What I use my Smartphone for...

I've been reflecting on this question recently, considering the rising cost of flagship phones, the amazing feature-sets of Android mid-range phones and super prices and capabilities of even the cheapest budget ones. So could I live with a cheaper, simpler phone, I wondered, leaving all the AI-shenanigans and top-end, expensive, best-of-everything to those who really need it all (or have plenty of cash).

So, what do I use my Smartphone for? My daily routine is depicted here, bit of a simple brainstorm really, along with headings to describe my use and verdict at the end, answering my own question!

In bed in the morning
Checking GMail
Checking MeWe
Checking Inoreader
Checking Google News
Using Instapaper (for use later on PC)

In bed at night
TikTok until tired enough to sleep
Smart Audiobook Player - sending me to sleep

Exclusively used on phone
Phone
SMS/RCS (and backup/restore)
Tapo - for Smart Home Light Plugs
Camera
Podcast Addict
AA (vehicle rescue service - if ever needed)
What3words (if ever needed)
Google Wallet - for paying in shops and loyalty cards
Google Authenticator
Counting Steps (when I'm on a health kick)!
Smart Watch stuff

Exclusively used on PC
Audacity
Amolto
MSPublisher
Plex

Can use on a phone (if needed, if away from PC) but always on PC if I can
Google Drive
Playing Music
Watching video/film
Gemini/Chrome
Checking weather
Social Media
Calculator
Calendar
Location Sharing in Google Maps
File Management
Find Hub (formerly Find My Device)
Google Keep
IMDb
MSTeams
Thunderbird
Google Meet
Google Lens
Banking

Google Photos

Photo editing
Amazon shopping
Royal Mail stuff
Clock/alarms/alerts/Notifications
Wikipedia
Reading news
…and more, I'm sure!

Verdict
I’m sure there are gaps, but pretty much as many services I can, I access routinely via my PC, not phone. Yes, no doubt a reflection of not having much of a life (as others might see it!) but also that it just seems so much better to me, all round, to use a big monitor, keyboard and mouse if I can, over squinting at a tiny screen that I need glasses to see! Much else of what I do seems to be for TechToy or Phone Reviewing purposes/tinkering. I think that smartphones, for me, have just become playthings - which means that I really can - if I choose - use a very simple, cheap phone which will meet pretty much all I want to do. After that, it’s unnecessary, but desirable preferences - like macro, good speakers, AoD, PC Modes etc. Not that I don't want to play with phones - I love doing that and it's great to see what's going on in the evolving techsphere, so don't think that this reflective piece/brainstorm means that I've lost interest - more a stock-taking exercise!