* Old-fashioned rotary dial phones: These do use magnets. The dial itself has a magnet that spins when you turn it, and this rotation generates electrical pulses that are sent to the telephone exchange.

* Modern smartphones: These do not use magnets in the same way. They rely on electronic circuits and electromagnetic waves for communication.

* However, modern phones might use magnets for other components, like:

* Speakers and microphones: These often use small magnets to create sound.

* Wireless charging: Some phones use magnetic induction to charge wirelessly.

So, while the core functionality of modern smartphones doesn't rely on magnets, they might be present in some of their components.