Would you switch to this E-Ink QWERTY smartphone for a simpler digital life?

Minimal Phone, a smartphone featuring an E-Ink display and a Blackberry-like physical QWERTY keyboard, has officially begun shipping after surpassing its crowdfunding goal. Initially introduced last year, the device raised over $600,000 through an Indiegogo campaign. Those who missed the original crowdfunding phase can still purchase it for $399, with new orders expected to ship starting in March.

Minimal Phone Specifications

This device stands out in a market dominated by large, high-refresh-rate OLED screens. Instead of catering to multimedia-heavy users, it offers a minimalistic and distraction-free experience with a 4.3-inch black-and-white E-Ink touchscreen. Unlike traditional smartphone displays, E-Ink panels consume power only when refreshing, making them an excellent choice for extended battery life.

The phone runs on a customized version of Android 14 and provides access to the Google Play Store, allowing users to install third-party applications. However, the nature of E-Ink technology means that some apps may not perform as smoothly as they would on a conventional display.

The Minimal Phone is powered by a MediaTek G99 processor and comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It also features a microSD card slot which allows for further expansion.

The phone comes with a full QWERTY keyboard that adds to its appeal for those who prefer tactile feedback while typing. The keyboard consists of 35 keys, including a customizable hotkey, and features a 0.15mm key travel for a responsive typing experience.

In terms of photography, the phone includes a 16MP rear camera with LED flash and an optional 5MP front camera. The device is equipped with a 3,000mAh battery, which, thanks to the low-power E-Ink display, can last multiple days on a single charge. It supports both 18W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging.

The Minimal Phone is available in three colors: Pebble, Onyx, and Fusion. It features a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB-C charging port. In terms of connectivity, it includes 4G LTE, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC, though 5G support is absent.

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