LoFone E Ink smartphone offers WhatsApp, Spotify and navigation despite focus on minimalism
Following the announcements of the Minimal Phone and the Light Phone 3 earlier this year, the LoFone is another option for fans of "minimalist smartphones" with a reduced range of functions. The first images of the device show a smartphone with a replaceable, transparent plastic casing, green color accents and a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the bottom.
There is an action button on the left-hand side, the function of which can be freely configured by the user and is reminiscent of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro. The E Ink Kaleido 3 display is said to offer an extremely long battery life and remains legible even in the brightest daylight, with Kaleido 3 capable of displaying a total of 16 shades of gray and 4,096 colors. The phone has a camera on the back, but there is no Live View, so users have to intuit what exactly is being photographed.
LoFone uses an operating system developed specifically for this product that completely dispenses with a web browser or social media apps - reducing distractions is the motto here. Unlike some competitors, however, the most important third-party apps will be supported, including WhatsApp and Spotify. The phone can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot and, thanks to the integrated map app, will have navigational capabilities.
Contactless payment is also on board, as is a podcasts app and the option to make calls. No details are yet known about when LoFone will be launched or at what price. Interested customers can register their e-mail address on the start-up's website to be notified of any news about the product.
