Light Phone (1st generation)

The Light Phone is a 2G minimalist mobile phone developed by Light. It was introduced in 2015 as an “anti-smartphone,” designed to be “used as little as possible,” with the goal of helping users disconnect from the constant notifications, social media, and apps that characterize modern smartphones.^[1]

Light Phone

First-generation Light Phone (2017)
Developer	Light
Manufacturer	Light
Product family	Light Phone
Type	Mobile phone
Release date	May 2017
Introductory price	US$150 at launch
Operating system	LightOS (custom firmware)
CPU	NXP chipset (proprietary)
Memory	Unknown
Storage	~512 MB
Display	OLED numeric display (non-touch)
Input	T9-style keypad, power button, USB button
Connectivity	2G GSM
Power	Non-removable battery (600–800 mAh est.)
Dimensions	85.6 mm × 53.98 mm × 4.0 mm (credit card sized)
Weight	~38 grams
Predecessor	None
Successor	Light Phone II
Website	Light Phone – Official Site

It can make and receive phone calls, and was designed primarily to function as a companion phone, working through call forwarding from a user's primary device. Unlike later models, the original Light Phone does not support texting, internet access, or third-party applications, and has no camera or GPS capability.

Subsequent versions include the Light Phone II and the Light Phone III.

Design and features

The Light Phone features an ultra-minimalist, credit-card-sized form factor. It has a small white LED display and T9-style keypad. The casing is sleek and white, with no camera, no internet connectivity, and no apps.^[2]

Designed as a companion device to a smartphone, it could forward calls via a companion app. Users could insert a SIM card and use the Light Phone independently for calls only, with 500-number contact storage and 3 days of standby battery life.^[3]

Technical specifications

• Display: LED matrix (white)
• Network: 2G GSM (850/1900)
• Input: T9 numeric keypad
• Battery life: Up to 3 days standby, 3 hours talk time
• Weight: 38.5 grams
• Storage: Stores up to 500 contacts
• Charging: Micro-USB
• Dimensions: 85.6 mm × 53.98 mm × 4 mm

Reception

Reception to the Light Phone was generally positive among digital minimalists and critics of modern smartphone overuse. MIT Technology Review called it a “genuinely radical” device aimed at helping people reclaim their attention.^[4] However, mainstream reviewers noted limitations due to the lack of texting, 4G support, or a usable screen.^[5]

Legacy

The Light Phone was followed by two successor devices: the Light Phone II, which added a monochrome E Ink touchscreen and support for texting and additional "tools",^[6] and the Light Phone III, which further introduced a monochrome AMOLED screen, camera, and 5G connectivity.

The original Light Phone is now considered a seminal example of the minimalist tech movement, often cited in discussions of digital minimalism and smartphone overuse.

See also

• Light Phone II
• Feature phone
• Smartphone addiction