Minimalist Light Phone III launches March 27 | TechCrunch

Light, the maker of a minimalist phone designed to help consumers disconnect from smartphone distractions and social media, will launch its newest model, the Light Phone III, on March 27. This version of the device, like its older counterpart, offers a simple black-and-white display and necessary features like support for calls, texts, navigation, alarms, hotspots, a calendar, and more, including music. However, the upgraded device now ships with a 3.92-inch AMOLED display instead of an e-paper screen.

It also adds a camera and NFC chip for future payment tools.

First announced last summer, the Light Phone III improves repairability, as you can now access the battery, and replace the screen and USB port.

The company said it also tried to improve the device’s usability and performance, making it approximately the width of most iPhones for easier use.

“It actually will keep a lot of the characteristics that people love about the e-Ink screen, [with it] feeling much different than a glossy smartphone screen,” Light co-founder Joe Hollier explained last year, when the phone was first introduced.

As before, customers will be able to choose whether they want to use the unlocked device as their main phone or simply as a backup for those times they want to disconnect without losing access to critical tools to navigate modern life.

Light sells its own data plans starting at $30 per month for 1 GB of data.

However, the Light Phone III’s upgrades will increase the price point a bit. Instead of $299, like the older, e-ink device, the Light Phone III will be available for $599 for a limited time.

The price will later increase to $799, the website indicates.

The Light Phone III’s full specs:

Dimensions: 106mm x 71.5mm x 12mm
Weight: 124g
Network: 5G + 4GLTE
Display: 3.92″ AMOLED (1080×1240)
Screen: Matte Glass
Port: USB-C 2.0
Camera: 12m default image output
(50m rear sensor / 8m front sensor)
SIM: Nano SIM + E-SIM
Memory: 128GB / 6GB RAM
Battery: 1800 mAH
Sound: 2 mics (noise cancellation), 2 stereo speakers
Features: GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, Fingerprint ID
Materials: Aluminum, Glass, SORPLAS Recycled Plastic
Chipset: Qualcomm SM 4450
IP Rating: IP 54