In a world dominated by iPhones and Androids, it can be hard to remember that there are plenty of other quality smartphones out there, whether they’re packed with intuitive features like the Nothing Phone or focused on minimalism like the BoringPhone and Light Phone. Now, Light Phone has come out with the third generation of its flagship phone, dubbed the Light Phone III.
Founded on Simplicity
With its products designed to last the consumer for years (rather than being designed for annual or even semi-annual upgrades) Light Phone was founded on the idea of keeping it simple, designing phones for people who want to make phone calls and text — you know, what a phone was designed to do — and don’t feel the need for an abundance of features. Founded by Joe Hollier and Kaiwei Tang, the brand’s first version debuted in 2015 and was capable of holding just 10 contacts.
The next version, Light Phone 2, added a couple of features after it was discovered that in the process of mitigating tech anxiety, the first Light Phone actually created frustrating limitations instead. This version had an alarm/timer function, a calculator, a simple music player, directions, a calendar, and even a podcast listening tool. The lightweight phone also featured an E-ink screen similar to an e-reader, which could still be viewed in sunlight. However, the Light Phone III aims to do something different that might be able to convert even the most staunch detractors.
Light Phone III Basics
Swapping out the E-ink screen for a 3.92-inch black-and-white OLED 1080p display, the Light Phone 3 has a much higher refresh rate, even if it won’t be as fast as your standard smartphone. Tang stated, “Almost 50% of our users couldn’t get used to the [E-ink refresh rate]. That’s the main reason they give up.” There’s also a scroll wheel on the side of the phone to adjust the brightness manually and can click to turn on a flashlight.
As the brand states, the Light Phone will “never have social media, internet browsing, email, news, or ads.” However, the gen-3 Light Phone does now feature a rear-facing 50-megapixel camera, along with an 8-megapixel camera on the front, each one operating with a dedicated shutter button to make it feel like a traditional camera. Each lens also has a fixed focal length and center focus.
For future updates, the Light Phone 3 sports an NFC chip for making payments someday. Other features include a USB-C port, a fingerprint reader, 5G/4GLTE connectivity, a Qualcomm SM 4450 processor, 128GB of storage, and aluminum buttons. You can also change the battery yourself to aid with the longevity of the device.
Spec Sheet
Storage: 128GB
Processor: Qualcomm SM 4450
Charging Port: USB-C
Screen Size: 3.92”
Display Resolution: 1080p
Cameras: Rear-facing 50MP; front 8MP
Pricing & Availability
Expected to ship next January, the Light Phone 3 is priced at $399 through July 15. After that, it will go up to $799. Head over to Light Phone’s website to learn more.
Recap
Light Phone 3
The Light Phone 3 keeps its minimalist spirit but now features a camera, a new display screen, and some extra buttons.
