Should I use a tablet instead?

A tablet does nearly everything a smartphone does, and is too large to live in a pocket. That inconvenience is the feature.

• WhatsApp, banking, email, and travel apps all run well on a tablet.
• Wi-Fi-only models cost less and keep the device tied to places rather than following you.
• Give it a home: the kitchen counter, a desk, a shelf.

A tablet that ends up in your bag every day is just a bigger smartphone. Where it lives determines whether this works.