A burner phone is a cheap, prepaid mobile phone designed for temporary or disposable use. It is typically purchased without a contract and often without requiring personal information, making it ideal for privacy protection and anonymity. Users usually pay upfront with prepaid minutes, and the phone is meant to be discarded or "burned" after use. Burner phones typically have basic functions like calling and texting, with minimal advanced features, and are used to avoid linking personal identity to the device or phone number.

Common Uses of Burner Phones

• Protecting privacy by preventing connections to personal identity.
• Reducing traceability and surveillance.
• Temporary communication needs.
• Avoiding expensive roaming charges when traveling.
• Mitigating spam calls.
• Maintaining work-life separation.
• Emergency backup phone.

Limitations of Burner Phones

• Limited basic functionality (no advanced smartphone features).
• Lack of security features such as biometric authentication or encryption.
• Minimal storage for personal data.
• Require frequent replacement and setup if used repeatedly.
• Potential higher cost over time due to prepaid plans and device replacements.

In summary, a burner phone is a simple, disposable phone used mainly for privacy, temporary communication, or security purposes without long-term commitment or linking to personal identity.