To be honest, I think the Alternate Devices in a form of a _new smartphone_ miss the point. All current Android smartphones could be dumbified to the same level with the matter of installing appropriate software, no need to buy anything special (and usually rather expensive). I see only an attempt to earn profit in such devices.

What I would like to see is a feature phones with the essential functions of a smartphone: proper messengers, proper maps and navigation, but many different form factors and 1+ week of a battery life. This is all possible with the current-generation 4G chips, which have sufficient performance (1GHz ARM core of Unisoc T107/T117/T127 for example).

If you're just tired of checking the phone when the notification comes in to understand whether it is important or not, you're looking for so-called 'calm technology device' — just buy a wristband like Xiaomi Band and it will send the notifications to your wrist, you won't need to touch the smartphone, which is especially helpful on the street or in a crowded place.