About a week ago, an exciting project successfully transitioned from crowdfunding on Indiegogo to shipping its innovative product. While this alone is a notable milestone for any crowdfunded endeavor, it’s the product itself that truly captivates attention: meet The Minimal Phone.
Claiming the title of the “First E-Ink QWERTY Phone,” The Minimal Phone takes a distinct approach, setting itself apart from typical minimalist phones that merely feature E Ink displays to curb smartphone addiction with their less engaging monochrome screens.
This device even incorporates a physical QWERTY keyboard, ensuring a tactile experience for users.
The BlackBerry brand has been absent from the smartphone arena for quite some time, with its most recent attempt at capturing the nostalgia of QWERTY keyboards being the Key2 series back in 2022.
While a few Chinese manufacturers, like Unihertz, continue to offer phones equipped with physical keyboards, these models are generally considered niche. The Minimal Company effectively merges the desire for a physical keyboard with the concept of an e-ink display aimed at reducing our reliance on digital devices. The Minimal Phone includes a 4.3-inch screen with a unique 4:3 aspect ratio, reminiscent of LG’s unconventional Vu series smartphones.

The company honestly notes that demanding games or video-intensive applications may not deliver the best experience. However, it’s not entirely out of the question; after all, I turned to the Boox Palma 2, which also features an e-ink display, to play a few rounds of Angry Birds.
Fortunately, the company opted for a full Android experience (specifically, version 14.0), meaning you can expect a fully operational smartphone. The guiding principle behind The Minimal Phone is to encourage users to “live more, scroll less.”
This device does not compromise on functionality; it supports SIM calling and data services. For those residing in the United States, it is compatible with major carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T.

Equipped with a 3,000 mAh battery and leveraging the low-power, paper-like monochrome screen, this phone is said to last “several days” on a single charge. Surprisingly, it doesn’t skimp on features either.
The device includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, despite its minimalist screen, and boasts a 16-megapixel camera while supporting dual SIM cards and offering expandable microSD storage capabilities.

Additionally, it features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. The phone doesn’t skimp on performance either, offering options for 6GB or 8GB of RAM, with corresponding choices for 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.
Powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, the phone’s camera setup includes a 16-megapixel rear sensor and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. A physical navigation bar with three buttons is conveniently located just below the display.
The Minimal Phone is priced starting at $399, which includes a $100 discount for pre-orders, and it is currently being shipped globally. Customers can choose from white, black, or a dual-tone black-and-white design.