Minimal Phone 2 features physical QWERTY keyboard to reduce screen addiction

The California-based startup The Minimal Company has introduced the Minimal Phone 2 (MP2), a device designed to combat smartphone addiction through hardware-driven friction. Unlike devices that limit functionality, the MP2 runs a full version of Android, allowing users to access essential apps such as Google Maps, Signal, and NFC payments.

The device features a 4-inch 90Hz AMOLED display and a physical QWERTY keyboard intended to make mindless scrolling less appealing while making text-based tasks more efficient. The hardware includes a configurable physical switch to disable radio antennas, GPS, or notifications, a color-coded LED for alerts, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

During its Kickstarter pre-sale, the 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage model is priced at $599, with a 512 GB version available for $675. The final retail price is estimated at $699.