The Kindle-like smartphone you have been ready for...

Are you a fan of Kindles or different E ink devices? In that case, this new smartphone would possibly pique your curiosity.

The Minimal Phone is the primary Android machine with an E ink show and a bodily QWERTY keyboard. After dealing with a number of delays, the machine lately started transport to backers on Indiegogo and is up for pre-order on Minimal’s website. The telephone resembles a Blackberry however has the attraction of a Kindle and the Boox Palma 2.

The Minimal Cellphone is supposed to be a “distraction-free” telephone. It runs Android 14, which implies it helps many important apps within the Google Play Retailer, like Spotify or WhatsApp.

Nonetheless, its 4.3-inch 600 x 800 pixel decision E ink show and octa-core MediaTek processor could be sufficient to discourage you from downloading any video games or social media platforms. The telephone is accessible in three colours: pebble, onyx and fusion. It begins at $400, however there’s a pre-order promotion to get the machine for $300 on its website.

An E ink machine with just a few surprises

It has LTE assist, in contrast to the Boxx Palma 2

The Minimal Cellphone has just a few further perks you may not anticipate of a tool of this caliber. In contrast to the smartphone-sized Boox Palma 2 , the Minimal Cellphone has a twin SIM card tray and helps a 4G LTE connection. Different options embrace Qi wi-fi charging, NFC funds, expandable storage, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

TCL’s Nxtpaper phones are the following closest factor to the Minimal Cellphone available on the market. At CES 2025, TLC introduced the TCL 60 XE, which provides a paper-like colour show with a characteristic referred to as Max Ink Mode, which converts it into an E ink-like monochrome show. The 60XE is unique to North America and begins at $200, barely cheaper than the Minimal Cellphone.

The Minimal Cellphone’s QWERTY bodily keyboard ought to make texting really feel such as you’re again in 2010. If the 4.3-inch show is not too small for you, its E ink show would possibly make studying on the go extra nice. The telephone is accessible for pre-order now for $300, although I’d maintain off till critiques are out for it.

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