interact with a touchscreen](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fidgeting-apps). Designed by Klemens Schillinger, the devices are crafted from high-quality plastic and are intended to mimic the look and feel of your smartphone perfectly. This is paired with a series of marbles in the faux display that can be flicked and spun to recreate the feeling of interacting with your device. The 'Substitute Phones' are a new play on the [fidget toy design aesthetic](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speks-magnet-balls) that acknowledge the need for devices that are analog and help to satisfy our urge to interact with technology. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.9/10 - Popularity: 100% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Analog Fidget Toys:** The 'Substitute Phones' demonstrate the demand for tactile, non-digital alternatives to technology-related fidgeting. - **Mimicking Smartphone Experience:** The design of 'Substitute Phones' highlights the opportunity to recreate the experience of using a smartphone without the digital element. - **Acknowledging Analog Interactions:** The popularity of 'Substitute Phones' suggests a growing trend of recognizing the value in analog interactions in a digital world. ### Who This Affects Most - **Toy Manufacturing:** Toy manufacturers can explore analog alternatives like fidget toys that replicate digital experiences to address the demand for tactile interaction. - **Stress Relief Products:** The concept of 'Substitute Phones' opens up opportunities for stress relief product manufacturers to create non-digital devices that simulate smartphone interactions. - **Therapeutic Gadgets:** The development of fidget toys like 'Substitute Phones' provides a disruptive innovation opportunity for the therapeutic gadget industry to address the need for non-digital ways of relieving stress and anxiety. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Minimalist Japanese Fidget Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fingerdama.md) - [Sensory Stimulation Strips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/calm-strips.md) - [Smartphone Detox Lockboxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smartphone-lock-box.md) - [Pocket-Sized Fidget Toy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/slidergamemackey.md) - [Swappable Keypad Cellphones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sidephone-sp01.md) - [Playful Digital Detox Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheaum-concept.md) - [Smartphone Use Reduction Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burnner.md) - [Nostalgic Timeless Click Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ipod-classic-fidget.md) - [Stylish Four-in-One Fidget Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/infini-fidget-toy.md)