Offone smartphone concept for minimalists combines E Ink display with Maps app
The Offone is an interesting smartphone concept that was first announced in 2016, but development came to a halt in 2022 after the team behind the start-up disbanded. However, the concept is still worth a look in view of the launch of comparable smartphones such as the Minimal Phone.
The idea was very simple - the Offone was devised as a smartphone for minimalists that would have offered no unnecessary features with a simple case made from a 3D printer and an e-ink touchscreen that only displays content in black and white. Cameras and app stores were omitted. Instead, the concept focuses on the core features of a cell phone, such as telephony, SMS, emails and navigation.
The economical e-ink display was not only supposed to only guarantee particularly long battery life, but also first-class readability in sunlight. A backlight, on the other hand, would have enabled use at night without blue light, making the screen particularly easy on the eyes. At least one prototype shows no ports, so charging would have been wireless and headphones possible only via Bluetooth.
It is currently unclear whether the Offone will ever come onto the market; there are no concrete plans for a launch and the founder of the project describes Offone as a "failed startup". Since the hardware has not yet been fully developed, the specs have not been finalized either. However, the concept shows what a modern, minimalist second smartphone could look like that does not come in a retro design like the Nokia 3210 4G.
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