# Minimal Phone 2

34 Hacker News commenters recommended Minimal Phone 2 and 26 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** A small e-ink phone that people like for its compact size, look, and design to reduce phone use. Critics point to its high price, weak specs, and US-only keyboard.

## Why people recommend it

- Small size, less than 6.5 inches (3 comments): "It's refreshing to know that we might have the option to buy a cell phone with less than 6.5 inch size." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49761813)) "The most exciting thing for me about this phone is the physical size." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49759674)) "I like the smaller scale." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49759942))
- Classy, minimal look and feel (3 comments): "Great classy look and feel. Well throughout keys for swipe." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49763676)) "I like the minimal and solid looking design." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49763914)) "The hardware looks amazing and I covet it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49786473))
- Unlockable bootloader and de-googled option (3 comments): "I kind of like the idea of this being a reflash to install apps" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49751188)) "It says they offer a degoogled version, which is cool." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49750358)) "their bootloader is unlockable + de-googled os option" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49762297))
- Designed to reduce phone use (2 comments): "I recently switched to a used Minimal Phone (no longer being made sadly) and its been great for this." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49844304)) "I like the idea of a phone designed to reduce use, but still have access to some things" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49797208))

## What people warn about

- High price for the specs (3 comments): "crap specs with only 90Hz display and MediaTek Dimensity 8300 for 600+ USD and it is not even released yet" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49752468)) "Hard to justify for $599/$699 when a new Pixel 10a is currently $424 on Amazon." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49760826)) "3600 mAh with 27W charging would be a bigger downshift than comfortable from 6000 mAh and 90W charging." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49750085))
- Only a US QWERTY keyboard (2 comments): "it will probably never be released with anything else than a US qwerty keyboard" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49759135)) "Wonder why they chose a different layout for the symbols on the physical keyboard" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49760107))
- Clunky interface and uncertain typing (2 comments): "I'm not convinced anymore that the actual typing experience is any good." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49763019)) "The friction of everything being so clunky keeps me from picking it up" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49591675))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Commodore Flip Phone](https://hackerapproved.com/p/commodore-flip-phone.md): 31 recommend
- [Nokia phones](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nokia-phones.md): 29 recommend
- [Commodore Digital Detox Phone](https://hackerapproved.com/p/commodore-digital-detox-phone.md): 14 recommend
- [Mudita Kompakt](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mudita-kompakt.md): 8 recommend
- [HMD Touch 4G](https://hackerapproved.com/p/hmd-touch-4g.md): 8 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Minimal+Phone+2+Minimal+Company+e-ink&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Minimal Phone 2", https://hackerapproved.com/p/minimal-phone-2/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).