7 ms·

Minimal Phone 2

57 points by nashashmi 17d ago

deleted 16d ago
[deleted]
mrtnmcc 17d ago
Reminds me of Jobs saying.. the problem with phones these days is the bottom 1/3. Some still disagree.
aetherspawn 17d ago
Neat. This is pretty close to what I’d be looking for, if I could really afford to pull the trigger on something like this (realistically I can’t - iMessage on laptop is too important for work). If it natively plugged into the Apple ecosystem, now that would be difficult to refuse.
alexjplant 17d ago
I'm happy that this hardware exists but an easier solution is to quit social media, viciously curate your notifications and apps, and install an ad blocker. My phone only alerts me if somebody calls me, asks me a question specifically in a group chat, or DMs me. I never see any ads or any FOMO nags. Life is pretty good.
- dwedge 16d ago
  I did that and now constantly check hacker news
  - nottorp 16d ago
    Do you? If you disable all notifications you have to make a conscious effort to open a time sink. In time you'll start to forget, esp if you get busy with something. And HN is arguably better than doomscrolling TikTok or Facebook, even with the current LLM/Rust/LLM in Rust spam.
- darrmit 16d ago
  This. I still struggle a bit with compulsively checking Slack or email during the workday, and sometimes I take extended breaks from HN just to avoid the time suck (among other things) but this + quitting social media entirely 2 years ago means I got my attention span back.
mattanimation 17d ago
Maybe if GrapheneOS ran on it
- infamia 16d ago
  It says they offer a degoogled version, which is cool. https://minimalcompany.com/#purchase https://minimalcompany.com/#purchase
  - wuhhh 16d ago
    Since you can’t run Graphene on non pixel devices, this seems like a big feature
    - senectus1 16d ago
      if the claim is trusted. yeah
      - wuhhh 16d ago
        Yes the site seems to be all surface level marketing with no detail to be found, not a great sign
- monomania 16d ago
  Yeah they talk up privacy but trust is a big component of that. Where's the source? I distrust Google...but I also distrust a company I've never heard of with mobile device data in 2026. It's basically keys to the kingdom now.
- mrweasel 16d ago
  That really illustrates the issue to me. Personally I don't need it to run GrapheneOS, but I do need a parking app, internet sharing, a TOTP app and MobilePay, others will need different application. Creating a minimal phone is almost impossible, because it means different things to different people. Mine could be a Nokia style candy bar design, because I don't need a large screen or a camera, but it does require completely custom applications.
kerenskiy 17d ago
I was excited before I saw battery section. 3600 mAh with 27W charging would be a bigger downshift than comfortable from 6000 mAh and 90W charging. I pray for +capacity version
steanne 17d ago
i really feel like the website for a minimal phone should be at least somewhat viewable without javascript.
- crabmusket 16d ago
  Minimalist phone, maximalist website.
- kkihygginug 16d ago
  Minimal ≠ simple
  - ymsodev 16d ago
    Right, minimal means only having what you actually need. That is not what this website is.
- weikju 16d ago
  They might have been unable to do it due to Claude Code’s training.
panja 16d ago
I just wish I could get an answer from them on why a brand new phone is missing some pretty important LTE/5G bands in the US
- littlecranky67 16d ago
  Well because the phone is not supposed to be used for mindless doomscrolling but calling. Highspeed not needed.
  - platybubsy 16d ago
    Won't missing bands affect the reliability as well, not just the speed?
  - hurfdurf 16d ago
    In the USA there's only VoLTE/VoNR via 4G/5G, 2G and 3G networks have been shut down a while ago.
  - deleted 16d ago
    [deleted]
- ac29 16d ago
  Which ones? I was prepared to complain about this as well but it supports every band under 3GHz on my carrier
  - snazz 16d ago
    It would probably work on T-Mobile and maybe on Verizon, but it’s missing b14, b30, and b29 which are definitely required for AT&T (not to mention AT&T’s whitelist). Also weird that it doesn’t have any 5G FDD bands other than n71. Edit: Verizon would also benefit from b48, although that may be optional.
CoolestBeans 16d ago
I've been looking at this and the Clicks Communicator which should both be out by the end of this year. I'm not really a "dumbphone" person nor am I really a physical keyboard hound. I just want a smaller phone that feels better in the pocket and in the hand. I thought about a Razr but the proportions are a little awkward when opened. Its a little too long.
- Propelloni 16d ago
  I get what you are saying. I'm coming from a Sony Xperia 10 IV with a width of 68 mm and it was perfect, albeit a bit tall (21:9 format). Now I use a Motorola Edge 60 Neo with a width of nearly 71 mm with the "traditional" 16:9 format. It is almost as tall and just slightly out of reach of one-handed use for me. The Minimal 2 is wider at 72 mm, the Clicks is even wider. I'm going to look at the Razr, it's frustrating.
  - CoolestBeans 16d ago
    Didn't realize they were iPhone width and wider. Puts a damper on seriously shopping on it for me. Thanks for the info.
- cuu508 15d ago
  This and Clicks Communicator seem eerily similar.
bw86 16d ago
Very cool. If they could commit to a looooong time of publishing software updates (esp. security), and if I could trust them to actually do it, I would be very interested. I hate switching phones and I am not buying short-lived devices anymore if I can help it.
alexaholic 16d ago
How does a minimal phone like this one compare to not installing a shitton of apps and disabling all but essential notifications?
- wuhhh 16d ago
  Did you click the link?!
  - alexaholic 16d ago
    Yeah, that's why I'm asking
- imp0cat 16d ago
  Probably the physical keyboard?
  - wuhhh 16d ago
    I’d say it’s a pretty big differentiator
nsonha 16d ago
Can I have the "minimal phone" that is a powerful ai assisted productive computing device. Minimal in UI only and not literally an useless machine?
wuhhh 16d ago
I would like more information on what Degoogled means and whether it’s still possible to install 3rd party apps by some other means. Nice looking device, I expected it to cost more. Also, does this only work in the US rn?
- dwedge 16d ago
  I kind of like the idea of this being a reflash to install apps, if that's how it works it makes it more intentional. Though you can probably just install Aurora Store or F-Droid and install from there. Some apps don't work (you'll notice they didn't show Uber in the examples) and recently I've been having issues with Aurora and suspect its days are numbered so I'd be concerned about the future of that before buying something like this.
FlameWolf 16d ago
BlackBerry: Seriously?
reacharavindh 16d ago
The single input box with different prefixes for actions - @people, #call, - todo etc is very nice. I wish I could have such a powerful input box in my Home Screen. iPhone or even a trimmed down android with such an interface would be cool. I’m not a fan of the physical keyboard, the broad shape(they say one handed use immediately followed by a video of someone using both hands to type). I’m okay with the candy bar all screen phones of today. The UX is pretty cool if I can have it on my “regular” phone.. Anybody have an idea if it is doable on an iPhone or an android phone?
- bebna 16d ago
  Android kiss home screen can be probably set up like this.
- Groxx 16d ago
  I've been using keyboard-based launchers for a couple years now, I really like it. None quite yet feel perfect to me, but Olauncher has lasted the longest: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.olauncher https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.olauncher If you set up a swipe to launch another launcher, you can have all your widgets there, as sometimes that's nice for a multi-app overview of Stuff™ at a glance.
ninalanyon 16d ago
The picture showing a thumb typing makes it clear that anyone with long fingernails is going to find it difficult to use.
silon42 16d ago
Is this missing Android navigation buttons? I wonder if they considered to have them physical again.
altern8 16d ago
I don't get why having a keyboard is minimal.
- carefree-bob 16d ago
  I read that as "minimum standard", not "minimal" as in "not possible to make it have anything less". People need a keyboard and the screen keyboard on iPhones today isn't pleasant, at least for me. I'm not saying that this keyboard will be better, it may suck even worse, but the lack of a good keyboard experience is the main reason I don't do much with my phone other than order Ubers when I'm on vacation.
  - altern8 16d ago
    I see. The way I use my phone--mostly for reading--in my case just means that most of the time I would have this thing I don't need taking up space. But I guess it's good to have alternative, people use things in different ways.
- nmstoker 16d ago
  I don't think that's a core part of the minimalism. It's about the overall aims (less interruption etc) and their Minimal OS (based on Android) and the fairly simple launcher.
zeumo 16d ago
It's kind of cool, I like that there are people trying to do something else, but I don't how it's "minimal" or discourages heavy use. It's an Android phone, with pretty decent specs. Nothing is stopping you from installing social media apps and doomscrolling all day and night, and chances are you will do that if that's what you do with your phone, just as you can just delete social media apps from your current phone. The custom UI and physical keyboard are innovative though, I don't think I've seen a physical keyboard with touch support before, and I wish them the best.
- jonathanstrange 16d ago
  Perhaps that's good, though. The market for truly minimal phones seems to be rather small. I've had a chance to buy a new Commodore phone and they are really cool, but in the end I decided against it because I wasn't even sure my banking apps were going to run on it and I do need some social media on my phone even if I don't use them often. For example, everybody uses Whatsapp where I live. If you need to buy another phone to complement your minimal phone, it's kind of pointless.
  - zeumo 16d ago
    Absolutely agree. Note that modern flip/soapbar phones (Commodore, KaiOI) usually support some social media, including WhatsApp. Banking apps are a problem though, and really contribute locking everyone in the iOS/Android duopoly, and that sucks.
  - stbede 16d ago
    That's why I prefer my Wisephone 2. You can still use slack, whatsapp, teams, banking apps, spotify, google maps, etc. But there is no browser, email, youtube, tiktok, etc., either.
FinnLobsien 16d ago
This is great. I really like the “dumb phone” movement. Sadly for now they’re too expensive to buy just as an experiment.
- sama004 16d ago
  my question is why is it soo expensive if you are just making a dumb phone, give me a 100-200$ option with less ram and storage i'll be all in
  - FinnLobsien 16d ago
    Exactly. I would want: -Phone/texting -Messengers like WhatsApp/Telegram/etc. -Maps -Music/podcasts Ideally with e-ink. I want something that doesn't compete with a full-fledged smartphone (which I'd still keep for travel and stuff). I want something to take to the office, hanging out with friends, etc, where bringing the smartphone becomes a decision.
    - wink 16d ago
      I think if you ask 5 people what dumb (enough) phone meant you'd get seven answers. For some anything after SMS is not dumb enough (ok, this still exists), others would be ok with just a browser, and you said Maps and WA/etc/. I am not even sure I could give you a good enough definition, I'm kinda happy enough with Android and just ignore any dumb/minimal angle, because if I only take a phone with me I generally want to potentially use it as a computer replacement. There are really only 2 people I call regularly.
      - FinnLobsien 16d ago
        > I think if you ask 5 people what dumb (enough) phone meant you'd get seven answers. Yes, but I think anyone interested in this would know what they don't want: TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, or any other app that wants you to spend maximum time in their app. Unless we're talking about complete purists who basically want a 2003 level phone that only does call/text, there's lots of flexibility. Someone who wants a less addicting phone but doesn't necessarily require maps is unlikely to not buy because of a maps app. It's not like they'd spend 3 hours a day getting directions.
Markoff 16d ago
72mm width ain't nothing to write home about, you can find even nowadays phones narrower than that as for the rest, I fail to see why pay extra for this niche nonsense when you can achieve exactly same thing with whatever Android launcher you prefer, only differentiator of this device is physical keyboard crap specs with only 90Hz display and MediaTek Dimensity 8300 for 600+ USD and it is not even released yet, but maybe in few months when these specs will look even worse than they already are
t0bia_s 16d ago
Small size (72mm is maximum width for use by one hand), jack port, physical buttons, aluminium body, open bootloader... Ok, I'm listening. But that price... Why do we even need 12 GB RAM for distraction free phone? Why there is no microSD port?
- syntheticnature 16d ago
  It's a full-up Android phone, they want to make sure no one complains versus Their Favorite App not having enough RAM.
  - t0bia_s 15d ago
    Who could possibly complain about expensive RAM on distraction free phone? From marketing perspective, this doesn't make sense.
pentagrama 16d ago
The demo video is worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsLd7p9THL4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsLd7p9THL4
- amelius 16d ago
  Why did they make those security settings global? I'd want different containers (sandboxes), depending on the things I'm doing.
- jerlam 16d ago
  Pretty weird how little they use the physical keyboard in the demo. I'd expect for at least their own apps / launcher, you could navigate with WASD. Instead, they're switching between tabs by clicking on the very top of the screen while the phone is on a table, which is very much not one-handed mode. There's a better video here which describes a text-based interface: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryFV1wHD8FM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryFV1wHD8FM
nashashmi 16d ago
Previous product: https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/1s0ufqz/i_dont_get_why_the_minimal_phone_gets_so_much/ https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/1s0ufqz/i_dont_... Previous spotlight on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40609095 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40609095
opengrass 16d ago
A new QWERTY is a blessing, but please, open the bootloader and drivers so users can install whatever they want.
- ghusto 16d ago
  The bootloader is unlockable.
  - deleted 16d ago
    [deleted]
Xeoncross 16d ago
I'm not sure about a return to keyboard, it's not large enough to actually type on, and swipe seems to be a much faster alternative to pecking at the keys. Maybe swipe typing isn't as popular as I first thought.
- Multicomp 16d ago
  hi there, I've done pocket PC, palm pilot graffiti, palm treo integrated and dockable keyboard, landscape slider keyboards, stylus only qwerty keyboards, Swype the app, Gboard, heliboard, t9 physical keys, messageease, and im sire some others. day 1 the plb is slower than swipe typing because it needs getting used to. But the trick is one can focus one's attention on the content being typed /learn to touch type on a physical keyboard that on screen keyboards cant do, because of lack of consistency of on screen kbs always shifting layouts on you, at least with coming and going but usually also ruining the dot menu for common punctuation depending on if the input field is trying to be an email or a number or whatever. dont try to help me keyboard, just give me a ctrl character, consistent shortcuts, and don't lag half the time I enter some text input, so I've typed out 4 words before the phone realizes anything has happened. so yes i think you are right that swipe typing has value and more people should use it. but its lipstick on a pig for most of osks not being reliably static enough to let muscle memory / touch typing grow. my unihertz titan 2 also has capacitive keys, i turn them off because I want the kb as dumb as possible (though i add keymapper android app to give me vim style arrow keys), but swipe typing would be possible on my or this device with just software support if there were demand for it / someone got their llm to vibe it up.
- SoftTalker 16d ago
  Swipe typing is abysmal on iOS. Not sure how it is on Android these days or how much it depends on the device.
- thex10 16d ago
  Good thing it supports swipe then
jrflo 16d ago
I get why these types of devices are appealing from an "oooh new shiny" perspective but let's be honest: the smartphone design is essentially perfected. Software keyboards are far better than physical ones at that size due to the adaptive keyboard touch target re-sizing that goes on behind the scenes. Just use your existing phone and delete all the distracting stuff, it'll be far more reliable than some small-batch manufacturing run of something like this.
- danisth 16d ago
  Maybe I’m just bad at it, but it’s been 16 years since I gave up my blackberry and I’m still way less accurate with touch screens. This is across flagship phones from both android and iOS.
- unreal6 16d ago
  I recently received my clicks power keyboard and after 2-3 weeks of usage am substantially slower and less accurate; that being said, I never developed "blackberry" muscle memory. https://www.clicks.tech/powerkeyboard https://www.clicks.tech/powerkeyboard
- wookmaster 16d ago
  Software keyboards are not "far better" than physical keyboards.
ocd 16d ago
I just want BlackBerry back. Every single time one of these new "minimal", "dumb", "lightweight" phones comes up today it's just marketing wrapped around a kneecapped Android device. I am in the market for something simpler that does nothing more or little else than play local media/audio, read common document/text formats, ordinary SMS, current standard of telephony, and a different OS than Android. I have not seen anything like this yet.
- ape4 16d ago
  Sending messages with BBM? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBM_(software) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBM_(software)
- Moldoteck 16d ago
  probably because in these days it's hard to get by without some apps like maps, common messengers, delivery, bank transactions and so on
  - TomGarden 16d ago
    Agreed. Banking is the killer app imo
    - XorNot 16d ago
      In Australia it's pretty great: my driver's license can be provided by an app on my phone and legally must be accepted if it is. So between that and NFC payment support, a phone is the only thing I need to remember to operate outside the house.
      - jolmg 16d ago
        It's pretty great as long as it doesn't evolve into them no longer printing the cards and requiring use of their app, consequently on one of their approved OSes.
        16d ago
al_borland 16d ago
> Full Android. Every app you already use, there when you need it. So it still requires a user to have self-control. If people had that, they could just uninstall the problematic apps from the phone they already have.
- SoftTalker 16d ago
  Most phones come with a lot of vendor or carrier apps that cannot be uninstalled, at least not by the average user.
  - al_borland 16d ago
    Are those the ones people waste time on? Social media seems to be the biggest culprit, and shouldn’t be shipping with any phone, or require any hoops to remove.
- grepex 16d ago
  I don't think that is necessarily true. Adding friction to how easy it is to use those apps has helped me.
- pixelatedindex 16d ago
  > they could just uninstall the problematic apps from the phone they already have. … if you have root access with adb (assuming android, I don’t know much about iOS)
- IshKebab 16d ago
  Yeah this type of "distraction free" device is fundamentally impossible because these days the "not distraction" things cannot be done without full Android apps. If you don't allow apps you have a phone without: * Messaging (in 99% of the world) * Maps * Uber etc. Messaging is the really big one.
  - jazzyjackson 16d ago
    Personally I just tell everyone to contact me by email. It’s the only thing that I’m sure will still work in 20 years. But of course I have signal for group chats. it works on desktop tho so I can just check messages when I get home like the olden days. GPS I like my offline maps built into my car. It’s getting harder to find updates as everyone moves to the cloud.
p4bl0 16d ago
Like a lot of similar devices, it looks cool, but, just like a lot of similar devices which have a physical keyboard, it will probably never be released with anything else than a US qwerty keyboard, so I'm already out. Update: didn't scroll down enough! Indeed they have. Neat.
- r3trohack3r 16d ago
  What are you talking about? It ships with 5 language options for the keyboard on day 1?
- albertjs 16d ago
  They have 5 keyboard layouts available. Is yours not listed?
agiacalone 16d ago
When I think about 'minimal' and 'phone', $600 USD isn't the number that makes sense to me.
- pak9rabid 16d ago
  My thought exactly
- jkestner 16d ago
  I think they should’ve used the word ‘focused’. Everything else about the presentation says it’s a professional communication tool.
- voidnullvalue 15d ago
  I never understood these things. Just buy a kaios phone for less than $60
karim79 16d ago
Haptic feedback on virtual keyboards is just fine if you ask me. I'm not sure why it needs mechanical keys, I don't really see how that adds anything of value on a phone these days. I'm typing on my pixel 6 Pro and it still feels satisfying. Gimmick?
- phoghed 16d ago
  Nothing you can do on a modern phone is as satisfying as flipping out that sidekick screen and bashing out a message on physical keys imo Not that I’d trade screen real estate for keyboards nowadays, but there’s probably still some diehards out there that want them
  - Multicomp 16d ago
    I too am a keyboard diehard (typing on a unihertz titan 2, i traded out my headphone jack for this physical keyboard so I am interested in this minimal phone 2 since headphone jack. if it had microsd card slot and removable battery it would be perfect, other old features like fm radio and IR blasters are bonus gravy to me), and likewise I'd prefer a blackerry priv style device where they portrait keyboard slides behind the screen, or a droid 2 style device where the keyboard is a landscape slider. I'm going to have to think carefully about why I should NOT order this device.
    - phoghed 15d ago
      I’d be tempted to get one if I was in the Android ecosystem, though probably not before real non-sponsored reviews came out. 90hz amoled, nice looking keyboard, lot of ram, seems like a nice device on paper.
  - karim79 16d ago
    Fair enough. I've never use a blackberry so I wouldn't know. I'd like to try one the OP phones out to be honest.
- zimpenfish 16d ago
  > mechanical keys, I don't really see how that adds anything of value on a phone these days When you get old, your ability to type reliably on a phone's touchscreen keyboard starts to go down the pan. Having actual tactile "things" to land on can make it easier.
meerita 16d ago
Sorry, I just see a physical keyboard on a phone, and I cannot be convinced that it's a good idea. We're past that. If it were truly minimal, it wouldn't have a physical keyboard. It would have a full-screen display with a minimal but useful OS and UI/UX.
soyboy_supreme 16d ago
6000 series aluminium design, wowzers! And only $1699
gered 16d ago
The most exciting thing for me about this phone is the physical size. It's not a "phablet" like every other phone these days, it's basically Nexus 4 sized (perfect size for my big hands) which means easy one-handed use. Not sure if I will actually get one since my Pixel 4a 5g (w/ LineageOS + microG) is still going strong, but I will admit that I'm tempted by this.
- Grombobulous 16d ago
  Have you ever used a PopSocket? I highly recommend them. I think many people who use them start to realize that having a small phone isn’t that great. Having more screen real estate and a larger battery is so much more beneficial than being able to reach everything with one hand, and then the popsocket pretty much solves the one hand issue. I can reach the top of my screen with my iPhone 17 Pro Max because my phone has a PopSocket on the back, and my fingers are below average short.
Multicomp 16d ago
so I'm tempted to order this even if its a premium price point. My question is how close to kickstarter buyer beware is this company? I ordered the Astro Slide 5G and never received it, so much for me getting to see what all of the psion fuss was about, so this device is both tempting and making me remember past regrettable experiences.
- opengrass 16d ago
  Avoid pre-orders and new. The BB Key One launched at $729, I got it off local classifieds for $30.
- jazzyjackson 16d ago
  Why not just wait til reviews are out, no need to give an interest free loan to a for profit company
lanfeust6 16d ago
I like the smaller scale. Once, I really cared about having qwerty, but now I don't care with the way touch has progressed (using Futo). It's the experience of the BB I miss. I'm not sure how far Linux phones have come but last I checked they were sluggish and unstable.
forgetcolor 16d ago
Why is this phone barely lighter than an iPhone air with a massively bigger screen, two camera lenses, etc? I'm glad it's not heavier, but I would have hoped for it to be the lightest phone -- by far. (Minimal 2 is 7g lighter than iPhone Air).
- ricardobeat 16d ago
  Tells you something about what Apple/Samsung/etc are able to achieve with their manufacturing and supply chains.
  - forgetcolor 16d ago
    Indeed. I wish Apple would make an Uno -- just the front screen of the Duo. Half the (unfolded) width, half the weight.
    - _ks3e 16d ago
      Isn't this just the Air?
      - jazzyjackson 16d ago
        Very different aspect ratio. I can’t stand the regular iphones it’s impossible to use one handed without using that dumb flick gesture to bring the top of the screen down to the bottom half
      - layer8 16d ago
        No, it would be smaller, thinner, and lighter than the Air.
    - oliv__ 15d ago
      I'd buy the Uno Air in a heartbeat
corentin88 16d ago
Reminds me of a Blackberry
yaky 16d ago
Would love to have a physical keyboard on a degoogled Android, but disappointed that there is no cyrillic option for keys.
mulderc 16d ago
I feel like if you are really want to have a minimal phone, you can just use a smart watch now.
ralferoo 16d ago
Wonder why they chose a different layout for the symbols on the physical keyboard than the default keyboard for Android. I'm sure that'll confuse a lot of people considering migrating, or worse, having to switch between them.
weee322 16d ago
I need communicator: Wire, tox, simpleX, jabber and new invented after 2030 ouch and open boootloader
- grishka 16d ago
  The product page explicitly mentions an unlockable bootloader.
markus_zhang 16d ago
Eh, I just want a dump phone. But they all use the bigger SIM slot so it’s a bit hassle to use a micro/mini SIM.
olwmc 16d ago
Not to shill but if you're struggling with apps on your (i)phone, I can't recommend https://www.foqos.app/ https://www.foqos.app/ enough. My weekly screentime (as measured by my iphone, not true screen time) is <1hr. NFC tag is optional you can literally buy a candy bar and tape the barcode to an index card and that will work. The physical layer is massive. Now my problem is just limited to desktop which is easier to control.
- jleehn 16d ago
  +1 on physical layer being the game changer. I've been using getbrick.com with amazing results.
  - yauneyz 15d ago
    talysman.app does the same thing as Brick but for desktop. So you can code/etc with a physical layer of protection Definitely a game changer, maybe even more than Brick because the desktop is where I do all my work
mvkel 16d ago
I want minimal in size, not capability
czhu12 16d ago
I find for these what happens is that the phone itself can’t actually install certain banking or security apps, and also our workplace restricts it. Inevitably I have to carry two phones around Anyone find a solution around this?
- httpdemon 16d ago
  I’m in the same boat. I’m a principal engineer for a critical platform at a major retailer. I would LOVE to just have a communication device in my pocket but I’m required to have access to work comms and 2FA apps. I’ve considered using a pre-paid line with a burner for just those and carrying two phones… but that’s such a hassle.
dsr_ 16d ago
What I learned from carrying a phone with "2.5d" screen edges: They make the screen effectively narrower in terms of usable area, while making the phone physically wider. Do not want. Please go back to 9:16 or 10:16 screen ratios. If you need more space for the battery, gently round the back. It feels nicer in the hand even when it's 50% thicker than your competitors. Also, a fingerprint reader / power button on the back is superior to all other placements, and cutouts of any kind are distracting and wasteful. OnePlus managed a motorized pop-out selfie-cam and it's still working for me seven years later.
- belowavgiq 16d ago
  Huawei was this close to making the perfect 16:9 phone, now, in 2026. I would have gladly used all my apps in a half broken Android VM (they no longer use Android themselves). It's too bad they had to be extreme about it and ruin it with a huge screen and a 5:3 aspect ratio. it's almost a cube. https://m.gsmarena.com/huawei_pura_x_view-14887.php https://m.gsmarena.com/huawei_pura_x_view-14887.php
  - jazzyjackson 16d ago
    Personally I like the 21:9 ratio of Sony’s Xperia 1. Big but skinny enough to reach my thumb across.
    - belowavgiq 14d ago
      I agree, I like both. Thankfully for us, both are dead and the only options left are 19.5:9 or 20:9. Hooray!
  - geokon 16d ago
    Isn't HarmonyOS a fork of Android? I've never seen anything about the apps being half broken - do you have more info?
    - belowavgiq 14d ago
      The newer versions of are no longer based on Android. So it's either quirky VMs with hundreds of papercuts or nothing. Huawei Global is still a thing, and in some markets they keep releasing phones using Android 12 and no GMS. That is probably even worse.
troyvit 16d ago
I was hoping this was minimal enough for somebody with dementia to use to make calls, but when they say "Phone" they don't mean like the old folks do. I kept reading though, kind-of envying the physical keyboard because that would be fun, but I'm a swipe-typing guy through and through. Then I saw that it supports swipe typing, possibly by sliding your fingers across the keyboard. The idea of swiping across those keys literally gave me frisson, won't lie. That would be so groovy.
ARandomerDude 16d ago
Hard to justify for $599/$699 when a new Pixel 10a is currently $424 on Amazon.
- bigstrat2003 16d ago
  A Pixel 10a is far bigger and has no headphone jack.
konaraddi 16d ago
How long would the phone get security updates? Also looks like they sell cellular plans too https://plans.minimalcompany.com/#plans https://plans.minimalcompany.com/#plans
mgdev 16d ago
I want to believe, but the first phone was like six months late with no/bad comms, and when it came it was barely usable due. I believe in the mission but have lost some faith here. I hope they prove me wrong so I can buy Minimal Phone 3!
eigencoder 16d ago
I don't love it, I wish it was more handicapped
layer8 16d ago
> shaped for one hand Unfortunately, it is as wide as a regular iPhone (i.e. the 17e), so it’s not an iPhone mini/SE replacement in terms of one-handed use. At 158 grams it’s also heavier than any mini/SE.
k4rnaj1k 16d ago
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dagorenouf 16d ago
Why on earth does this need an oled screen and aluminum body? They’re trying to be Apple when they should be the opposite.
- cubefox 16d ago
  As you can see in this comment section, everyone complains about everything. If they didn't use aluminium and an OLED, someone else would have complained about "cheap plastic" and "cheap LCD". They can't make everyone happy.
classictraffic 16d ago
One thing that is bugging me (and maybe it's buried on the website somewhere but I missed it) is that I can't figure out what version of Android the phone uses. I wouldn't buy a phone relying on an older version of it
- deleted 16d ago
  [deleted]
rodolphoarruda 16d ago
<<a compact footprint>> Oh, thank you. We need that. It's refreshing to know that we might have the option to buy a cell phone with less than 6.5 inch size.
dash2 16d ago
The Adam Smith Institute once added up all the govt spending demands made in a single news program and it came to like 10% of GDP. Similarly the comments here: if only it could do all this and * On/off button round the back * More LTE bands * An open bootloader (note to normies this is like saying "have a quantum multiplexer") * Different screen ratio * Different keyboard layouts * Eink screen * Bigger battery * Be easier to use for someone with long fingernails (hello Nosferatu https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49751114 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49751114) * Be lighter * Be smaller * Have a website without javascript (really) * Be cheaper (this one is satire) (no it's not) Sure guys, why can't someone just build you your personal phone at the same price as the iPhone whose development costs are amortized over seval billions consumers :-/
- deleted 16d ago
  [deleted]
- c0balt 16d ago
  > Be easier to use for someone with long fingernails (hello Nosferatu) Long nails are somewhat common as an aesthetic/cosmetic choice usually for women (ime). No need to make a joke around accessible design.
  - iterance 16d ago
    A phone that works with long nails is also likely to be far more accessible to people with all sorts of hand mobility or motor control problems.
  - miladyincontrol 16d ago
    Even with short nails, keys that are too shallow or without contour be rather jarring to use.
  - dash2 16d ago
    I feel no need not to make a joke around it.
  - luipugs 15d ago
67sunglasses 16d ago
yes, their bootloader is unlockable + de-googled os option
dmitrygr 16d ago
Reminds me of the peek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peek_(mobile_Internet_device) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peek_(mobile_Internet_device)
drnick1 16d ago
Pixel a-series with GrapheneOS is already the "minimal phone" for hackers: cheap, reasonably small, hardened OS without Google spyware and bloatware. Compatibility with Android is fully retained so you can run things like Wireguard, Termux, Home Assistant and a myriad of other excellent FOSS (or non-FOSS) apps with complete sovereignty over your data.
wbsun 16d ago
Minimal here is really confusing me: why a phone with so many physical buttons/keys and jack port is minimal but other phones without are non-minimal?
thex10 16d ago
I welcome this kind of innovation in mobile UX. It's absolutely refreshing!
pmkary 16d ago
I don't know if you see it or not; but they started with really really minimal and dumb looks, and in this version started to add colors, UI elements and... So I guess a few versions in, and they'll build a iOS/Android from the first principles...
mrtesthah 16d ago
I'm sorry, but I really cannot take any claims seriously on a website that is clearly designed and generated by AI. What part of this did a human even write? This could be entirely vaporware for all I know.
aleksejs 16d ago
I really like the _idea_ of a QWERTY phone, and halfway through this page there's a section showing how you can use special characters to invoke commands (presumably by just typing at the home screen?), like "- buy milk" to add a todo entry or "? aviation recipe" to search. This sounds great, and somewhat difficult to replicate on a touchscreen! But I'm not convinced anymore that the actual typing experience is any good. Way before that exciting section, there's a video where somebody takes two full seconds to type "Hey bro you" on this phone's keyboard. I tried: in the same amount of time, I can type "Hey bro you mean everything to me" on my Pixel's default keyboard.
sbinnee 16d ago
I love the form factor. I would love to tinker with it!
1vuio0pswjnm7 16d ago
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deleted 16d ago
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jibal 15d ago
Not available to people without tattoos.
fuzzythinker 15d ago
Is this what HN has became? 22 hours, 200 comments and not a single positive one. I love it. Great classy look and feel. Well throughout keys for swipe. This is likely my next phone. Only wish is a better camera. Maybe MP03 will improve on that.
malomalsky 15d ago
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whilenot-dev 15d ago
iPhone 13 mini (and ex-SE) user here, this phone looks great! I like the minimal and solid looking design. I think the real keyboard is an interesting and welcoming compromise for its width. If the built quality is on point, I'd see no issue with the price. Full Android also means there's no restriction in the apps I'd need. GrapheneOS on it would be great. I appreciate the minimal color options - I have this thing where all my technical devices running software should be in all black, and any colorful details would just bother me a bit (looking at "playful" design choices like the lime green switch on the Fairphone 6). Quick nitpick at their marketing team: "compact by design, made for one hand." can't possibly be true with a real keyboard on a phone.
- CGamesPlay 15d ago
  The other iPhone mini user here, and agree that this phone looks nice. It looks like the keycaps form a capacitive touchscreen or something, so you can actually swipe to type over the keycaps. Marketing videos show using it to scroll the screen. But, seems like it could work for one-handed use. I might pick one of these up in the de-Googled variant and keep my iPhone around for all the "attestation required to view your bank balance" apps that I have.
Muhammad523 15d ago
Remembers me of the Mecha Comet and the Clicks Communicator
dlm24 15d ago
Why is this minimal if you can download all the normal android apps?
- nashashmi 15d ago
  Minimal is the name of the company.
LiamPowell 15d ago
I can't believe that statistic about 186 pickups per day, that would be every 5 minutes on average assuming 16 hours awake.
sriramraja251 15d ago
[flagged]
sandebert 15d ago
I have a love affair with my Kobo Clara Colour. More than once I've thought it would be great if I could call and send sms with it. (Using a Bluetooth headset.)
Scrapemist 15d ago
Nothing on how long the battery lasts?
alun 15d ago
Awesome. To make the device even smaller, I would probably get rid of the physical keyboard
mr_machine 13d ago
The hardware looks amazing and I covet it. The lack of substantial info on Minimal OS makes it a non-starter, though, and that makes me sad. Security and privacy are job #1 for a smartphone, and there's no way I'm running El Rando OS just because the hardware is cute. If they partnered with Graphene OS, I'd happily pay twice their asking price, though.

Minimal Phone 2

57 points by nashashmi 17d ago

deleted 16d ago

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mrtnmcc 17d ago

Reminds me of Jobs saying.. the problem with phones these days is the bottom 1/3. Some still disagree.

aetherspawn 17d ago

Neat. This is pretty close to what I’d be looking for, if I could really afford to pull the trigger on something like this (realistically I can’t - iMessage on laptop is too important for work). If it natively plugged into the Apple ecosystem, now that would be difficult to refuse.

alexjplant 17d ago

I'm happy that this hardware exists but an easier solution is to quit social media, viciously curate your notifications and apps, and install an ad blocker. My phone only alerts me if somebody calls me, asks me a question specifically in a group chat, or DMs me. I never see any ads or any FOMO nags. Life is pretty good.

dwedge 16d ago
I did that and now constantly check hacker news
- nottorp 16d ago
  Do you? If you disable all notifications you have to make a conscious effort to open a time sink. In time you'll start to forget, esp if you get busy with something. And HN is arguably better than doomscrolling TikTok or Facebook, even with the current LLM/Rust/LLM in Rust spam.
darrmit 16d ago
This. I still struggle a bit with compulsively checking Slack or email during the workday, and sometimes I take extended breaks from HN just to avoid the time suck (among other things) but this + quitting social media entirely 2 years ago means I got my attention span back.

mattanimation 17d ago

Maybe if GrapheneOS ran on it

infamia 16d ago
It says they offer a degoogled version, which is cool. https://minimalcompany.com/#purchase https://minimalcompany.com/#purchase
- wuhhh 16d ago
  Since you can’t run Graphene on non pixel devices, this seems like a big feature
  - senectus1 16d ago
    if the claim is trusted. yeah
    - wuhhh 16d ago
      Yes the site seems to be all surface level marketing with no detail to be found, not a great sign
monomania 16d ago
Yeah they talk up privacy but trust is a big component of that. Where's the source? I distrust Google...but I also distrust a company I've never heard of with mobile device data in 2026. It's basically keys to the kingdom now.
mrweasel 16d ago
That really illustrates the issue to me. Personally I don't need it to run GrapheneOS, but I do need a parking app, internet sharing, a TOTP app and MobilePay, others will need different application. Creating a minimal phone is almost impossible, because it means different things to different people. Mine could be a Nokia style candy bar design, because I don't need a large screen or a camera, but it does require completely custom applications.

kerenskiy 17d ago

I was excited before I saw battery section. 3600 mAh with 27W charging would be a bigger downshift than comfortable from 6000 mAh and 90W charging. I pray for +capacity version

steanne 17d ago

i really feel like the website for a minimal phone should be at least somewhat viewable without javascript.

crabmusket 16d ago
Minimalist phone, maximalist website.
kkihygginug 16d ago
Minimal ≠ simple
- ymsodev 16d ago
  Right, minimal means only having what you actually need. That is not what this website is.
weikju 16d ago
They might have been unable to do it due to Claude Code’s training.

panja 16d ago

I just wish I could get an answer from them on why a brand new phone is missing some pretty important LTE/5G bands in the US

littlecranky67 16d ago
Well because the phone is not supposed to be used for mindless doomscrolling but calling. Highspeed not needed.
- platybubsy 16d ago
  Won't missing bands affect the reliability as well, not just the speed?
- hurfdurf 16d ago
  In the USA there's only VoLTE/VoNR via 4G/5G, 2G and 3G networks have been shut down a while ago.
- deleted 16d ago
  [deleted]
ac29 16d ago
Which ones? I was prepared to complain about this as well but it supports every band under 3GHz on my carrier
- snazz 16d ago
  It would probably work on T-Mobile and maybe on Verizon, but it’s missing b14, b30, and b29 which are definitely required for AT&T (not to mention AT&T’s whitelist). Also weird that it doesn’t have any 5G FDD bands other than n71. Edit: Verizon would also benefit from b48, although that may be optional.

CoolestBeans 16d ago

I've been looking at this and the Clicks Communicator which should both be out by the end of this year. I'm not really a "dumbphone" person nor am I really a physical keyboard hound. I just want a smaller phone that feels better in the pocket and in the hand. I thought about a Razr but the proportions are a little awkward when opened. Its a little too long.

Propelloni 16d ago
I get what you are saying. I'm coming from a Sony Xperia 10 IV with a width of 68 mm and it was perfect, albeit a bit tall (21:9 format). Now I use a Motorola Edge 60 Neo with a width of nearly 71 mm with the "traditional" 16:9 format. It is almost as tall and just slightly out of reach of one-handed use for me. The Minimal 2 is wider at 72 mm, the Clicks is even wider. I'm going to look at the Razr, it's frustrating.
- CoolestBeans 16d ago
  Didn't realize they were iPhone width and wider. Puts a damper on seriously shopping on it for me. Thanks for the info.
cuu508 15d ago
This and Clicks Communicator seem eerily similar.

bw86 16d ago

Very cool. If they could commit to a looooong time of publishing software updates (esp. security), and if I could trust them to actually do it, I would be very interested. I hate switching phones and I am not buying short-lived devices anymore if I can help it.

alexaholic 16d ago

How does a minimal phone like this one compare to not installing a shitton of apps and disabling all but essential notifications?

wuhhh 16d ago
Did you click the link?!
- alexaholic 16d ago
  Yeah, that's why I'm asking
imp0cat 16d ago
Probably the physical keyboard?
- wuhhh 16d ago
  I’d say it’s a pretty big differentiator

nsonha 16d ago

Can I have the "minimal phone" that is a powerful ai assisted productive computing device. Minimal in UI only and not literally an useless machine?

wuhhh 16d ago

I would like more information on what Degoogled means and whether it’s still possible to install 3rd party apps by some other means. Nice looking device, I expected it to cost more. Also, does this only work in the US rn?

dwedge 16d ago
I kind of like the idea of this being a reflash to install apps, if that's how it works it makes it more intentional. Though you can probably just install Aurora Store or F-Droid and install from there. Some apps don't work (you'll notice they didn't show Uber in the examples) and recently I've been having issues with Aurora and suspect its days are numbered so I'd be concerned about the future of that before buying something like this.

FlameWolf 16d ago

BlackBerry: Seriously?

reacharavindh 16d ago

The single input box with different prefixes for actions - @people, #call, - todo etc is very nice. I wish I could have such a powerful input box in my Home Screen. iPhone or even a trimmed down android with such an interface would be cool. I’m not a fan of the physical keyboard, the broad shape(they say one handed use immediately followed by a video of someone using both hands to type). I’m okay with the candy bar all screen phones of today. The UX is pretty cool if I can have it on my “regular” phone.. Anybody have an idea if it is doable on an iPhone or an android phone?

bebna 16d ago
Android kiss home screen can be probably set up like this.
Groxx 16d ago
I've been using keyboard-based launchers for a couple years now, I really like it. None quite yet feel perfect to me, but Olauncher has lasted the longest: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.olauncher https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.olauncher If you set up a swipe to launch another launcher, you can have all your widgets there, as sometimes that's nice for a multi-app overview of Stuff™ at a glance.

ninalanyon 16d ago

The picture showing a thumb typing makes it clear that anyone with long fingernails is going to find it difficult to use.

silon42 16d ago

Is this missing Android navigation buttons? I wonder if they considered to have them physical again.

altern8 16d ago

I don't get why having a keyboard is minimal.

carefree-bob 16d ago
I read that as "minimum standard", not "minimal" as in "not possible to make it have anything less". People need a keyboard and the screen keyboard on iPhones today isn't pleasant, at least for me. I'm not saying that this keyboard will be better, it may suck even worse, but the lack of a good keyboard experience is the main reason I don't do much with my phone other than order Ubers when I'm on vacation.
- altern8 16d ago
  I see. The way I use my phone--mostly for reading--in my case just means that most of the time I would have this thing I don't need taking up space. But I guess it's good to have alternative, people use things in different ways.
nmstoker 16d ago
I don't think that's a core part of the minimalism. It's about the overall aims (less interruption etc) and their Minimal OS (based on Android) and the fairly simple launcher.

zeumo 16d ago

It's kind of cool, I like that there are people trying to do something else, but I don't how it's "minimal" or discourages heavy use. It's an Android phone, with pretty decent specs. Nothing is stopping you from installing social media apps and doomscrolling all day and night, and chances are you will do that if that's what you do with your phone, just as you can just delete social media apps from your current phone. The custom UI and physical keyboard are innovative though, I don't think I've seen a physical keyboard with touch support before, and I wish them the best.

jonathanstrange 16d ago
Perhaps that's good, though. The market for truly minimal phones seems to be rather small. I've had a chance to buy a new Commodore phone and they are really cool, but in the end I decided against it because I wasn't even sure my banking apps were going to run on it and I do need some social media on my phone even if I don't use them often. For example, everybody uses Whatsapp where I live. If you need to buy another phone to complement your minimal phone, it's kind of pointless.
- zeumo 16d ago
  Absolutely agree. Note that modern flip/soapbar phones (Commodore, KaiOI) usually support some social media, including WhatsApp. Banking apps are a problem though, and really contribute locking everyone in the iOS/Android duopoly, and that sucks.
- stbede 16d ago
  That's why I prefer my Wisephone 2. You can still use slack, whatsapp, teams, banking apps, spotify, google maps, etc. But there is no browser, email, youtube, tiktok, etc., either.

FinnLobsien 16d ago

This is great. I really like the “dumb phone” movement. Sadly for now they’re too expensive to buy just as an experiment.

sama004 16d ago
my question is why is it soo expensive if you are just making a dumb phone, give me a 100-200$ option with less ram and storage i'll be all in
- FinnLobsien 16d ago
  Exactly. I would want: -Phone/texting -Messengers like WhatsApp/Telegram/etc. -Maps -Music/podcasts Ideally with e-ink. I want something that doesn't compete with a full-fledged smartphone (which I'd still keep for travel and stuff). I want something to take to the office, hanging out with friends, etc, where bringing the smartphone becomes a decision.
  - wink 16d ago
    I think if you ask 5 people what dumb (enough) phone meant you'd get seven answers. For some anything after SMS is not dumb enough (ok, this still exists), others would be ok with just a browser, and you said Maps and WA/etc/. I am not even sure I could give you a good enough definition, I'm kinda happy enough with Android and just ignore any dumb/minimal angle, because if I only take a phone with me I generally want to potentially use it as a computer replacement. There are really only 2 people I call regularly.
    - FinnLobsien 16d ago
      > I think if you ask 5 people what dumb (enough) phone meant you'd get seven answers. Yes, but I think anyone interested in this would know what they don't want: TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, or any other app that wants you to spend maximum time in their app. Unless we're talking about complete purists who basically want a 2003 level phone that only does call/text, there's lots of flexibility. Someone who wants a less addicting phone but doesn't necessarily require maps is unlikely to not buy because of a maps app. It's not like they'd spend 3 hours a day getting directions.

Markoff 16d ago

72mm width ain't nothing to write home about, you can find even nowadays phones narrower than that as for the rest, I fail to see why pay extra for this niche nonsense when you can achieve exactly same thing with whatever Android launcher you prefer, only differentiator of this device is physical keyboard crap specs with only 90Hz display and MediaTek Dimensity 8300 for 600+ USD and it is not even released yet, but maybe in few months when these specs will look even worse than they already are

t0bia_s 16d ago

Small size (72mm is maximum width for use by one hand), jack port, physical buttons, aluminium body, open bootloader... Ok, I'm listening. But that price... Why do we even need 12 GB RAM for distraction free phone? Why there is no microSD port?

syntheticnature 16d ago
It's a full-up Android phone, they want to make sure no one complains versus Their Favorite App not having enough RAM.
- t0bia_s 15d ago
  Who could possibly complain about expensive RAM on distraction free phone? From marketing perspective, this doesn't make sense.

pentagrama 16d ago

The demo video is worth watching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsLd7p9THL4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsLd7p9THL4

amelius 16d ago
Why did they make those security settings global? I'd want different containers (sandboxes), depending on the things I'm doing.
jerlam 16d ago
Pretty weird how little they use the physical keyboard in the demo. I'd expect for at least their own apps / launcher, you could navigate with WASD. Instead, they're switching between tabs by clicking on the very top of the screen while the phone is on a table, which is very much not one-handed mode. There's a better video here which describes a text-based interface: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryFV1wHD8FM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryFV1wHD8FM

nashashmi 16d ago

Previous product: https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/1s0ufqz/i_dont_get_why_the_minimal_phone_gets_so_much/ https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/comments/1s0ufqz/i_dont_... Previous spotlight on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40609095 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40609095

opengrass 16d ago

A new QWERTY is a blessing, but please, open the bootloader and drivers so users can install whatever they want.

ghusto 16d ago
The bootloader is unlockable.
- deleted 16d ago
  [deleted]

Xeoncross 16d ago

I'm not sure about a return to keyboard, it's not large enough to actually type on, and swipe seems to be a much faster alternative to pecking at the keys. Maybe swipe typing isn't as popular as I first thought.

Multicomp 16d ago
hi there, I've done pocket PC, palm pilot graffiti, palm treo integrated and dockable keyboard, landscape slider keyboards, stylus only qwerty keyboards, Swype the app, Gboard, heliboard, t9 physical keys, messageease, and im sire some others. day 1 the plb is slower than swipe typing because it needs getting used to. But the trick is one can focus one's attention on the content being typed /learn to touch type on a physical keyboard that on screen keyboards cant do, because of lack of consistency of on screen kbs always shifting layouts on you, at least with coming and going but usually also ruining the dot menu for common punctuation depending on if the input field is trying to be an email or a number or whatever. dont try to help me keyboard, just give me a ctrl character, consistent shortcuts, and don't lag half the time I enter some text input, so I've typed out 4 words before the phone realizes anything has happened. so yes i think you are right that swipe typing has value and more people should use it. but its lipstick on a pig for most of osks not being reliably static enough to let muscle memory / touch typing grow. my unihertz titan 2 also has capacitive keys, i turn them off because I want the kb as dumb as possible (though i add keymapper android app to give me vim style arrow keys), but swipe typing would be possible on my or this device with just software support if there were demand for it / someone got their llm to vibe it up.
SoftTalker 16d ago
Swipe typing is abysmal on iOS. Not sure how it is on Android these days or how much it depends on the device.
thex10 16d ago
Good thing it supports swipe then

jrflo 16d ago

I get why these types of devices are appealing from an "oooh new shiny" perspective but let's be honest: the smartphone design is essentially perfected. Software keyboards are far better than physical ones at that size due to the adaptive keyboard touch target re-sizing that goes on behind the scenes. Just use your existing phone and delete all the distracting stuff, it'll be far more reliable than some small-batch manufacturing run of something like this.

danisth 16d ago
Maybe I’m just bad at it, but it’s been 16 years since I gave up my blackberry and I’m still way less accurate with touch screens. This is across flagship phones from both android and iOS.
unreal6 16d ago
I recently received my clicks power keyboard and after 2-3 weeks of usage am substantially slower and less accurate; that being said, I never developed "blackberry" muscle memory. https://www.clicks.tech/powerkeyboard https://www.clicks.tech/powerkeyboard
wookmaster 16d ago
Software keyboards are not "far better" than physical keyboards.

ocd 16d ago

I just want BlackBerry back. Every single time one of these new "minimal", "dumb", "lightweight" phones comes up today it's just marketing wrapped around a kneecapped Android device. I am in the market for something simpler that does nothing more or little else than play local media/audio, read common document/text formats, ordinary SMS, current standard of telephony, and a different OS than Android. I have not seen anything like this yet.

ape4 16d ago
Sending messages with BBM? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBM_(software) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBM_(software)
Moldoteck 16d ago
probably because in these days it's hard to get by without some apps like maps, common messengers, delivery, bank transactions and so on
- TomGarden 16d ago
  Agreed. Banking is the killer app imo
  - XorNot 16d ago
    In Australia it's pretty great: my driver's license can be provided by an app on my phone and legally must be accepted if it is. So between that and NFC payment support, a phone is the only thing I need to remember to operate outside the house.
    - jolmg 16d ago
      It's pretty great as long as it doesn't evolve into them no longer printing the cards and requiring use of their app, consequently on one of their approved OSes.
      - 16d ago

al_borland 16d ago

> Full Android. Every app you already use, there when you need it. So it still requires a user to have self-control. If people had that, they could just uninstall the problematic apps from the phone they already have.

SoftTalker 16d ago
Most phones come with a lot of vendor or carrier apps that cannot be uninstalled, at least not by the average user.
- al_borland 16d ago
  Are those the ones people waste time on? Social media seems to be the biggest culprit, and shouldn’t be shipping with any phone, or require any hoops to remove.
grepex 16d ago
I don't think that is necessarily true. Adding friction to how easy it is to use those apps has helped me.
pixelatedindex 16d ago
> they could just uninstall the problematic apps from the phone they already have. … if you have root access with adb (assuming android, I don’t know much about iOS)
IshKebab 16d ago
Yeah this type of "distraction free" device is fundamentally impossible because these days the "not distraction" things cannot be done without full Android apps. If you don't allow apps you have a phone without: * Messaging (in 99% of the world) * Maps * Uber etc. Messaging is the really big one.
- jazzyjackson 16d ago
  Personally I just tell everyone to contact me by email. It’s the only thing that I’m sure will still work in 20 years. But of course I have signal for group chats. it works on desktop tho so I can just check messages when I get home like the olden days. GPS I like my offline maps built into my car. It’s getting harder to find updates as everyone moves to the cloud.

p4bl0 16d ago

Like a lot of similar devices, it looks cool, but, just like a lot of similar devices which have a physical keyboard, it will probably never be released with anything else than a US qwerty keyboard, so I'm already out. Update: didn't scroll down enough! Indeed they have. Neat.

r3trohack3r 16d ago
What are you talking about? It ships with 5 language options for the keyboard on day 1?
albertjs 16d ago
They have 5 keyboard layouts available. Is yours not listed?

agiacalone 16d ago

When I think about 'minimal' and 'phone', $600 USD isn't the number that makes sense to me.

pak9rabid 16d ago
My thought exactly
jkestner 16d ago
I think they should’ve used the word ‘focused’. Everything else about the presentation says it’s a professional communication tool.
voidnullvalue 15d ago
I never understood these things. Just buy a kaios phone for less than $60

karim79 16d ago

Haptic feedback on virtual keyboards is just fine if you ask me. I'm not sure why it needs mechanical keys, I don't really see how that adds anything of value on a phone these days. I'm typing on my pixel 6 Pro and it still feels satisfying. Gimmick?

phoghed 16d ago
Nothing you can do on a modern phone is as satisfying as flipping out that sidekick screen and bashing out a message on physical keys imo Not that I’d trade screen real estate for keyboards nowadays, but there’s probably still some diehards out there that want them
- Multicomp 16d ago
  I too am a keyboard diehard (typing on a unihertz titan 2, i traded out my headphone jack for this physical keyboard so I am interested in this minimal phone 2 since headphone jack. if it had microsd card slot and removable battery it would be perfect, other old features like fm radio and IR blasters are bonus gravy to me), and likewise I'd prefer a blackerry priv style device where they portrait keyboard slides behind the screen, or a droid 2 style device where the keyboard is a landscape slider. I'm going to have to think carefully about why I should NOT order this device.
  - phoghed 15d ago
    I’d be tempted to get one if I was in the Android ecosystem, though probably not before real non-sponsored reviews came out. 90hz amoled, nice looking keyboard, lot of ram, seems like a nice device on paper.
- karim79 16d ago
  Fair enough. I've never use a blackberry so I wouldn't know. I'd like to try one the OP phones out to be honest.
zimpenfish 16d ago
> mechanical keys, I don't really see how that adds anything of value on a phone these days When you get old, your ability to type reliably on a phone's touchscreen keyboard starts to go down the pan. Having actual tactile "things" to land on can make it easier.

meerita 16d ago

Sorry, I just see a physical keyboard on a phone, and I cannot be convinced that it's a good idea. We're past that. If it were truly minimal, it wouldn't have a physical keyboard. It would have a full-screen display with a minimal but useful OS and UI/UX.

soyboy_supreme 16d ago

6000 series aluminium design, wowzers! And only $1699

gered 16d ago

The most exciting thing for me about this phone is the physical size. It's not a "phablet" like every other phone these days, it's basically Nexus 4 sized (perfect size for my big hands) which means easy one-handed use. Not sure if I will actually get one since my Pixel 4a 5g (w/ LineageOS + microG) is still going strong, but I will admit that I'm tempted by this.

Grombobulous 16d ago
Have you ever used a PopSocket? I highly recommend them. I think many people who use them start to realize that having a small phone isn’t that great. Having more screen real estate and a larger battery is so much more beneficial than being able to reach everything with one hand, and then the popsocket pretty much solves the one hand issue. I can reach the top of my screen with my iPhone 17 Pro Max because my phone has a PopSocket on the back, and my fingers are below average short.

Multicomp 16d ago

so I'm tempted to order this even if its a premium price point. My question is how close to kickstarter buyer beware is this company? I ordered the Astro Slide 5G and never received it, so much for me getting to see what all of the psion fuss was about, so this device is both tempting and making me remember past regrettable experiences.

opengrass 16d ago
Avoid pre-orders and new. The BB Key One launched at $729, I got it off local classifieds for $30.
jazzyjackson 16d ago
Why not just wait til reviews are out, no need to give an interest free loan to a for profit company

lanfeust6 16d ago

I like the smaller scale. Once, I really cared about having qwerty, but now I don't care with the way touch has progressed (using Futo). It's the experience of the BB I miss. I'm not sure how far Linux phones have come but last I checked they were sluggish and unstable.

forgetcolor 16d ago

Why is this phone barely lighter than an iPhone air with a massively bigger screen, two camera lenses, etc? I'm glad it's not heavier, but I would have hoped for it to be the lightest phone -- by far. (Minimal 2 is 7g lighter than iPhone Air).

ricardobeat 16d ago
Tells you something about what Apple/Samsung/etc are able to achieve with their manufacturing and supply chains.
- forgetcolor 16d ago
  Indeed. I wish Apple would make an Uno -- just the front screen of the Duo. Half the (unfolded) width, half the weight.
  - _ks3e 16d ago
    Isn't this just the Air?
    - jazzyjackson 16d ago
      Very different aspect ratio. I can’t stand the regular iphones it’s impossible to use one handed without using that dumb flick gesture to bring the top of the screen down to the bottom half
    - layer8 16d ago
      No, it would be smaller, thinner, and lighter than the Air.
  - oliv__ 15d ago
    I'd buy the Uno Air in a heartbeat

corentin88 16d ago

Reminds me of a Blackberry

yaky 16d ago

Would love to have a physical keyboard on a degoogled Android, but disappointed that there is no cyrillic option for keys.

mulderc 16d ago

I feel like if you are really want to have a minimal phone, you can just use a smart watch now.

ralferoo 16d ago

Wonder why they chose a different layout for the symbols on the physical keyboard than the default keyboard for Android. I'm sure that'll confuse a lot of people considering migrating, or worse, having to switch between them.

weee322 16d ago

I need communicator: Wire, tox, simpleX, jabber and new invented after 2030 ouch and open boootloader

grishka 16d ago
The product page explicitly mentions an unlockable bootloader.

markus_zhang 16d ago

Eh, I just want a dump phone. But they all use the bigger SIM slot so it’s a bit hassle to use a micro/mini SIM.

olwmc 16d ago

Not to shill but if you're struggling with apps on your (i)phone, I can't recommend https://www.foqos.app/ https://www.foqos.app/ enough. My weekly screentime (as measured by my iphone, not true screen time) is <1hr. NFC tag is optional you can literally buy a candy bar and tape the barcode to an index card and that will work. The physical layer is massive. Now my problem is just limited to desktop which is easier to control.

jleehn 16d ago
+1 on physical layer being the game changer. I've been using getbrick.com with amazing results.
- yauneyz 15d ago
  talysman.app does the same thing as Brick but for desktop. So you can code/etc with a physical layer of protection Definitely a game changer, maybe even more than Brick because the desktop is where I do all my work

mvkel 16d ago

I want minimal in size, not capability

czhu12 16d ago

I find for these what happens is that the phone itself can’t actually install certain banking or security apps, and also our workplace restricts it. Inevitably I have to carry two phones around Anyone find a solution around this?

httpdemon 16d ago
I’m in the same boat. I’m a principal engineer for a critical platform at a major retailer. I would LOVE to just have a communication device in my pocket but I’m required to have access to work comms and 2FA apps. I’ve considered using a pre-paid line with a burner for just those and carrying two phones… but that’s such a hassle.

dsr_ 16d ago

What I learned from carrying a phone with "2.5d" screen edges: They make the screen effectively narrower in terms of usable area, while making the phone physically wider. Do not want. Please go back to 9:16 or 10:16 screen ratios. If you need more space for the battery, gently round the back. It feels nicer in the hand even when it's 50% thicker than your competitors. Also, a fingerprint reader / power button on the back is superior to all other placements, and cutouts of any kind are distracting and wasteful. OnePlus managed a motorized pop-out selfie-cam and it's still working for me seven years later.

belowavgiq 16d ago
Huawei was this close to making the perfect 16:9 phone, now, in 2026. I would have gladly used all my apps in a half broken Android VM (they no longer use Android themselves). It's too bad they had to be extreme about it and ruin it with a huge screen and a 5:3 aspect ratio. it's almost a cube. https://m.gsmarena.com/huawei_pura_x_view-14887.php https://m.gsmarena.com/huawei_pura_x_view-14887.php
- jazzyjackson 16d ago
  Personally I like the 21:9 ratio of Sony’s Xperia 1. Big but skinny enough to reach my thumb across.
  - belowavgiq 14d ago
    I agree, I like both. Thankfully for us, both are dead and the only options left are 19.5:9 or 20:9. Hooray!
- geokon 16d ago
  Isn't HarmonyOS a fork of Android? I've never seen anything about the apps being half broken - do you have more info?
  - belowavgiq 14d ago
    The newer versions of are no longer based on Android. So it's either quirky VMs with hundreds of papercuts or nothing. Huawei Global is still a thing, and in some markets they keep releasing phones using Android 12 and no GMS. That is probably even worse.

troyvit 16d ago

I was hoping this was minimal enough for somebody with dementia to use to make calls, but when they say "Phone" they don't mean like the old folks do. I kept reading though, kind-of envying the physical keyboard because that would be fun, but I'm a swipe-typing guy through and through. Then I saw that it supports swipe typing, possibly by sliding your fingers across the keyboard. The idea of swiping across those keys literally gave me frisson, won't lie. That would be so groovy.

ARandomerDude 16d ago

Hard to justify for $599/$699 when a new Pixel 10a is currently $424 on Amazon.

bigstrat2003 16d ago
A Pixel 10a is far bigger and has no headphone jack.

konaraddi 16d ago

How long would the phone get security updates? Also looks like they sell cellular plans too https://plans.minimalcompany.com/#plans https://plans.minimalcompany.com/#plans

mgdev 16d ago

I want to believe, but the first phone was like six months late with no/bad comms, and when it came it was barely usable due. I believe in the mission but have lost some faith here. I hope they prove me wrong so I can buy Minimal Phone 3!

eigencoder 16d ago

I don't love it, I wish it was more handicapped

layer8 16d ago

> shaped for one hand Unfortunately, it is as wide as a regular iPhone (i.e. the 17e), so it’s not an iPhone mini/SE replacement in terms of one-handed use. At 158 grams it’s also heavier than any mini/SE.

k4rnaj1k 16d ago

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dagorenouf 16d ago

Why on earth does this need an oled screen and aluminum body? They’re trying to be Apple when they should be the opposite.

cubefox 16d ago
As you can see in this comment section, everyone complains about everything. If they didn't use aluminium and an OLED, someone else would have complained about "cheap plastic" and "cheap LCD". They can't make everyone happy.

classictraffic 16d ago

One thing that is bugging me (and maybe it's buried on the website somewhere but I missed it) is that I can't figure out what version of Android the phone uses. I wouldn't buy a phone relying on an older version of it

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rodolphoarruda 16d ago

<<a compact footprint>> Oh, thank you. We need that. It's refreshing to know that we might have the option to buy a cell phone with less than 6.5 inch size.

dash2 16d ago

The Adam Smith Institute once added up all the govt spending demands made in a single news program and it came to like 10% of GDP. Similarly the comments here: if only it could do all this and * On/off button round the back * More LTE bands * An open bootloader (note to normies this is like saying "have a quantum multiplexer") * Different screen ratio * Different keyboard layouts * Eink screen * Bigger battery * Be easier to use for someone with long fingernails (hello Nosferatu https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49751114 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49751114) * Be lighter * Be smaller * Have a website without javascript (really) * Be cheaper (this one is satire) (no it's not) Sure guys, why can't someone just build you your personal phone at the same price as the iPhone whose development costs are amortized over seval billions consumers :-/

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c0balt 16d ago
> Be easier to use for someone with long fingernails (hello Nosferatu) Long nails are somewhat common as an aesthetic/cosmetic choice usually for women (ime). No need to make a joke around accessible design.
- iterance 16d ago
  A phone that works with long nails is also likely to be far more accessible to people with all sorts of hand mobility or motor control problems.
- miladyincontrol 16d ago
  Even with short nails, keys that are too shallow or without contour be rather jarring to use.
- dash2 16d ago
  I feel no need not to make a joke around it.
- luipugs 15d ago

67sunglasses 16d ago

yes, their bootloader is unlockable + de-googled os option

dmitrygr 16d ago

Reminds me of the peek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peek_(mobile_Internet_device) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peek_(mobile_Internet_device)

drnick1 16d ago

Pixel a-series with GrapheneOS is already the "minimal phone" for hackers: cheap, reasonably small, hardened OS without Google spyware and bloatware. Compatibility with Android is fully retained so you can run things like Wireguard, Termux, Home Assistant and a myriad of other excellent FOSS (or non-FOSS) apps with complete sovereignty over your data.

wbsun 16d ago

Minimal here is really confusing me: why a phone with so many physical buttons/keys and jack port is minimal but other phones without are non-minimal?

thex10 16d ago

I welcome this kind of innovation in mobile UX. It's absolutely refreshing!

pmkary 16d ago

I don't know if you see it or not; but they started with really really minimal and dumb looks, and in this version started to add colors, UI elements and... So I guess a few versions in, and they'll build a iOS/Android from the first principles...

mrtesthah 16d ago

I'm sorry, but I really cannot take any claims seriously on a website that is clearly designed and generated by AI. What part of this did a human even write? This could be entirely vaporware for all I know.

aleksejs 16d ago

I really like the _idea_ of a QWERTY phone, and halfway through this page there's a section showing how you can use special characters to invoke commands (presumably by just typing at the home screen?), like "- buy milk" to add a todo entry or "? aviation recipe" to search. This sounds great, and somewhat difficult to replicate on a touchscreen! But I'm not convinced anymore that the actual typing experience is any good. Way before that exciting section, there's a video where somebody takes two full seconds to type "Hey bro you" on this phone's keyboard. I tried: in the same amount of time, I can type "Hey bro you mean everything to me" on my Pixel's default keyboard.

sbinnee 16d ago

I love the form factor. I would love to tinker with it!

1vuio0pswjnm7 16d ago

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jibal 15d ago

Not available to people without tattoos.

fuzzythinker 15d ago

Is this what HN has became? 22 hours, 200 comments and not a single positive one. I love it. Great classy look and feel. Well throughout keys for swipe. This is likely my next phone. Only wish is a better camera. Maybe MP03 will improve on that.

malomalsky 15d ago

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whilenot-dev 15d ago

iPhone 13 mini (and ex-SE) user here, this phone looks great! I like the minimal and solid looking design. I think the real keyboard is an interesting and welcoming compromise for its width. If the built quality is on point, I'd see no issue with the price. Full Android also means there's no restriction in the apps I'd need. GrapheneOS on it would be great. I appreciate the minimal color options - I have this thing where all my technical devices running software should be in all black, and any colorful details would just bother me a bit (looking at "playful" design choices like the lime green switch on the Fairphone 6). Quick nitpick at their marketing team: "compact by design, made for one hand." can't possibly be true with a real keyboard on a phone.

CGamesPlay 15d ago
The other iPhone mini user here, and agree that this phone looks nice. It looks like the keycaps form a capacitive touchscreen or something, so you can actually swipe to type over the keycaps. Marketing videos show using it to scroll the screen. But, seems like it could work for one-handed use. I might pick one of these up in the de-Googled variant and keep my iPhone around for all the "attestation required to view your bank balance" apps that I have.

Muhammad523 15d ago

Remembers me of the Mecha Comet and the Clicks Communicator

dlm24 15d ago

Why is this minimal if you can download all the normal android apps?

nashashmi 15d ago
Minimal is the name of the company.

LiamPowell 15d ago

I can't believe that statistic about 186 pickups per day, that would be every 5 minutes on average assuming 16 hours awake.

sriramraja251 15d ago

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sandebert 15d ago

I have a love affair with my Kobo Clara Colour. More than once I've thought it would be great if I could call and send sms with it. (Using a Bluetooth headset.)

Scrapemist 15d ago

Nothing on how long the battery lasts?

alun 15d ago

Awesome. To make the device even smaller, I would probably get rid of the physical keyboard

mr_machine 13d ago

The hardware looks amazing and I covet it. The lack of substantial info on Minimal OS makes it a non-starter, though, and that makes me sad. Security and privacy are job #1 for a smartphone, and there's no way I'm running El Rando OS just because the hardware is cute. If they partnered with Graphene OS, I'd happily pay twice their asking price, though.