It received a black and white “paper” screen and a QWERTY keyboard
Startup Minimal decided to release a smartphone in the style of the BlackBerry models that were popular before the iPhone came out. The Minimal Phone smartphone received an E Ink screen (it is apparently still touch-sensitive) and a physical QWERTY keyboard. The device is unlikely to be suitable for games and watching videos, but it can be used for viewing text files and websites, working with email and, of course, making calls and messages. The message that the company wants to convey with the release of the Minimal Phone is: «Live more, scroll less»; that is, users are advised to look at the screen less and more — enjoy real life.
The Minimal Phone's e-ink screen is black and white and very energy efficient. The manufacturer promises that a 4000 mAh battery will be enough for 4 days of battery life on a single charge. The device runs the Android operating system, or more precisely, its optimized version for low-power, high-contrast E Ink displays with a low refresh rate. There is also support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 4G cellular networks (5G may be added in the future). Minimal Phone dimensions are 120x72x10 mm.
It is expected that the retail price of the smartphone will be around $400, but there is no talk of the start of sales yet: only a crowdfunding campaign will begin in February. Perhaps its members will be able to receive discounts on the purchase of the device when (or if?) it is released onto the market.