As a fellow light phone user, the biggest benefit I've experienced is a slowed state of being. This phone forces you to have patience and take on every task one step at a time which is a very refreshing contrast to the current go-go-go expectations of society. Love your light phone content, I hope more people continue to convert!!
"slowed state of being" Love that! Yea, it's annoying at first, but then you come to appreciate the LP as a reminder to fully experience what's around you, instead of always being in the rat race.
@@MagP.i.e Yea, there are fully funcitonal e ink smarpthones, but they're Chinese and don't support Google Play. Hopefully we'l see some within the next year or two.
@@MagP.i.e E ink tech will improve, no doubt. I think it'll be color and usable for watching movies and such in maybe 3-5 years or sooner. While I wouldn't watch movies on the Mira, it works fine for tutorial videos and such.
@MagPie I actually do live in the city and work a full time job I commute to every day and I make the light phone work. I think there’s a misconception that we need to be “available” via email at all times. I still get my work done just fine without checking my email 40 times a day. I intentionally block out times each day to check email via my laptop and I have a physical GPS to get me where I need to go. There’s always a way to make it work if you want to :)
Nice! I've had my Light Phone for about two years as well. The difference with me is that I never did have a smartphone. My Light Phone was an upgrade from a flip phone, lol.
That's the way to go. Should have kept my Samsung Alias from high school. At least it had an e ink keyboard. Would have saved me a whole lot of grief, ha!
I'm 24 and have been using a flip phone for about 4 years. For me, it has been possible to live this way. Has it been inconvenient? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Very interesting. I am this year trying to improve my sleep byt going nearly analog after 5pm. I have an old Kindle without any backlight, a regular paper journal, a reMarkable and then I take a walk (in my barefoot shoes), play some piano, crochet, listen to music on the old record player and go to bed at a decent hour. It´s a process, as you say, social media is addictive. 😅
Ha, yea, I remember when I first started going LED tech-free after 5pm, and it was like...what the heck do I do for the next five hours? But you rediscover old interests and it becomes a lot more fun.
I'm a year and a half into the Light life, and I love it. AND the brand new calendar feature makes it even better. I thought I would hate the slow texting, but it is wonderful. I only text quick notes when I have to, and not for conversations.....like quick "I'm running late" texts....which is what it was for in the first place.
I've had a flip phone for about 6 months now and the thing that drives me crazy is how low quailty they are now because almost no one uses them. I'd pay good money for an old razor style flip phone but you can't get those anymore. The light phone seems to be the only quality low tech phone on the market... so you've sold me on it I'll get one :) Thanks for the review!
Yea, I wish they sold an old Samsung Alias but with an e ink screen too. That thing was so cool. People always think the LP is interesting, though, and I can't imagine having to pull out a cheap flip phone, ha.
I really love that you can use it as a hotspot. so many basic phones don't have this and it makes it super hard when you basically need to use another device like a laptop.
I completely understand and agree with the common argument that people should be more responsible with their smartphones, and delete all social media and clickbait apps. I’ve always been told I have an addictive personality. I won’t say that is my struggle, but nonetheless, I always never have self-control to not go back to a previous habit I once removed from my life. One being my phone addiction, where I can never seem to ignore the temptations. May even remove apps and cleanse for a while, but always end up going back. And this will translate to other habits in my life too such as drinking, vaping/smoking, exercising, food, etc. Some addictions may be good though, as I said exercising, and get overly consumed with it after I start. Seriously considering this light phone, and hope it helps me overcome this phone addiction hurdle. Thank you very much for your informative video, and for sharing your personal experience.
Yea, addiction is a real bear. Obviously, the LP isn't a magic wand, but I've found the less LED I have in my life the less stressed and addicted I feel to other things. Something about it is just so toxic to my brain and degrades my decision-making.
I have not bought a phone for myself since my first back in 2002 and I only use it for phone calls and texts. I bought my kids phones and took and their old one the iphone 4 got upgraded for free by ATT when they changed the network they sent me an iphone 10 and this will stay in use till it dies. I never listen to music when I run, wearing earphones while running is stupid. Technology is great on my desk, and that is where it stays.
I really really want to switch to a “dumb” phone, as I know how much more my focus on real life would be. The hardest thing I think though would be no navigation (as I ride motorcycles, and would be reliant on directions a lot of times), and music discovery/ podcasts. I saw the option on the phone, but how well do those actually work? I love the idea though, and really think the benefits would outweigh the cons of making the switch
Given the small screen the LP's GPS is best used with text directions, might not work for a motorcycle. For music/podcasts I find them on my desktop and then download them via the LP dashboard for episodes or download a few of my favorite albums/playlists from UA-cam or NoteBurner, which I feel is ok ethically, since I'm paying for a Spotify subscription.
@@AndrewFolts I ended up getting a discount from eBay in Sept that was new but opened. I love it! I still kinda "cheat" with using an old iPhone for Google maps, Spotify playlists, and audiobooks but my daily avg is at 1 hour on that primarily using those apps vs the 6+ hours a day.
Here in China, there are a few 4G e-ink android smartphones (even one with some colors). I'm using the Duoqin F20 (T-9 keyboard, android, 1.5 inch screen). It is definitely a conversation starter, as people are incredulous when I use a tiny QR code to pay for food or get on the subway.
Yea, it sucks because none of the Chinese e ink phones have access to Google Play, so they're basically useless here in the US. Hopefully Hisense or another brand will add access eventually.
I ended up taking the leap on getting a Light Phone 2 after watching this and your video on the Boox Mira Pro! I’m probably just going to use it as a secondary phone + Apple Watch connected to its hotspot (since I only have the WiFi version) for when I’m going out for small things or to the gym, though!
Totally! Can be useful to mix and match, which is what I do with my iPad and Light Phone. I was sleeping on the hotspot feature for a while, but it really comes in handy.
I wasn't expecting that you'd make a follow up video of your experience with the lightphone but I loved it! It's great to know life is possible these days without a regular smartphone. I mean, we used to live without smartphones at all but now it seems impossible to stay away from them. I fell in love with the concept of the lightphone since it launched but it is sadly not supported in my country (Mexico). I tried using a low tier smartphone with just the "necessary" apps but you're right, after a while one would still be hooked to it. Hopefully I'll be able to buy a lightphone in the future but for now I'm trying my best to use it as little as possible. Thanks again for your great work! P.S. It'd be great if you made a follow up video of your barefoot shoes when they finally become unusable. It's amazing how much you've managed to get out of them. Also, perhaps you should try juggling. It's plenty of fun and it's supposed to be good for your mental health.
Hey Miguel, what about it's not supported in MX? I'm on a Verizon plan with the LP, which I'd think would work globally. Maybe one of the other minimalist phones like the Mudita Pure would work? By "unusable" do you mean like how many miles I got? My Primus Lite's are at 6+ years and 4,000+ miles and still going, although they do look a bit ratty. Also, I love juggling! I juggle toward the end of my Skill Board review: ua-cam.com/video/8VhP6rKoKAU/v-deo.html
@@AndrewFolts According to the Light Phone's website it's something related to network certifications and compatibility issues. This seems strange to me because we have everything from GSM to 5g and, if a phone is unlocked, it simply works with the available networks here. I'll check the Mudita Pure, that might work for me. Thanks for the suggestion! Yes! That's what I meant. It is because of your videos that I decided to exclusively wear barefoot shoes and I'm loving it! They have lasted for a long time for me as well though, not as long as yours. I just rewatched your video about the skill board to see the part about juggling because I'd forgotten about it. It's so cool! And it really makes you feel better in many ways.
The Light Phone 2 works in Mexico with AT&T MX and Telcel. Just fyi. They say is not compatible because they haven't tested it themselves, but many in the community have gone to Mexico and used the Light Phone 2 with local carriers without issues.
I just got my Light phone this week (I don't think many people know about this phone in the UK). The thing I love the most about it is how intentionally & realistically it's been designed for a modern world (syncing with Google Calendar is awesome!) This video is a cool insight into your LP journey! 🙌🏻
Hey, big props on taking the leap! It's true, it hasn't blown up, probably because it's so different from what people are used to. But yea, it has a lot of great tools and integrations that help bridge the gap in a mindful way.
Great video Andrew. You are a pioneer to break away from the tracking device addiction syndrome so many of us cope with. One thing about the light phone I found quite disturbing was how high the EMF levels were… I hope that you do another video and touch on that problem and be sure to never ever put that phone to your head again. Stay healthy and stay free
I bought a used Nokia 6300 and was excited about it (and excited for low-fi pics, i like playing around with stuff like that). But alas, as I suspected, it's no longer supported, at least by ATT or Verizon. So after a couple of years of being curious about it I finally ordered a Light Phone 2 and it will be here this week. I'm definitely a little nervous (nervous about my willpower, you know? I want it to be my new phone. It would be awesome if you made an advice/encouragement video for brand new light phone users!) Anyway, I will use my old smart phone as a camera for now (unless I buy a little camera, any recommendations? low fi is okay. the cheap children's ones are intriguing but I want it to last). I want something small and very lightweight that I can carry around in my purse. I want to only do screen time on my laptop. That takes away that scrolling and switching from this app to that app etc, while doing absolutely nothing, just mindless cell phone use. Thanks for the lovely video! You seem to be someone who can make a plan and stick to it, very well! A great strength.
You might want to check out one of Hisene's e ink smartphones. They don't have Google Play access, which might be perfect for your use case, but they do have a basic camera, which outputs to color when you send/share the photos. I have an old A5 I got off eBay, and it's helpful for travel and scanning QR codes, etc, but isn't distracting at all: ebay.to/3ZKpXWz
I’ve been looking into getting one because of my social media addiction but I see that it’s a hat I need after hearing your thoughts after two years. I think I can enjoy my hobbies again if I get one
I am thinking about the light phone for a long time… at least for my days off. I totally see the e-ink appeal. As you a draw a lot on my ipad but I now only use it for work. For my other stuff I use the remarkable tablet and it reeeeally helped me. I drew over a 1000 sketches on it. Of course it is very limited and has no backlight but I love listening to something and just draw without distraction.
Cool, yea, I wish Apple made an iPad with e ink, because I hate drawing on LED. Would totally get a Remarkable if it ran Procreate. How'd you find the drawing experience. Pretty natural?
@@AndrewFolts I do. I really got used to it and it feels quite natural. And I like the limitations that come with it to explore the creative possibilities. It has some flaws of course and you get like 5% of the options of procreate. It is also quite expensive but so far I love it. I still need my iPad for work though. But you brought me to look into e.ink displays now. :D
I have considered getting a Light Phone 2 or a Wisephone. My biggest con of the Light Phone 2 is the lack of camera and ability to send/receive pictures. The Wisephone has both of those, except it has a whopping 6.2" screen, which I think is unnecessarily large for a minimalist device. How is your experience without the ability to send/receive pictures? I feel like that would be the feature I miss the most. Tough decision, but great review! Keep it up!
If you want a camera, I'd go with a used Hisense phone: ebay.to/3ZKpXWz. They have an e ink screen and camera, but no access to Google Play, so there's no distractions. The Wisephone still has an LED screen, so it wouldn't be much of an improvement for me. That said, in two years I've never once needed to send a photo in the moment, so usually I just take photos with my DLSR and send them on my Mac.
@@AndrewFolts Good suggestion. I looked at the Hisense A5 and it looks like an okay option for going more minimal with an e-ink screen, but it is still a smartphone, and a Chinese product that doesn't seem to translate well into English. However, the battery life is incredible! Up to 2 weeks on standby! I am amazed that I have heard the Light Phone can only go 1-2 days on a charge, given that it does less than the Hisense. If I'm going minimal, I'd like something to hold a charge for at least a few days for when I go out backpacking.
@@anthonyp5941 Yea, I would have gladly paid an extra $50 for a better battery on the LP. The Hisene's battery is incredible. Although some things are in Chinese (like system update notifications), most of the basic functions are in English.
@@anthonyp5941 there’s a phone called the pinwheel phone. it’s my favorite phone for reducing internet time since it has an App Store of about 500 apps, which excludes any internet or social media apps, as well as addictive games. you still get the basic music & podcast apps, productivity/creativity apps, google suite, etc). It just eliminates internet browsing apps and social media. Unfortunately it is a phone designed for parent monitoring, and includes 2 features I REALLY don’t like. The monitoring person can read your texts and also has to approve of anyone who wants to call or text you, by adding their number to an “approved” list, and then you saving the number to your contacts list. When someone tries to contact you, they are blocked from being able to, and the monitoring person is notified by the Pinwheel software of the number that tried to contact you. Pretty annoying for an adult. I’m trying to figure out ways around these features.
You exude a calming vibe and subtly funny which makes your video refreshing. I'm happy I stumbled upon your video when researching light phone. Thanks so much for this! :)
As someone with a vision impairment, what accessibility features does it possess? Such as: screen reader, font adjustment, highlighting what’s in focus, etc?
Thank you for this! Luckily I benefited from all those people who give up on Light Phones by buying a used one. I'm getting started and your video is the first inspirational thing I've seen!
Ha, yea me too. It's ironic how many UA-camrs are profiting off the LP when they ditch it after a month, but I'm just glad it's getting some well-deserved airtime.
I watch many youtubers been through this but some of them are back to smartphones. Their reason is cannot take pictures and videos at concerts and share it to social media, cannot watch livestreams, cannot listen to music for free, cannot discuss with people when they go out, and many more which is confusing because that's the point. For now, I'm using smartphone now and there is 17 useless app cannot be uninstalled! And by the time I'm going back home usually midnight, the phone are almost died. I found a Nokia phone that can last for days, has whatsapp and thats the only thing I need, communicate with my work team and family. For music, I use walkman instead lol and I take pictures with digicam (it got minimum battery life, like only for 5 hours). I need to edit it, and post it on my PC after I get back home. I just love this way of life. Thank you so much for sharing :)
Yea, you kind of have to "split" out the features of a smartphone into several one-purpose devices, which is inconvenient at first, but has a lot of perks longterm, like increased focus and decreased stress. Props to you for getting creative with your Nokia, cam, and walkman! (:
@@AndrewFolts Another upside to one-purpose devices is that you don't put all your eggs in one basket. I know people who wouldn't even have a way to get up for work if their phone randomly died because they have no alarm clock and got rid of their laptop because "I have a smartphone, so I don't need one".
Have you ever tried to visit Disney World/Land without a smartphone? Reserving Rides, Buying Food, (interactive) Park Map. or what about ordering food at DFW airport or getting updates on Gate Changes? Sending a friend your Pin Drop so you can meet up. Trying to figure this out. Really the only reason to have a supercomputer in your pocket. Been using the lightphone for a year now, The mental clarity of the light phone is priceless but trying to figure these out.
Ha, I imagine that would be a real nightmare! Interestingly, I've found the LP has been a great "filter" of stressful/unhealthy situations. Not that this is practical for everyone, but ditching restaurants, airplane travel, cities in general, and digital communication (social media, etc) has had a profoundly positive effect on my life. Every I feel frustrated by the LP limiting me from doing something I reflect and often find that that thing wasn't adding positive energy to my life anyway and that there's a better alternative that brings me more joy longterm.
@@AndrewFolts Haha, Digital Discrimination is a thing right? Ever happen to you? GYM: "Thanks for signing up, you will check in with your Phone" Me: "This thing? LP" GYM: "What is that!" Or Trying to buy a car---> Carmax: "Scan QR code to check in" Me: "This thing? LP" CARMAX: "What is that!" But come on DisneyLand, happiest place on Earth, except they've stopped printing out Maps of their Park or make it really hard to find.
A flip phone will do a lot of the same things for $20 if you don't care about the design or e ink. The reason I went with the LP was that my eyes were super burned out from working on bright LED screens, and it's worth it to me to have a mellow e ink screen that doesn't cause eyestrain. Also, pulling out a flip phone would just be too silly in 2023 for me, but every has different priorities.
4:45 The real reason Andrew loves his phone ''Hey cute girl, oh ya, that's my light phone, so peaceful, sooo... the only way to keep in touch is call and meet up'' 😅
So true, ha. I should do one of those pickup videos, except I'd be wearing barefoot shoes hold a Light Phone, and communicating only with my little paper titles.
@@AndrewFolts Not to encourage clickbaity content, but that might be amazing and funny to watch! 'Picking up girls with barefoot shoes' ..and using foot fetish pickup lines, God, the cringe!
Light Phone is definitely a lifestyle change. You miss emails, or don't instantly respond, which is a social expectation I never realized we all had for one another. Doomscrolling is no longer a possibility and very soon you start to feel free and more like yourself again. You aren't attached to your phone like you used to be. It's nice communicating on your own terms. It definitely isn't super easy to use. The texting is difficult. But if using it less is the goal, then it's doing its job. Turns out, you really, truly don't need a smartphone to exist in the world today.
"truly don't need" Yea, that's the best feeling, when you realize you're free and that you can be happy(ier) with less. The LP's a funny little device that teaches you a lot about the world in a very short time, ha. Cheers to the minimal journey!
I can spot the music video of Feels Like We Only Go Backwards anywhere, even in black & white. 😉 I'm definitely tempted to try this out, but unsure if I should go for the 2 or the 3.
You're the first person to spot the Impala, well done, ha. In terms of 2 vs 3, it's pretty straightforward. If your priority is eyestrain and like the idea of a slower screen with gentle ambient light, then go with the LP2. If you need a camera and/or a faster screen for quick texting, GPS map view, etc, and don't mind OLED for the presumedly small amount of time you'll spend on a minimal phone, then go with the LP2.
@@AndrewFoltsTame Impala was my obsession 10 years ago. Been through Lonerism and Innerspeaker tons of times. :) I'm leaning towards the LP3, but that price definitely has me a little standoffish. Might just go with the 2 for now to see how I like it, and see about maybe upgrading when the timing is right. Thank you!
For people who dont want to go hardcore, you could also use a smartwatch with LTE and put your phone into your backpack or leave it at home, but if your realy addicted it maybe not so practical.
Interesting, I could see that being either better, because of the minimal UI and you can't scroll the internet, or possibly worse, because it's literally attached to your wrist, ha! Good first step for people to experiment with, though.
I can only manage to do this for so long, until my “logic” centers take over and remind me I can do it more efficiently with my phone - then boom, I’m right back into phone addiction. I’m considering locking my phone in a box with a charging hole to prevent it
@@gnocchidokie Yea, I found my iPhone impossible to resist consistently, no matter how hard I tried. You could check out some of Hisense's newer e ink phones. I've used an older model, and even though it had UA-cam, etc, I never had any problems with addiction. Barely used it, in fact. Check the channel Good E Reader for reviews.
To be honest, the light phone and the punkt mp02 are for a very specific target market. That's people that have experienced real fatigue through smartphone overuse AND have attempted but failed to reduce usage (monochrome, social media deletion etc etc). If you haven't felt that problem, these devices will be seen as a massive waste of money. However if you have felt it, the value way outweighs the cost. Smartphones are almost considered 'for everyone' devices but no device works for every individual.
Eyestrain is the other consideration. Even for someone who uses a smartphone responsibly say 30 min to an hour a day, the fatigue on your eyes and also blue light (especially at night) can be significant. I go entire days now without any LED screens and it's amazingly relaxing.
I don't own a cell phone but i'm considering buying one of these.I do all the internet things (mostly gaming) on my computer and i just want a phone for texting and talking. I don't see any need for my phone to ever be on the internet, ever. I didn't pay over 5 thousand dollars on a high end computer with a huge gaming monitor to view the internet on such small screens like cell phones have. This phone may be what i'm looking for.
I'd say the LP isn't great for texting, which is kind of the point (prevent distraction). If you want a normal size keyboard, then you could check out the Hisense e ink phones. They're Chinese and don't support Google Play, so you can't install apps, which might be ideal in your case: ebay.to/3ZKpXWz
@@AndrewFolts thanks, i will check that phone out. My problem is all the apps on phones (like google). I would be happy with a normal cell phone that had all apps removed so i could choose no apps or only choose the apps i want.
"I didn't pay over 5 thousand dollars on a high end computer with a huge gaming monitor to view the internet on such small screens like cell phones have." I thought I was the only person who felt this way!! I never liked going online on a phone. It's just too tiny. I never got how people are addicted to their phones to the point where they will even chose them over devices that do the job better when given the option. Like they will have a 90 inch smart TV on the wall and still watch UA-cam on their phone.
I really would like to switch to a dump phone, but there is not a single dump or feature phone out there with a solid camera. I do not want all the social features and stuff in my pocket, but I do want a good camera to take pictures and videos.
The OSMO Pocket 3 would be a good option. amzn.to/4aHifSy I've been thinking about getting one as a vlogging camera, since it's so small and portable yet solid image quality.
Great!! this has been a goal for awhile. I want to get a camera to replace the iPhone. That's my greatest hurdle. Love the desktop option!! great idea!
Hey Arnie, you could check out Hisense's A series e ink phones. They have no Google Play access, unfortunately, but they have a web browser and a serviceable camera, which, while grayscale on the phone, outputs to color if you share/send the photos elsewhere. I have a Hisense A5, which I use occasionally on trips, etc. ebay.to/3ZKpXWz
@@KTT333 I literally only use if for like USPS QR codes to mail stuff. I would 100% not use a Chinese phone for anything sensitive, VPN or not, because it's pretty much guaranteed it's all getting beamed straight to China, ha!
Your Light Phone II has a light on the screen so it can be used in the dark, bud. It's even able to automatically turn on when in a low ambient light situation.
I’ve been seriously considering leaving the iPhone for its social media accessibility but also for its planned obsolescence and need to replace every two years. Does the Light Phone seem to degrade as quickly as an iPhone in your experience? And can you still be part of group texts?
I've had my LP for three years now and they keep adding minimal features without any plans to release a new phone that would make the old version obsolete, so it's been great. It didn't support group texts when I got it, I don't think I've ever got one, but honestly, that was a blessing, because they drove me crazy when I had my iPhone. It was so distracting, like my phone would just constantly ping when my aunt and uncle were sending baby pics to each other and had put me in the thread, ha.
What you're looking for is the Boox Palma: shop.boox.com/products/palma?ref=PuP7tONc0ooGz. It's an e ink phone-sized tablet with full Android, but not at all distracting due to the slower refresh and no LED. They have larger tablets, as well.
Very good review. I’m not sure if I should get the LP 2 or 3. While the eink would be good for my eyes and brain, it doesn’t seem very good for texting.
If you plan on texting a lot, then I would 100% get the LP3. Texting on the LP2 is very difficult, although that can be a plus if you're trying to reduce your keyboard time and just call or hang with people in person. E ink is nice, but it's not too big a deal if you're only using the LP3 for say 30-60 min per day or less.
@@AndrewFolts Thanks for the reply :) I’m gonna have to spend the next couple of weeks figuring it out. If the eink screen was more responsive the LP2 would be the clear choice.
@@Cenyon Yea, I agree. I'll probably put out another LP2 vs LP3 type video the week before the price goes up, since I know it'll be a tough call for a lot of people.
I finally made the jump off of discord a few years ago and that was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Lately I've been clashing with the desire to hold onto my Google Pixel 6a. I love it because it's a beautiful green color, but man do I want my life away from a phone. Only problem is that I need my phone for store apps. This video inspires me. I might have to try a flip phone after all. (Making "embarrassing" decisions is a way of life for me lol)
Hi there! First of all, excuse my lousy English, but I need the help of Google Translator to be able to write this. I really liked your video, which, like you, I found watching videos of "I changed my smartphone for a dumbphone and it changed my life" but then everyone ends up going back to the iPhone. You are one of the few who has managed to survive without a smartphone (I hope you continue to do so today). I wanted to ask you something, how do you organize your life? Let me explain, I use the phone to organize myself, which is a calendar and reminders, utilities that in Feature Phones are more complicated to use. So I wanted to know how you organize yourself without using the phone or if you do it the way you use it. Good video, greetings from Chile.
Hey, glad you enjoyed the LP video. Still don't have an iPhone and never will again. Mostly use Notion on Mac with my Boox Mira e ink monitor. It's got everything you need, from custom tables to calendars to to-do's. bit.ly/40d4rKM Will make a video on it one of these days, but I love organizing my life on a computer, because it's more intentional, unlike smartphones, which are always "pinging" you with notifications. Cheers from USA! (:
@@AndrewFolts Hello, first of all thank you very much for answering. Notion is a great tool and it would be nice to see a video of you organizing yourself using that app. I have a new query, what would be the role of the iPad within the technological ecosystem? Your Mac is your work tool and your tool to organize yourself, your Kindle for reading and your Light Phone for communication, and the iPad? Greetings. 😀
@@cristianpineda791 My iPad was for illustrating, and social media apps, but I really became tired of the LED, so I bought a Boox.Tab Ultra C, which do social plus some basic illustrating.
Haven't tried it, since I don't live in a city, so I couldn't say. Although it might be a good idea to have a backup iPad or something that you could run off the hotspot, because the LP screen is so small and might be annoying to constantly navigate with.
It would be tough biking and navigating on such a tiny screen, especially with e ink and a low refresh rate. I usually just follow the text instructions, which works a lot better on a small screen.
my phone broke and it took a month to get a replacement, it was so incredibly peaceful. it happened last year and now im thinking about getting rid of it again
They've not said anything official about a new version, so that could be a year or more away, if it ever comes out. Buying one on eBay will save you like $100+. tho, which is what I did: ebay.to/3T6U86J
1. delete social media accounts 2. delete social media apps 3. delete everything not nessesary on your smartphone 4. put your phone in "simplemode", android has it. 5. do everything you can to make batterylife better (which easily goes to 3-5 days on most smartphones, which is actually longer than the lightphone will go) 6. Simplify everything - get a black background. white icons. make it boring and simple. profit! you now have a light phone with longer battery life, same functions and the functions you want to add, like better gps. Just delete all entertainment. paint a picture and meditate.
For years I tried to do things that way, but all the limitations proved useless, because they were so easy to "undo" whenever I felt like it. That's why I love the LP: there's no temptation. It's just a simple phone and that's it. Also, I found out that I didn't need any of the smartphone features I left behind and that I love how e ink feels on my eyes/brain compare to LED, so yea...there's no reason for me to ever go back, even if I could stay disciplined.
Thank you, was looking for something to give me the final push. Will use it as a companion transitioning into my main phone when i have enough will power
Andrew what a great video. I've decided to get a light phone after a few months of preparation... mentally and work-wise. Do you recommend also buying the case? I typically hate cases and feel like the light phone will be durable enough. If you think a case is necessary lmk. Thanks!
Hey Rives, props on going minimal! Whether you need the case depends on if you tend to drop your phone often. I do occasionally and the rubber case probably saved me from having to buy a new LP multiple times. It's rubber and much thinner than normal smartphone cases, so it doesn't add much weight or bulk. I'd get one.
For the Lightphone users, what about Uber and Lyft? I think this is the only major usecase that holds me back. I travel frequently for work, and getting to and from the airport or around nee cities is mostly impossible without ride-share services in some cities. So it isn’t an option to hope for good public transports or cab networks.
You can simply upload the iTunes MP3 files you own to the LP dashboard and they'll automatically sync to the Light Phone. Yes, it also works with Bluetooth speakers and such.
Boox makes a phone-sized tablet called the Palma that's e ink but has access to all Google Play apps. That said, there's no cellular, so you'd have to use it as a companion phone with your normal phone as a hotspot. bit.ly/48UsJ12
understand the e social media could be toxic but not using banking app, google map , etc honestly quite affecting daily life , probably take you more time spending on these
Depends on your lifestyle. I don't live in a city, so there really aren't any mobile apps I need. The LP's GPS is good enough for basic navigation and if I want to check my bank account I just use the desktop website.
I currently have a Google Pixel 6a with 2 rules: 1) No visual content watching (no video) 2) No social media apps (just whatsapp, which is plenty of stimulus for me) I do use it for route planning, for Spotify, for meditation, for calling, and I don't use it to consume content other than audiobooks, podcasts and music. I just never installed any crap, and that made this a non-crap device, and somehow that works. Battery lasts long too :-)
I was considering to get the light phone but I can't effort it. What I did is set my current Phone on black white and do some App limits, this made me using my phone way more less. I know its never the same as a light phone as you have access to social media and it doesn't have a e ink screen.
Andrew, I have a question. Can you please tell me there is a way to add jpg pictures so I can add QR codes and such from customer loyalty cards and entrance tickets for events.. Is there a way? And maybe a secondary less important question, could the notes app be used for reading a chapter from an ebook? Thank you in advance. I am two-thirds the way of buying a lightphone, should i wait to buy, will lightphone II be cheaper when new one is released.. ? thx
There's no current way to have images or ebooks, although LP included those things in their survey, so they may add them eventually. If you need more advanced features, I'd recommend one of Hisene's e ink phones. The A5 is an older model that's cheap and would work fine for what you're describing. ebay.us/4oh5ut
Just ordered myself a light phone 2 and I’m excited about it. I use Spotify a lot, and I’m a little concerned what I’ll do for music driving/riding my bike. What do you use for music streaming?
Supposedly they're considering adding a Spotify feature. What I did in the meantime is use an app called "NoteBurner" to turn my fav Spotify subscription into MP#3s and then uploaded them to the Light Phone. noteburner.com/en1
I'm a graphic designer you said that you had trouble adjusting to the screen would tips would you use for that? If I had a light phone I would still have social media on my laptop and iPad so I can at least be up to date on the world without the whole world in the palm of my hand 24/7.
Just time. Your brain is so used to going 100 mph all the time with high refresh screens that "waiting" for e ink can make you stressed at first, but over a week or two it starts to feel really calming, and then you get to the point where you want to own fewer and fewer LED devices, because e ink is so relaxing. (:
@@AndrewFolts My Dad says there are these special glasses that filter the blue light I might consider getting the light phone I am apart of Gen Z which is the generation that grew up with the internet I got my first iPhone when I was 12 and ever since then I've been unhappy, not creative and insomic I need to take better care of myself.
@@ezzy6440 Yea, the glasses can help a bit with insomnia, although they don't do anything to cut down eyestrain from the intense light and high refresh rate of LED. Also remember the first time I got an iPod touch, and, for sure, it was probably the worst thing to ever happen to my creativity.
Yea, me neither. Wish they existed ten years ago. Would have saved me so much eyestrain and burnout in college and later as a freelance designer/coder.
Thanks for the video. My wife an i are looking into getting the LP. Social media is a disease. We've uninstalled our insta,facebook,ect many times but the temptation is so high you always download it back eventually. I think getting rid of the temptation completely is going to be the key. Do you think there will be a LP 3 soon or they're just going to be updating the 2 for a while still?
Doubt it. They're a small company, and it takes a massive amount of time and money to make an entirely new product, so I think the LP is what they're focusing on for the next 2-3 years at least.
a great alternative for android users: before launcher: it gives u a clear ui that is like the lightphone (you dont have to buy a whole new phone to try the dumb-ish phone experience!!) thankyou for the video for promoting an alternative lifestyle many dont even consider it at all.
Cool, let me know how it goes! Beginning's a bit of a shock, but then you start feeling a lot more calm and productive, and realize the journey was totally worth it. (:
I edit the first question you’ve posted in your video, since I’ve questioned this myself many times on this kind of videos. Why spend (can’t remember how much)$ on a new dumbphone, when you can buy an older one with maybe even better build quality, better more useful features? For example, smth like an older Nokia phone lets you have QR code scanning, a few more apps which might be actually useful (better maps, video calling support which might be useful if you want to keep in touch with some of your relatives, better mail and office support which might be useful for somebody working or someone in college/university, and if you don’t tinker around a lot, the majority of them don’t have access to social media or media consumption.) from what I’ve seen from your video, it’s due to the e-Ink screen, which is a valid and fair point that I haven’t seen in many other videos (as far as I remember).
Yea, an old phone is definitely an option, but not for me. LED makes my eyes bloodshot and stresses me out, even with minimal use. Also, I just like that the Light Phone feels like an "intentional" product. It's interesting and well-designed, which makes me feel proud to own it, rather than having to pull out an old flip phone. Although, I have to admit, my old Samsung Alias was pretty cool. Had an e ink keypad! (:
I have wanted a light phone for years, but it has yet to support cricket. People say its isable, but the group messaging doesnt work perfectly. How is the grouo messaging typically?
It was ok, but honestly I turned group messaging off, and it was one of the best life decisions I've ever made. Group chats are really annoying, because you keep getting constantly pinged, so now people just txt me one at a time, and it's much less distracting.
Regrettably, after two years with my light phone, it has broken. (Whomp whomp). I’ve just discovered the screen can shatter and the interface or display can stop working due to external damage. Unfortunately, because the Light Phone company is small, they are unable to repair, resulting in the only option being to replace the phone completely. As I'm contemplating the choice to buy a new/refurbished Light Phone, I wanted to share my experience and what is keeping me from immediately purchasing a new one. Though I agree and love all of the pros (especially if you live a quiet life) listed in the video above, here are my honest cons: 1. As the tool’s main function is to operate as a means to call and text, sadly, it doesn’t perform either of these very well. The text screen often freezes while sending a text. This seems to happen while you are simultaneously receiving incoming texts. Because of this, I often opt out of group texts I’m added to. 2. Like a computer becomes hot to the touch after being on for a period of time, so is true for the light phone. This happens specifically on phone calls. At about the 30 minute mark on a call, the light phone reaches an uncomfortable heat in which I often have to switch the audio to “Speaker”. 3. The speaker function breaks-up the audio for whoever receives the call on the other line. In other words, they can’t hear me or my speech is broken. This is consistent whether the phone is held up to my mouth or sitting on my desk. 4. Conference calls seem to be the achilles heel of the light phone. Both the receiver and the caller experience inconsistent audio and “breaking-up”. The light phone becomes hotter faster and the battery drains quickly. **THIS IS NOT A PHONE FOR OFFICE USE** We know the Light Phone doesn’t boast to be the best phone around, however, it can function well for someone who maybe doesn’t require much of their device. If you are in a different season of life, consider the following: FOR AVID TRAVELERS & EVER CHANGING SCHEDULES OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: **THIS PHONE IS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR THE FREQUENT-FLYER** As airlines have taken a more streamlined approach for booking, boarding, and navigating airports, the ability to have quick access to their apps or online platforms (I hate to say) is a must. It seems that airports are strongly relying on the technology of their flyers (these days) to get them where they need to go when flights are canceled, gates change, etc. Even with strong planning skills, it has become more likely that I will miss a flight without the convenience of a smartphone to quickly rebook, inform, or redirect (especially in foreign countries). BOOKING TRANSPORTATION/ACCOMMODATIONS: The same goes for booking transportation and accommodations. Scheduling an Uber from your Laptop is very inconvenient and that’s IF your carrier allows for your Light Phone Hotspot to work in the country or city you are located in. As true to its form, this device is unfavorable on the fly. SAFETY: Also, if personal safety while traveling is a concern for you, you may want to carry another device while traveling. If you are able, I encourage you to print notes or save in your Light Phone “Notes” of emergency contacts from home and in the area you will be traveling in. GPS: Whether you are in or out of your home country, navigating an unfamiliar city can be stressful. And though the Light Phone offers a GPS feature, you often have to be in the know of the exact location. Say you are in Spain as a foreigner and a local friend calls to ask if you want to meet up at Starbucks. In order for the GPS to assist you in directions, you or your friend would have to know the exact address of that Starbucks location AND you would have to know the exact location in which you are traveling from. If you are a passenger in a moving vehicle, this would require the driver to pull off the road to identify an address or street for a starting point to plug into the device. ______________________________ I'D LOVE TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS FOUND HELPFUL SOLUTIONS TO GET AROUND THESE ISSUES. All this to be said, for two years, I’ve been able to travel and work while using the Light Phone II as my primary device and have loved the freedom it has given me. Unfortunately, it has become less and less my ‘only’ tool as I often have to grab a smart device while navigating modern life. So maybe be honest about the season of life you are in, what is important to you, and if you are able and willing to be inconvenienced in these ways in order to live a more intentional, quiet life.
Bummer, I wonder if you got a defective Light Phone from the start, because I've dropped mine many times with no break and haven't had most of the issues you're describing with the texting and voice. The case definitely helps. As for heating, you should never put a smart phone up to your head due to the excessive EMF radiation exposure. Earbuds or speaker are always best. That said, you're right, the LP is definitely not designed to be an business phone. It sucks that there aren't any Google Play enabled e ink phones yet, because that might be a better fit in your case.
I think I'm missing the point here, but isn't the battery rather small? It is a low power device, but 900mAh with a claimed 1-2 day battery with light usage is a little concerning for the sake of longevity. Hopefully battery replacements would be possible!
Two years in the battery life on mine seems unchanged, still 2-3 days. If you were savvy, I bet you could open it up and replace the battery. I remember seeing a video on their channel of how they put it together and it looked fairly simple.
4:42 that’s exactly why I’m thinking of getting the light phone! I have a sunbeam F1 flip phone which I loooove but I’m always too embarrassed to use it in public 😂
Yea, the hotspot is quite useful. Boox is also coming out with a full-featured e ink phone-sized tablet, the Palma, which is interesting: shop.boox.com/products/palma
I look forward to watching this later as I did buy a light Phone in 2021. BTW, I watched your review of the Onyx Boox Mira Pro: have you tested the smaller 13” version? I’m wondering if that will work well enough for my needs, which are limited to email, Postcrossing and basic Word processing. Thank you and cheers
Yea, it should be fine for that stuff. The only difference is it has a touch layer, which slightly decreases the clarity, but most people seem to love it that I've talked to, so can't be much of an issue.
As far as I know you can buy it at the LP's website from Canada. You can also put in your own SIM card, so the International version will work in any country. bit.ly/3fASkVO
I have a flip phone haha but I found it too limiting (mostly for texting, voice to text would be nice). I also absolutely need music when driving and running (have considered getting a spotify player though.) My big one is photos - my phone is my camera and I bought a cheapish pixel for this purpose. There is no getting around it. I don't ever post photos on social media so don't need it for that, but for family shots when we're out and about. Alternative is buy a pocket camera? Thoughts?
I just use a DLSR. The qualities better, anyway. Something simple like the Sony ZV1 would be a great option for casual use, or even an action cam like the OSMO Pocket. You could also have an iPad and tether it to the Light Phone's WIFI hotspot, so it's not as convenient/addictive and gives you the option to go out with just the LP when you don't need other features.
Loved this and so agree with you. Smartphones have become an extension of our limbs, a part of of our bodies. Children grow up seeing a phone in their parents hand most of the day. More and more people are making a choice to reconnect with our minds in a healthy way. I am not a machine. I am a human being. ❤
you couldd wear grey clothes or go with a surprise buy each time you buy a new peeve of clothes 😅... but to a serious question, the MIRA e ink screen... do you have an in-depth review on that one? and will they come out with a new model now in 2023 or are there other brands you found better by now? is a black and white e ink screen for about 2200 dollars right? I hear a lot about e-ink color screens but have yet to see a large one, what is your opinion of e-ink 's future? thanks for a great experience sharing! I got a lightphonell too, but the first one never worked as promised and the second I had for two years but dropped it on the street and the display cracked... not sure if is possible to fix the screen like one do with a smartphone screen, do you happen to know or have experienced broken lightphonell screens? thanks if you got some time to eget back.. am an author and for me the e-ink feels like heaven, I use a Supernote A5 to write all my Bullet Journaling in.. so far is not the best interface experience but I still prefer it to an iPad.. :)
I actually do wear a lot of gray, ha, and my Dad is a traditional black and white film photographer. You can find my Mira review here: ua-cam.com/video/J-7SDe5nYVo/v-deo.html. I love that the Mira's black and white, because it's less distracting, and I find I don't need color for 95% of what I do. I expect there will be large color e ink screens in the few years, although I'm not even sure I'd want one for my main monitor, given said distraction. Like you, e ink is heaven to me, and even with the quirks, it's easily the best $2,000 I've ever spent, because I use it so much. Don't think the LP can be repaired, because it's so customized, according to this page, but they say you can send it in for a discounted replacement: support.thelightphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052976811-Repairability. What kind of books do you write as an author?
@@AndrewFolts hi, thanks for getting back, right now I am writing on a couple scripts due to having been both in film school as a wrier and in literature program as an author..But I seem to always fall back to psychological thriller with the mix of magic realism, mystery and phenomena as the feel of my stories under the hood... Ok, I will look into the Mira again, perhaps one can find it at discount somewhere! 😅...I get migraine with crystals and astigmatism from normal laptop screens like the MacBook, just gives me a headache and more... had hopes on could write by hand in the Supernote and that it would translate handwritten into printed text, but they never got there with my A5 Supernote... maybe in the future one can write only by hand on an e-ink and have it transfered into printed text for editors and colleges to read, that would be really something amazing! thanks for getting back!
You can have one playlist with the LP and supposedly they're considering a Spotify integration, which would be sweet. Another option is to get a Hisense e ink phone, and although they're Chinese and don't have access to Google Play apps, you can run Spotify and UA-cam through the browser, which is what I do: ebay.to/3ZKpXWz
I want to get this so badly, but I don’t know what I would do without being able to Google something off rip at any moment. It would be a companion phone to my IPhone because I do truly need it for work, but man do I want to throw my phone out of a window.
I hated my iPhone so much that I literally rearranged my life/career so that I didn't need one, ha. The LP is probably not that helpful if you still have a smartphone, because the temptation will sill be there.
*MINIMALIST TECH (referral links)*
light phone (new) - - - bit.ly/3fASkVO
light phone (used) - - - ebay.to/3T6U86J
e ink monitor - - - - - - - bit.ly/3JsB5Th
e ink kindle - - - - - - - - - amzn.to/3Y79mLp
oled lamp - - - - - - - - - - bit.ly/3YmTBk9
*My ten favorite Light Phone features...*
1. No social media (distraction-free).
2. E ink screen (easier on the eyes).
3. Slow refresh rate (calms me down).
4. Minimalist design (actually looks cool).
5. Tiny size (not bulky like iPhone).
6. Slow texting (call people instead).
7. Only one playlist (my fav songs).
8. Simple podcasts (when needed).
9. Backlighting (for dark places).
10. Headphone jack (Air Pods are evil).
Yes they are evil I hate them
well dude, if a dumb phone is “embarrassing” for you, thats some self esteem issues indeed
@@grizelda. Not all dumb phones, just cheap/tacky ones. I'd be down to use a Samsung Alias again if it had an e ink screen. That phone was sweet!
Does the Bluetooth work w Wireless earbuds? I exercise. Does it have Maps?
@@mrf3175 Yea, it works with Bluetooth. It has a basics maps app, as well.
As a fellow light phone user, the biggest benefit I've experienced is a slowed state of being. This phone forces you to have patience and take on every task one step at a time which is a very refreshing contrast to the current go-go-go expectations of society. Love your light phone content, I hope more people continue to convert!!
"slowed state of being" Love that! Yea, it's annoying at first, but then you come to appreciate the LP as a reminder to fully experience what's around you, instead of always being in the rat race.
@@MagP.i.e Yea, there are fully funcitonal e ink smarpthones, but they're Chinese and don't support Google Play. Hopefully we'l see some within the next year or two.
@@MagP.i.e E ink tech will improve, no doubt. I think it'll be color and usable for watching movies and such in maybe 3-5 years or sooner. While I wouldn't watch movies on the Mira, it works fine for tutorial videos and such.
@MagPie I actually do live in the city and work a full time job I commute to every day and I make the light phone work.
I think there’s a misconception that we need to be “available” via email at all times. I still get my work done just fine without checking my email 40 times a day. I intentionally block out times each day to check email via my laptop and I have a physical GPS to get me where I need to go. There’s always a way to make it work if you want to :)
@@rkcthatsme Very wise! Glad to hear you figured out how to work the LP in with other tech. I use an old Garmin GPS myself. (:
Nice! I've had my Light Phone for about two years as well. The difference with me is that I never did have a smartphone. My Light Phone was an upgrade from a flip phone, lol.
That's the way to go. Should have kept my Samsung Alias from high school. At least it had an e ink keyboard. Would have saved me a whole lot of grief, ha!
I'm 24 and have been using a flip phone for about 4 years. For me, it has been possible to live this way. Has it been inconvenient? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Hey props! Wish I had done the same at 24. Probably would have started a UA-cam channel like ten years ago!
Very interesting. I am this year trying to improve my sleep byt going nearly analog after 5pm. I have an old Kindle without any backlight, a regular paper journal, a reMarkable and then I take a walk (in my barefoot shoes), play some piano, crochet, listen to music on the old record player and go to bed at a decent hour. It´s a process, as you say, social media is addictive. 😅
Ha, yea, I remember when I first started going LED tech-free after 5pm, and it was like...what the heck do I do for the next five hours? But you rediscover old interests and it becomes a lot more fun.
I'm a year and a half into the Light life, and I love it. AND the brand new calendar feature makes it even better. I thought I would hate the slow texting, but it is wonderful. I only text quick notes when I have to, and not for conversations.....like quick "I'm running late" texts....which is what it was for in the first place.
Yea, "let texts be texts." It's cool how Light is still innovating with these minimal apps years later. I'm hoping they add a to-do one some day.
Did you get a medel 😊
I've had a flip phone for about 6 months now and the thing that drives me crazy is how low quailty they are now because almost no one uses them. I'd pay good money for an old razor style flip phone but you can't get those anymore. The light phone seems to be the only quality low tech phone on the market... so you've sold me on it I'll get one :) Thanks for the review!
Yea, I wish they sold an old Samsung Alias but with an e ink screen too. That thing was so cool. People always think the LP is interesting, though, and I can't imagine having to pull out a cheap flip phone, ha.
The worst part is I have my old Motorola razr but I can’t use it because it’s 3g which is now defunct.
@@VegasGuy1975 Ugh, could you pair it to a mobile hotspot or something?
@@AndrewFolts unfortunately not. I actually tried that as a solution but even Mobile hot spots fail to recognize the older 2G signals
@@VegasGuy1975 Bummer. I was thinking it could run off the wifi, or something.
I really love that you can use it as a hotspot. so many basic phones don't have this and it makes it super hard when you basically need to use another device like a laptop.
Yea, I've used the hotspot a lot. Gotten me out of some lo-fi binds, ha!
I completely understand and agree with the common argument that people should be more responsible with their smartphones, and delete all social media and clickbait apps. I’ve always been told I have an addictive personality. I won’t say that is my struggle, but nonetheless, I always never have self-control to not go back to a previous habit I once removed from my life. One being my phone addiction, where I can never seem to ignore the temptations. May even remove apps and cleanse for a while, but always end up going back. And this will translate to other habits in my life too such as drinking, vaping/smoking, exercising, food, etc. Some addictions may be good though, as I said exercising, and get overly consumed with it after I start. Seriously considering this light phone, and hope it helps me overcome this phone addiction hurdle. Thank you very much for your informative video, and for sharing your personal experience.
Yea, addiction is a real bear. Obviously, the LP isn't a magic wand, but I've found the less LED I have in my life the less stressed and addicted I feel to other things. Something about it is just so toxic to my brain and degrades my decision-making.
I have not bought a phone for myself since my first back in 2002 and I only use it for phone calls and texts. I bought my kids phones and took and their old one the iphone 4 got upgraded for free by ATT when they changed the network they sent me an iphone 10 and this will stay in use till it dies. I never listen to music when I run, wearing earphones while running is stupid. Technology is great on my desk, and that is where it stays.
"on my desk" Yea, nothing better than technology that stays where you put it. Hard to believe I used to run with earbuds. You miss so much!
I really really want to switch to a “dumb” phone, as I know how much more my focus on real life would be.
The hardest thing I think though would be no navigation (as I ride motorcycles, and would be reliant on directions a lot of times), and music discovery/ podcasts. I saw the option on the phone, but how well do those actually work?
I love the idea though, and really think the benefits would outweigh the cons of making the switch
Given the small screen the LP's GPS is best used with text directions, might not work for a motorcycle. For music/podcasts I find them on my desktop and then download them via the LP dashboard for episodes or download a few of my favorite albums/playlists from UA-cam or NoteBurner, which I feel is ok ethically, since I'm paying for a Spotify subscription.
I've been wanting a Light phone for years now! I remember seeing your first video, I'm glad to know it's been working out well for you
Yea, great life decision. You can check eBay, as they often have LP's for a discount: ebay.to/3T6U86J
@@AndrewFolts I ended up getting a discount from eBay in Sept that was new but opened. I love it! I still kinda "cheat" with using an old iPhone for Google maps, Spotify playlists, and audiobooks but my daily avg is at 1 hour on that primarily using those apps vs the 6+ hours a day.
Here in China, there are a few 4G e-ink android smartphones (even one with some colors). I'm using the Duoqin F20 (T-9 keyboard, android, 1.5 inch screen). It is definitely a conversation starter, as people are incredulous when I use a tiny QR code to pay for food or get on the subway.
Yea, it sucks because none of the Chinese e ink phones have access to Google Play, so they're basically useless here in the US. Hopefully Hisense or another brand will add access eventually.
@@AndrewFolts True. I thought about getting one, but I was sad to see it wouldn't have the bands to get proper service in the US :/
I ended up taking the leap on getting a Light Phone 2 after watching this and your video on the Boox Mira Pro! I’m probably just going to use it as a secondary phone + Apple Watch connected to its hotspot (since I only have the WiFi version) for when I’m going out for small things or to the gym, though!
Totally! Can be useful to mix and match, which is what I do with my iPad and Light Phone. I was sleeping on the hotspot feature for a while, but it really comes in handy.
I wasn't expecting that you'd make a follow up video of your experience with the lightphone but I loved it!
It's great to know life is possible these days without a regular smartphone. I mean, we used to live without smartphones at all but now it seems impossible to stay away from them.
I fell in love with the concept of the lightphone since it launched but it is sadly not supported in my country (Mexico).
I tried using a low tier smartphone with just the "necessary" apps but you're right, after a while one would still be hooked to it.
Hopefully I'll be able to buy a lightphone in the future but for now I'm trying my best to use it as little as possible.
Thanks again for your great work!
P.S. It'd be great if you made a follow up video of your barefoot shoes when they finally become unusable. It's amazing how much you've managed to get out of them.
Also, perhaps you should try juggling. It's plenty of fun and it's supposed to be good for your mental health.
Hey Miguel, what about it's not supported in MX? I'm on a Verizon plan with the LP, which I'd think would work globally. Maybe one of the other minimalist phones like the Mudita Pure would work? By "unusable" do you mean like how many miles I got? My Primus Lite's are at 6+ years and 4,000+ miles and still going, although they do look a bit ratty. Also, I love juggling! I juggle toward the end of my Skill Board review: ua-cam.com/video/8VhP6rKoKAU/v-deo.html
@@AndrewFolts According to the Light Phone's website it's something related to network certifications and compatibility issues. This seems strange to me because we have everything from GSM to 5g and, if a phone is unlocked, it simply works with the available networks here.
I'll check the Mudita Pure, that might work for me. Thanks for the suggestion!
Yes! That's what I meant. It is because of your videos that I decided to exclusively wear barefoot shoes and I'm loving it!
They have lasted for a long time for me as well though, not as long as yours.
I just rewatched your video about the skill board to see the part about juggling because I'd forgotten about it. It's so cool! And it really makes you feel better in many ways.
The Light Phone 2 works in Mexico with AT&T MX and Telcel. Just fyi. They say is not compatible because they haven't tested it themselves, but many in the community have gone to Mexico and used the Light Phone 2 with local carriers without issues.
@@JoseBriones Thanks for chiming in, Jose. This is great to know!
@@miguelangeldelcastillosanc568 See Jose's reply, apparently it's possible with AT&T.
THIS is the video I needed. Really trying to implement a slower way of life for my family and I and our tech use is next up. thank you!
Right on! Yea, I also have a list of things to implement, and the LP has been one of my fav life changes. Cheers! (:
I just got my Light phone this week (I don't think many people know about this phone in the UK). The thing I love the most about it is how intentionally & realistically it's been designed for a modern world (syncing with Google Calendar is awesome!) This video is a cool insight into your LP journey! 🙌🏻
Hey, big props on taking the leap! It's true, it hasn't blown up, probably because it's so different from what people are used to. But yea, it has a lot of great tools and integrations that help bridge the gap in a mindful way.
Excellent video as always! A different lifestyle is best paired with simple tools. Glad you still have the Light Phone :)
Ha, yup, still rocking the caveman vibe. (:
Great video Andrew. You are a pioneer to break away from the tracking device addiction syndrome so many of us cope with. One thing about the light phone I found quite disturbing was how high the EMF levels were… I hope that you do another video and touch on that problem and be sure to never ever put that phone to your head again. Stay healthy and stay free
Interesting, I assumed, since it was 4G with a smaller antenna it would be less. Where did you get the EMF measurement?
Love addiction. 😅😅😅😅 love my phone 😅😅😅😅😅
I bought a used Nokia 6300 and was excited about it (and excited for low-fi pics, i like playing around with stuff like that). But alas, as I suspected, it's no longer supported, at least by ATT or Verizon. So after a couple of years of being curious about it I finally ordered a Light Phone 2 and it will be here this week. I'm definitely a little nervous (nervous about my willpower, you know? I want it to be my new phone. It would be awesome if you made an advice/encouragement video for brand new light phone users!) Anyway, I will use my old smart phone as a camera for now (unless I buy a little camera, any recommendations? low fi is okay. the cheap children's ones are intriguing but I want it to last). I want something small and very lightweight that I can carry around in my purse. I want to only do screen time on my laptop. That takes away that scrolling and switching from this app to that app etc, while doing absolutely nothing, just mindless cell phone use. Thanks for the lovely video! You seem to be someone who can make a plan and stick to it, very well! A great strength.
You might want to check out one of Hisene's e ink smartphones. They don't have Google Play access, which might be perfect for your use case, but they do have a basic camera, which outputs to color when you send/share the photos. I have an old A5 I got off eBay, and it's helpful for travel and scanning QR codes, etc, but isn't distracting at all: ebay.to/3ZKpXWz
Hi! If you like lo-fi cameras, have you checked out the paper shoot? Theyre like film-quality but its digital! Its also really small and I love mine.
@@kit-1845 Funny! Hadn't heard of it, but looks pretty clever and ecof-riendly.
I’ve been looking into getting one because of my social media addiction but I see that it’s a hat I need after hearing your thoughts after two years. I think I can enjoy my hobbies again if I get one
Yea, I know what you mean. My iPhone ate up so much of my time that I it was always a struggle to get lost in other things I enjoyed.
I am thinking about the light phone for a long time… at least for my days off. I totally see the e-ink appeal. As you a draw a lot on my ipad but I now only use it for work. For my other stuff I use the remarkable tablet and it reeeeally helped me. I drew over a 1000 sketches on it. Of course it is very limited and has no backlight but I love listening to something and just draw without distraction.
Cool, yea, I wish Apple made an iPad with e ink, because I hate drawing on LED. Would totally get a Remarkable if it ran Procreate. How'd you find the drawing experience. Pretty natural?
@@AndrewFolts I do. I really got used to it and it feels quite natural. And I like the limitations that come with it to explore the creative possibilities. It has some flaws of course and you get like 5% of the options of procreate. It is also quite expensive but so far I love it. I still need my iPad for work though. But you brought me to look into e.ink displays now. :D
I have considered getting a Light Phone 2 or a Wisephone. My biggest con of the Light Phone 2 is the lack of camera and ability to send/receive pictures. The Wisephone has both of those, except it has a whopping 6.2" screen, which I think is unnecessarily large for a minimalist device. How is your experience without the ability to send/receive pictures? I feel like that would be the feature I miss the most. Tough decision, but great review! Keep it up!
If you want a camera, I'd go with a used Hisense phone: ebay.to/3ZKpXWz. They have an e ink screen and camera, but no access to Google Play, so there's no distractions. The Wisephone still has an LED screen, so it wouldn't be much of an improvement for me. That said, in two years I've never once needed to send a photo in the moment, so usually I just take photos with my DLSR and send them on my Mac.
@@AndrewFolts Good suggestion. I looked at the Hisense A5 and it looks like an okay option for going more minimal with an e-ink screen, but it is still a smartphone, and a Chinese product that doesn't seem to translate well into English. However, the battery life is incredible! Up to 2 weeks on standby! I am amazed that I have heard the Light Phone can only go 1-2 days on a charge, given that it does less than the Hisense. If I'm going minimal, I'd like something to hold a charge for at least a few days for when I go out backpacking.
@@anthonyp5941 Yea, I would have gladly paid an extra $50 for a better battery on the LP. The Hisene's battery is incredible. Although some things are in Chinese (like system update notifications), most of the basic functions are in English.
@@anthonyp5941 there’s a phone called the pinwheel phone. it’s my favorite phone for reducing internet time since it has an App Store of about 500 apps, which excludes any internet or social media apps, as well as addictive games. you still get the basic music & podcast apps, productivity/creativity apps, google suite, etc). It just eliminates internet browsing apps and social media.
Unfortunately it is a phone designed for parent monitoring, and includes 2 features I REALLY don’t like. The monitoring person can read your texts and also has to approve of anyone who wants to call or text you, by adding their number to an “approved” list, and then you saving the number to your contacts list. When someone tries to contact you, they are blocked from being able to, and the monitoring person is notified by the Pinwheel software of the number that tried to contact you. Pretty annoying for an adult. I’m trying to figure out ways around these features.
You exude a calming vibe and subtly funny which makes your video refreshing. I'm happy I stumbled upon your video when researching light phone. Thanks so much for this! :)
Thanks, Flairi! That's the relaxing energy of the Light Phone channeling through me, ha. Glad you're having fun with the videos. (:
Also yeah I hate listening to music while doing activities i like to be there with myself when doing something physical
"be there with myself." Yea, rad phrase! Bodies have lots to tell us.
@@AndrewFoltsI got it from you goober 🤣
So glad I'm not the only one who is thinking about how bad smartphones are getting for people.
Yea, it's really sad to see people hunched over their phones everywhere, all the time. Ditching my iPhone was def the best decision I've ever made.
As someone with a vision impairment, what accessibility features does it possess? Such as: screen reader, font adjustment, highlighting what’s in focus, etc?
Doesn't have any of those features, given that it's a very minimal phone, so you would probably be better off with a regular smartphone.
@@AndrewFolts Not surprised in the least. Thanks :)
I loved mine had it for 2 months left it out in the rain . Love how you can program them
Oh no, did that kill it? It's def a simple yet useful little device.
Thank you for this! Luckily I benefited from all those people who give up on Light Phones by buying a used one. I'm getting started and your video is the first inspirational thing I've seen!
Ha, yea me too. It's ironic how many UA-camrs are profiting off the LP when they ditch it after a month, but I'm just glad it's getting some well-deserved airtime.
I watch many youtubers been through this but some of them are back to smartphones. Their reason is cannot take pictures and videos at concerts and share it to social media, cannot watch livestreams, cannot listen to music for free, cannot discuss with people when they go out, and many more which is confusing because that's the point.
For now, I'm using smartphone now and there is 17 useless app cannot be uninstalled! And by the time I'm going back home usually midnight, the phone are almost died. I found a Nokia phone that can last for days, has whatsapp and thats the only thing I need, communicate with my work team and family. For music, I use walkman instead lol and I take pictures with digicam (it got minimum battery life, like only for 5 hours). I need to edit it, and post it on my PC after I get back home. I just love this way of life.
Thank you so much for sharing :)
Yea, you kind of have to "split" out the features of a smartphone into several one-purpose devices, which is inconvenient at first, but has a lot of perks longterm, like increased focus and decreased stress. Props to you for getting creative with your Nokia, cam, and walkman! (:
@@AndrewFolts Another upside to one-purpose devices is that you don't put all your eggs in one basket. I know people who wouldn't even have a way to get up for work if their phone randomly died because they have no alarm clock and got rid of their laptop because "I have a smartphone, so I don't need one".
@@mchobbit2951 Yea, that's a great point! I suppose it creates a sense of freedom, not needing each one as much.
Have you ever tried to visit Disney World/Land without a smartphone? Reserving Rides, Buying Food, (interactive) Park Map. or what about ordering food at DFW airport or getting updates on Gate Changes? Sending a friend your Pin Drop so you can meet up. Trying to figure this out. Really the only reason to have a supercomputer in your pocket. Been using the lightphone for a year now, The mental clarity of the light phone is priceless but trying to figure these out.
Ha, I imagine that would be a real nightmare! Interestingly, I've found the LP has been a great "filter" of stressful/unhealthy situations. Not that this is practical for everyone, but ditching restaurants, airplane travel, cities in general, and digital communication (social media, etc) has had a profoundly positive effect on my life. Every I feel frustrated by the LP limiting me from doing something I reflect and often find that that thing wasn't adding positive energy to my life anyway and that there's a better alternative that brings me more joy longterm.
@@AndrewFolts Haha, Digital Discrimination is a thing right? Ever happen to you? GYM: "Thanks for signing up, you will check in with your Phone" Me: "This thing? LP" GYM: "What is that!" Or Trying to buy a car---> Carmax: "Scan QR code to check in" Me: "This thing? LP" CARMAX: "What is that!" But come on DisneyLand, happiest place on Earth, except they've stopped printing out Maps of their Park or make it really hard to find.
I just can't justify the price. If it was cheap, then i would get it.
A flip phone will do a lot of the same things for $20 if you don't care about the design or e ink. The reason I went with the LP was that my eyes were super burned out from working on bright LED screens, and it's worth it to me to have a mellow e ink screen that doesn't cause eyestrain. Also, pulling out a flip phone would just be too silly in 2023 for me, but every has different priorities.
4:45 The real reason Andrew loves his phone ''Hey cute girl, oh ya, that's my light phone, so peaceful, sooo... the only way to keep in touch is call and meet up'' 😅
So true, ha. I should do one of those pickup videos, except I'd be wearing barefoot shoes hold a Light Phone, and communicating only with my little paper titles.
@@AndrewFolts Not to encourage clickbaity content, but that might be amazing and funny to watch! 'Picking up girls with barefoot shoes' ..and using foot fetish pickup lines, God, the cringe!
@@antonyshadowbanned Lol! There's this dude that regularly comments on my videos who literally has a foot fetish, so I'm sure he'd be into it.
I have a sensitivity to light as well. I can't even use LED screens I have to use LCD, or e-ink of course.
Yea, it's like staring into the sun!
Light Phone is definitely a lifestyle change. You miss emails, or don't instantly respond, which is a social expectation I never realized we all had for one another. Doomscrolling is no longer a possibility and very soon you start to feel free and more like yourself again. You aren't attached to your phone like you used to be. It's nice communicating on your own terms. It definitely isn't super easy to use. The texting is difficult. But if using it less is the goal, then it's doing its job. Turns out, you really, truly don't need a smartphone to exist in the world today.
"truly don't need" Yea, that's the best feeling, when you realize you're free and that you can be happy(ier) with less. The LP's a funny little device that teaches you a lot about the world in a very short time, ha. Cheers to the minimal journey!
I can spot the music video of Feels Like We Only Go Backwards anywhere, even in black & white. 😉
I'm definitely tempted to try this out, but unsure if I should go for the 2 or the 3.
You're the first person to spot the Impala, well done, ha. In terms of 2 vs 3, it's pretty straightforward. If your priority is eyestrain and like the idea of a slower screen with gentle ambient light, then go with the LP2. If you need a camera and/or a faster screen for quick texting, GPS map view, etc, and don't mind OLED for the presumedly small amount of time you'll spend on a minimal phone, then go with the LP2.
@@AndrewFoltsTame Impala was my obsession 10 years ago. Been through Lonerism and Innerspeaker tons of times. :)
I'm leaning towards the LP3, but that price definitely has me a little standoffish. Might just go with the 2 for now to see how I like it, and see about maybe upgrading when the timing is right. Thank you!
Boncharge's dark amber lenses have cured my terrible screen headaches. I suffered just like you before discovering them.
Sweet! Glad you found a simple solution.
For people who dont want to go hardcore, you could also use a smartwatch with LTE and put your phone into your backpack or leave it at home, but if your realy addicted it maybe not so practical.
Interesting, I could see that being either better, because of the minimal UI and you can't scroll the internet, or possibly worse, because it's literally attached to your wrist, ha! Good first step for people to experiment with, though.
I can only manage to do this for so long, until my “logic” centers take over and remind me I can do it more efficiently with my phone - then boom, I’m right back into phone addiction. I’m considering locking my phone in a box with a charging hole to prevent it
@@gnocchidokie Yea, I found my iPhone impossible to resist consistently, no matter how hard I tried. You could check out some of Hisense's newer e ink phones. I've used an older model, and even though it had UA-cam, etc, I never had any problems with addiction. Barely used it, in fact. Check the channel Good E Reader for reviews.
@@AndrewFolts I have the hughsense 5 and use it as kindle. In USA no celluar service :(
@@marcozuniga8008 Yea, it sucks that there's no good e ink smartphone option yet. No idea why Boox hasn't jumped in the ring.
haha liked that 'stay in the light' bit!
Me too, ha. Kind of just wrote itself.
Thanks for making this I've been on the fence for getting this phone for some time but I think I'm going to commit to it and get it
No prob. Has definitely been one of the most positive life changes I've made. If you have questions along the way, just lmk. Cheers!
To be honest, the light phone and the punkt mp02 are for a very specific target market.
That's people that have experienced real fatigue through smartphone overuse AND have attempted but failed to reduce usage (monochrome, social media deletion etc etc). If you haven't felt that problem, these devices will be seen as a massive waste of money. However if you have felt it, the value way outweighs the cost. Smartphones are almost considered 'for everyone' devices but no device works for every individual.
Eyestrain is the other consideration. Even for someone who uses a smartphone responsibly say 30 min to an hour a day, the fatigue on your eyes and also blue light (especially at night) can be significant. I go entire days now without any LED screens and it's amazingly relaxing.
I don't own a cell phone but i'm considering buying one of these.I do all the internet things (mostly gaming) on my computer and i just want a phone for texting and talking. I don't see any need for my phone to ever be on the internet, ever. I didn't pay over 5 thousand dollars on a high end computer with a huge gaming monitor to view the internet on such small screens like cell phones have. This phone may be what i'm looking for.
I'd say the LP isn't great for texting, which is kind of the point (prevent distraction). If you want a normal size keyboard, then you could check out the Hisense e ink phones. They're Chinese and don't support Google Play, so you can't install apps, which might be ideal in your case: ebay.to/3ZKpXWz
@@AndrewFolts thanks, i will check that phone out. My problem is all the apps on phones (like google). I would be happy with a normal cell phone that had all apps removed so i could choose no apps or only choose the apps i want.
"I didn't pay over 5 thousand dollars on a high end computer with a huge gaming monitor to view the internet on such small screens like cell phones have."
I thought I was the only person who felt this way!! I never liked going online on a phone. It's just too tiny. I never got how people are addicted to their phones to the point where they will even chose them over devices that do the job better when given the option. Like they will have a 90 inch smart TV on the wall and still watch UA-cam on their phone.
I really would like to switch to a dump phone, but there is not a single dump or feature phone out there with a solid camera. I do not want all the social features and stuff in my pocket, but I do want a good camera to take pictures and videos.
The OSMO Pocket 3 would be a good option. amzn.to/4aHifSy I've been thinking about getting one as a vlogging camera, since it's so small and portable yet solid image quality.
Great!! this has been a goal for awhile. I want to get a camera to replace the iPhone. That's my greatest hurdle.
Love the desktop option!! great idea!
Hey Arnie, you could check out Hisense's A series e ink phones. They have no Google Play access, unfortunately, but they have a web browser and a serviceable camera, which, while grayscale on the phone, outputs to color if you share/send the photos elsewhere. I have a Hisense A5, which I use occasionally on trips, etc. ebay.to/3ZKpXWz
@@AndrewFolts Hi Andrew, great video! Do you have to use a VPN with the Hisense? Everything I see online says the spyware is crazy.
@@KTT333 I literally only use if for like USPS QR codes to mail stuff. I would 100% not use a Chinese phone for anything sensitive, VPN or not, because it's pretty much guaranteed it's all getting beamed straight to China, ha!
Your Light Phone II has a light on the screen so it can be used in the dark, bud. It's even able to automatically turn on when in a low ambient light situation.
Yea, would be nice in an emergency, although I've literally never used it since day one when I turned it off.
@@AndrewFolts I just got mine powered back up. I couldn't remember if it had the light off by default or not.
I’ve been seriously considering leaving the iPhone for its social media accessibility but also for its planned obsolescence and need to replace every two years.
Does the Light Phone seem to degrade as quickly as an iPhone in your experience? And can you still be part of group texts?
I've had my LP for three years now and they keep adding minimal features without any plans to release a new phone that would make the old version obsolete, so it's been great. It didn't support group texts when I got it, I don't think I've ever got one, but honestly, that was a blessing, because they drove me crazy when I had my iPhone. It was so distracting, like my phone would just constantly ping when my aunt and uncle were sending baby pics to each other and had put me in the thread, ha.
I wish it would add just a couple of things like email as I genuinely need that for my work, and audible app for my books
What you're looking for is the Boox Palma: shop.boox.com/products/palma?ref=PuP7tONc0ooGz. It's an e ink phone-sized tablet with full Android, but not at all distracting due to the slower refresh and no LED. They have larger tablets, as well.
@@AndrewFolts man they just sold out. I’ll keep my eye out for the refresh. Thank you!
Very good review. I’m not sure if I should get the LP 2 or 3. While the eink would be good for my eyes and brain, it doesn’t seem very good for texting.
If you plan on texting a lot, then I would 100% get the LP3. Texting on the LP2 is very difficult, although that can be a plus if you're trying to reduce your keyboard time and just call or hang with people in person. E ink is nice, but it's not too big a deal if you're only using the LP3 for say 30-60 min per day or less.
@@AndrewFolts Thanks for the reply :) I’m gonna have to spend the next couple of weeks figuring it out. If the eink screen was more responsive the LP2 would be the clear choice.
@@Cenyon Yea, I agree. I'll probably put out another LP2 vs LP3 type video the week before the price goes up, since I know it'll be a tough call for a lot of people.
I finally made the jump off of discord a few years ago and that was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Lately I've been clashing with the desire to hold onto my Google Pixel 6a. I love it because it's a beautiful green color, but man do I want my life away from a phone. Only problem is that I need my phone for store apps. This video inspires me. I might have to try a flip phone after all. (Making "embarrassing" decisions is a way of life for me lol)
Yea, there are annoying pros/cons to any decision in life. Sometimes you just make the plunge and find out it's not so bad, ha.
@@AndrewFolts Yeah like with smoking crack
@@okthen9203 Lol...I would say the LP was a little better than smoking crack. (:
Hi there! First of all, excuse my lousy English, but I need the help of Google Translator to be able to write this. I really liked your video, which, like you, I found watching videos of "I changed my smartphone for a dumbphone and it changed my life" but then everyone ends up going back to the iPhone. You are one of the few who has managed to survive without a smartphone (I hope you continue to do so today). I wanted to ask you something, how do you organize your life? Let me explain, I use the phone to organize myself, which is a calendar and reminders, utilities that in Feature Phones are more complicated to use. So I wanted to know how you organize yourself without using the phone or if you do it the way you use it. Good video, greetings from Chile.
Hey, glad you enjoyed the LP video. Still don't have an iPhone and never will again. Mostly use Notion on Mac with my Boox Mira e ink monitor. It's got everything you need, from custom tables to calendars to to-do's. bit.ly/40d4rKM Will make a video on it one of these days, but I love organizing my life on a computer, because it's more intentional, unlike smartphones, which are always "pinging" you with notifications. Cheers from USA! (:
@@AndrewFolts Hello, first of all thank you very much for answering. Notion is a great tool and it would be nice to see a video of you organizing yourself using that app. I have a new query, what would be the role of the iPad within the technological ecosystem? Your Mac is your work tool and your tool to organize yourself, your Kindle for reading and your Light Phone for communication, and the iPad? Greetings. 😀
@@cristianpineda791 My iPad was for illustrating, and social media apps, but I really became tired of the LED, so I bought a Boox.Tab Ultra C, which do social plus some basic illustrating.
How is public transportation navigation on it? Would love to use it in nyc!
Haven't tried it, since I don't live in a city, so I couldn't say. Although it might be a good idea to have a backup iPad or something that you could run off the hotspot, because the LP screen is so small and might be annoying to constantly navigate with.
The countdown until "Flourescent Machine Gun" is a band name, has started.
Ha! Maybe "Fluorescent and the Machine Gun" if Florence Welch gets into e ink.
Great video and so happy to see this positive follow up. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks, Rob. Appreciate you stopping by!
For the cyclist or bicycle commuters that own a light phone, is the MAPS app that come with the light phone up to standard?
It would be tough biking and navigating on such a tiny screen, especially with e ink and a low refresh rate. I usually just follow the text instructions, which works a lot better on a small screen.
my phone broke and it took a month to get a replacement, it was so incredibly peaceful. it happened last year and now im thinking about getting rid of it again
I bet! Sounds like an amazingly relaxing coincidence. (:
I don’t have it and want to buy it, do you suggest still waiting for new model or go for it!?
Thanks
They've not said anything official about a new version, so that could be a year or more away, if it ever comes out. Buying one on eBay will save you like $100+. tho, which is what I did: ebay.to/3T6U86J
@@AndrewFolts perfect
Thank you very much for your reply 🙏
1. delete social media accounts
2. delete social media apps
3. delete everything not nessesary on your smartphone
4. put your phone in "simplemode", android has it.
5. do everything you can to make batterylife better (which easily goes to 3-5 days on most smartphones, which is actually longer than the lightphone will go)
6. Simplify everything - get a black background. white icons. make it boring and simple.
profit! you now have a light phone with longer battery life, same functions and the functions you want to add, like better gps. Just delete all entertainment.
paint a picture and meditate.
For years I tried to do things that way, but all the limitations proved useless, because they were so easy to "undo" whenever I felt like it. That's why I love the LP: there's no temptation. It's just a simple phone and that's it. Also, I found out that I didn't need any of the smartphone features I left behind and that I love how e ink feels on my eyes/brain compare to LED, so yea...there's no reason for me to ever go back, even if I could stay disciplined.
Thank you, was looking for something to give me the final push. Will use it as a companion transitioning into my main phone when i have enough will power
Someone should make a phone that measures your current level of willpower and locks itself if you're too low, ha!
Andrew what a great video. I've decided to get a light phone after a few months of preparation... mentally and work-wise. Do you recommend also buying the case? I typically hate cases and feel like the light phone will be durable enough. If you think a case is necessary lmk. Thanks!
Hey Rives, props on going minimal! Whether you need the case depends on if you tend to drop your phone often. I do occasionally and the rubber case probably saved me from having to buy a new LP multiple times. It's rubber and much thinner than normal smartphone cases, so it doesn't add much weight or bulk. I'd get one.
@@AndrewFolts Thank you so much for your reply. A huge help! Your videos are great, btw! Keep up the good work.
For the Lightphone users, what about Uber and Lyft? I think this is the only major usecase that holds me back. I travel frequently for work, and getting to and from the airport or around nee cities is mostly impossible without ride-share services in some cities. So it isn’t an option to hope for good public transports or cab networks.
Yea, I'd say the best solution would be to tether it via hotspot to a tablet. Navigating on such a tiny device isn't ideal for city use.
Are you able to listen to spotify music? Or how can you listen to music on this phone?
You can load MP3's onto it, if you want. I used an app called NoteBurner to download a Spotify playlist of my favorite tracks. noteburner.com
Does iTunes still work with it? And Bluetooth? Music all I care about is
You can simply upload the iTunes MP3 files you own to the LP dashboard and they'll automatically sync to the Light Phone. Yes, it also works with Bluetooth speakers and such.
I really like the idea of the Light Phone but I need access to Slack and my work emails… I don’t know if I can make it work 😢.
Boox makes a phone-sized tablet called the Palma that's e ink but has access to all Google Play apps. That said, there's no cellular, so you'd have to use it as a companion phone with your normal phone as a hotspot. bit.ly/48UsJ12
Which cell service do you use? I’m debating which will be the best coverage
Verizon. Works great, as far as I've experienced.
understand the e social media could be toxic but not using banking app, google map , etc honestly quite affecting daily life , probably take you more time spending on these
Depends on your lifestyle. I don't live in a city, so there really aren't any mobile apps I need. The LP's GPS is good enough for basic navigation and if I want to check my bank account I just use the desktop website.
The Light Phone is so amazing and is totally life changing - break your addiction to big media & big tech and buy one !! Nice video friend !!
Best decision I've ever made. It's amazing how phone addiction literally disappears in the first day of owning the LP and never comes back.
I currently have a Google Pixel 6a with 2 rules:
1) No visual content watching (no video)
2) No social media apps (just whatsapp, which is plenty of stimulus for me)
I do use it for route planning, for Spotify, for meditation, for calling, and I don't use it to consume content other than audiobooks, podcasts and music.
I just never installed any crap, and that made this a non-crap device, and somehow that works. Battery lasts long too :-)
Totally! Simple rules always work better. Glad you were able to tame the iBeast. (:
for me the trick is to start with a clean slate (a new device) and make it a 'hard' rule that way@@AndrewFolts
Bravo 👏🏻😁 I really like this perspective.
Thanks! Appreciate you stopping by. (:
Thanks for the review. How does the music work?
You can upload MP3's through the LP website, which get downloaded to the phone.
I was considering to get the light phone but I can't effort it. What I did is set my current Phone on black white and do some App limits, this made me using my phone way more less. I know its never the same as a light phone as you have access to social media and it doesn't have a e ink screen.
Nice, that's a great place to start! You can check also eBay for LP's, as sometimes they'll go for as little as $150-200: ebay.to/3T6U86J
Andrew, I have a question. Can you please tell me there is a way to add jpg pictures so I can add QR codes and such from customer loyalty cards and entrance tickets for events.. Is there a way? And maybe a secondary less important question, could the notes app be used for reading a chapter from an ebook? Thank you in advance. I am two-thirds the way of buying a lightphone, should i wait to buy, will lightphone II be cheaper when new one is released.. ? thx
There's no current way to have images or ebooks, although LP included those things in their survey, so they may add them eventually. If you need more advanced features, I'd recommend one of Hisene's e ink phones. The A5 is an older model that's cheap and would work fine for what you're describing. ebay.us/4oh5ut
Just ordered myself a light phone 2 and I’m excited about it. I use Spotify a lot, and I’m a little concerned what I’ll do for music driving/riding my bike. What do you use for music streaming?
Supposedly they're considering adding a Spotify feature. What I did in the meantime is use an app called "NoteBurner" to turn my fav Spotify subscription into MP#3s and then uploaded them to the Light Phone. noteburner.com/en1
I'm a graphic designer you said that you had trouble adjusting to the screen would tips would you use for that? If I had a light phone I would still have social media on my laptop and iPad so I can at least be up to date on the world without the whole world in the palm of my hand 24/7.
Just time. Your brain is so used to going 100 mph all the time with high refresh screens that "waiting" for e ink can make you stressed at first, but over a week or two it starts to feel really calming, and then you get to the point where you want to own fewer and fewer LED devices, because e ink is so relaxing. (:
@@AndrewFolts My Dad says there are these special glasses that filter the blue light I might consider getting the light phone I am apart of Gen Z which is the generation that grew up with the internet I got my first iPhone when I was 12 and ever since then I've been unhappy, not creative and insomic I need to take better care of myself.
@@ezzy6440 Yea, the glasses can help a bit with insomnia, although they don't do anything to cut down eyestrain from the intense light and high refresh rate of LED. Also remember the first time I got an iPod touch, and, for sure, it was probably the worst thing to ever happen to my creativity.
@@AndrewFolts hmm I don't think this phone will fit with my lifestyle then because my job is to use those LED lit screens
How did you get an e-ink display for your computer??
It's called the Boox Mira Pro: ua-cam.com/video/J-7SDe5nYVo/v-deo.html
I've been LOVING my dumb phone! Never going back.
Yay! Which one do you have?
@@AndrewFolts light phone II :)
@@RustyRoosterLife Yasss!! (:
That e-ink monitor is so fricken cool! I had no idea those were even a thing.
Yea, me neither. Wish they existed ten years ago. Would have saved me so much eyestrain and burnout in college and later as a freelance designer/coder.
How does the Bluetooth connection work, is it reliable to use in my car for music
Yea, I've used in several different cars to play music and it works fine.
@@AndrewFolts that's amazing
Thanks for the video. My wife an i are looking into getting the LP. Social media is a disease. We've uninstalled our insta,facebook,ect many times but the temptation is so high you always download it back eventually. I think getting rid of the temptation completely is going to be the key.
Do you think there will be a LP 3 soon or they're just going to be updating the 2 for a while still?
Doubt it. They're a small company, and it takes a massive amount of time and money to make an entirely new product, so I think the LP is what they're focusing on for the next 2-3 years at least.
a great alternative for android users:
before launcher:
it gives u a clear ui that is like the lightphone
(you dont have to buy a whole new phone to try the dumb-ish phone experience!!)
thankyou for the video for promoting an alternative lifestyle many dont even consider it at all.
That's cool, I'll have to mention it to anyone one the fence. Thanks! (:
I'm gonna try out the Light Phone. Thanks for making this video, it's awesome
Cool, let me know how it goes! Beginning's a bit of a shock, but then you start feeling a lot more calm and productive, and realize the journey was totally worth it. (:
I edit the first question you’ve posted in your video, since I’ve questioned this myself many times on this kind of videos.
Why spend (can’t remember how much)$ on a new dumbphone, when you can buy an older one with maybe even better build quality, better more useful features? For example, smth like an older Nokia phone lets you have QR code scanning, a few more apps which might be actually useful (better maps, video calling support which might be useful if you want to keep in touch with some of your relatives, better mail and office support which might be useful for somebody working or someone in college/university, and if you don’t tinker around a lot, the majority of them don’t have access to social media or media consumption.) from what I’ve seen from your video, it’s due to the e-Ink screen, which is a valid and fair point that I haven’t seen in many other videos (as far as I remember).
Yea, an old phone is definitely an option, but not for me. LED makes my eyes bloodshot and stresses me out, even with minimal use. Also, I just like that the Light Phone feels like an "intentional" product. It's interesting and well-designed, which makes me feel proud to own it, rather than having to pull out an old flip phone. Although, I have to admit, my old Samsung Alias was pretty cool. Had an e ink keypad! (:
I have wanted a light phone for years, but it has yet to support cricket. People say its isable, but the group messaging doesnt work perfectly. How is the grouo messaging typically?
It was ok, but honestly I turned group messaging off, and it was one of the best life decisions I've ever made. Group chats are really annoying, because you keep getting constantly pinged, so now people just txt me one at a time, and it's much less distracting.
Ho is the connectivity with the light phone? Which provider do you use?
Verizon. Works fine as far as I can tell, I had no issues.
4:28 Oh man, to this day the Samsung Alias is still super cool.
Freakin' loved that phone. If they made it with an e ink screen I'd be all over it.
Regrettably, after two years with my light phone, it has broken. (Whomp whomp).
I’ve just discovered the screen can shatter and the interface or display can stop working due to external damage. Unfortunately, because the Light Phone company is small, they are unable to repair, resulting in the only option being to replace the phone completely.
As I'm contemplating the choice to buy a new/refurbished Light Phone, I wanted to share my experience and what is keeping me from immediately purchasing a new one. Though I agree and love all of the pros (especially if you live a quiet life) listed in the video above, here are my honest cons:
1. As the tool’s main function is to operate as a means to call and text, sadly, it doesn’t perform either of these very well. The text screen often freezes while sending a text. This seems to happen while you are simultaneously receiving incoming texts. Because of this, I often opt out of group texts I’m added to.
2. Like a computer becomes hot to the touch after being on for a period of time, so is true for the light phone. This happens specifically on phone calls. At about the 30 minute mark on a call, the light phone reaches an uncomfortable heat in which I often have to switch the audio to “Speaker”.
3. The speaker function breaks-up the audio for whoever receives the call on the other line. In other words, they can’t hear me or my speech is broken. This is consistent whether the phone is held up to my mouth or sitting on my desk.
4. Conference calls seem to be the achilles heel of the light phone. Both the receiver and the caller experience inconsistent audio and “breaking-up”. The light phone becomes hotter faster and the battery drains quickly. **THIS IS NOT A PHONE FOR OFFICE USE**
We know the Light Phone doesn’t boast to be the best phone around, however, it can function well for someone who maybe doesn’t require much of their device.
If you are in a different season of life, consider the following:
FOR AVID TRAVELERS & EVER CHANGING SCHEDULES OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS:
**THIS PHONE IS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR THE FREQUENT-FLYER**
As airlines have taken a more streamlined approach for booking, boarding, and navigating airports, the ability to have quick access to their apps or online platforms (I hate to say) is a must. It seems that airports are strongly relying on the technology of their flyers (these days) to get them where they need to go when flights are canceled, gates change, etc. Even with strong planning skills, it has become more likely that I will miss a flight without the convenience of a smartphone to quickly rebook, inform, or redirect (especially in foreign countries).
BOOKING TRANSPORTATION/ACCOMMODATIONS: The same goes for booking transportation and accommodations. Scheduling an Uber from your Laptop is very inconvenient and that’s IF your carrier allows for your Light Phone Hotspot to work in the country or city you are located in. As true to its form, this device is unfavorable on the fly.
SAFETY: Also, if personal safety while traveling is a concern for you, you may want to carry another device while traveling. If you are able, I encourage you to print notes or save in your Light Phone “Notes” of emergency contacts from home and in the area you will be traveling in.
GPS: Whether you are in or out of your home country, navigating an unfamiliar city can be stressful. And though the Light Phone offers a GPS feature, you often have to be in the know of the exact location. Say you are in Spain as a foreigner and a local friend calls to ask if you want to meet up at Starbucks. In order for the GPS to assist you in directions, you or your friend would have to know the exact address of that Starbucks location AND you would have to know the exact location in which you are traveling from. If you are a passenger in a moving vehicle, this would require the driver to pull off the road to identify an address or street for a starting point to plug into the device.
______________________________
I'D LOVE TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS FOUND HELPFUL SOLUTIONS TO GET AROUND THESE ISSUES.
All this to be said, for two years, I’ve been able to travel and work while using the Light Phone II as my primary device and have loved the freedom it has given me. Unfortunately, it has become less and less my ‘only’ tool as I often have to grab a smart device while navigating modern life.
So maybe be honest about the season of life you are in, what is important to you, and if you are able and willing to be inconvenienced in these ways in order to live a more intentional, quiet life.
Bummer, I wonder if you got a defective Light Phone from the start, because I've dropped mine many times with no break and haven't had most of the issues you're describing with the texting and voice. The case definitely helps. As for heating, you should never put a smart phone up to your head due to the excessive EMF radiation exposure. Earbuds or speaker are always best. That said, you're right, the LP is definitely not designed to be an business phone. It sucks that there aren't any Google Play enabled e ink phones yet, because that might be a better fit in your case.
Excellent video. I'm in! Will I be able to easily transfer my contacts from my Iphone?
Yep, you can either import from iCloud or from a vcf file.
I think I'm missing the point here, but isn't the battery rather small? It is a low power device, but 900mAh with a claimed 1-2 day battery with light usage is a little concerning for the sake of longevity. Hopefully battery replacements would be possible!
Two years in the battery life on mine seems unchanged, still 2-3 days. If you were savvy, I bet you could open it up and replace the battery. I remember seeing a video on their channel of how they put it together and it looked fairly simple.
4:42 that’s exactly why I’m thinking of getting the light phone! I have a sunbeam F1 flip phone which I loooove but I’m always too embarrassed to use it in public 😂
Ha, yea, the LP is kind of like owning some exotic tropical bird. People are always like...woah, what the heck is that!?
Light phone ordered. Also, subbed.
Ha, going caveman, love it!.Appreciate the sub, Todd!
I think it's awesome, and since it can be used as a Hotspot, I could keep my smart phone on me and just use it with the hot spot when I want to use it
Yea, the hotspot is quite useful. Boox is also coming out with a full-featured e ink phone-sized tablet, the Palma, which is interesting: shop.boox.com/products/palma
I look forward to watching this later as I did buy a light Phone in 2021. BTW, I watched your review of the Onyx Boox Mira Pro: have you tested the smaller 13” version? I’m wondering if that will work well enough for my needs, which are limited to email, Postcrossing and basic Word processing. Thank you and cheers
Yea, it should be fine for that stuff. The only difference is it has a touch layer, which slightly decreases the clarity, but most people seem to love it that I've talked to, so can't be much of an issue.
Thank you for replying. Great lightphone video
Is this phone sold in Canada 🇨🇦 or only the US🇺🇸 what about service in Canada 🇨🇦 ❓ Thank you
As far as I know you can buy it at the LP's website from Canada. You can also put in your own SIM card, so the International version will work in any country. bit.ly/3fASkVO
I have a flip phone haha but I found it too limiting (mostly for texting, voice to text would be nice). I also absolutely need music when driving and running (have considered getting a spotify player though.) My big one is photos - my phone is my camera and I bought a cheapish pixel for this purpose. There is no getting around it. I don't ever post photos on social media so don't need it for that, but for family shots when we're out and about. Alternative is buy a pocket camera? Thoughts?
I just use a DLSR. The qualities better, anyway. Something simple like the Sony ZV1 would be a great option for casual use, or even an action cam like the OSMO Pocket. You could also have an iPad and tether it to the Light Phone's WIFI hotspot, so it's not as convenient/addictive and gives you the option to go out with just the LP when you don't need other features.
I really like it, just wished they would improve navigation
There's really not much more you can do with a phone this small. Mostly I just use the text directions, which is better suited to the LP than the map.
Thanks for sharing, I really want to make the switch
No prob. Yea, I feel you, ditching my iPhone was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Hope it works well for you too!
Loved this and so agree with you. Smartphones have become an extension of our limbs, a part of of our bodies. Children grow up seeing a phone in their parents hand most of the day.
More and more people are making a choice to reconnect with our minds in a healthy way. I am not a machine. I am a human being. ❤
That's true, I'm so glad I grew up before smartphones were everywhere!
What makes me hesitant is that I like giving my family my tracking in case something happens. Is there something on this phone for safety?
No, but you could simply use one of those Apple AirTag's, which work the same way: amzn.to/418KlSz
@@AndrewFolts interesting, never would have thought of that! Thank you!!!!
you couldd wear grey clothes or go with a surprise buy each time you buy a new peeve of clothes 😅... but to a serious question, the MIRA e ink screen... do you have an in-depth review on that one? and will they come out with a new model now in 2023 or are there other brands you found better by now? is a black and white e ink screen for about 2200 dollars right? I hear a lot about e-ink color screens but have yet to see a large one, what is your opinion of e-ink 's future? thanks for a great experience sharing! I got a lightphonell too, but the first one never worked as promised and the second I had for two years but dropped it on the street and the display cracked... not sure if is possible to fix the screen like one do with a smartphone screen, do you happen to know or have experienced broken lightphonell screens? thanks if you got some time to eget back.. am an author and for me the e-ink feels like heaven, I use a Supernote A5 to write all my Bullet Journaling in.. so far is not the best interface experience but I still prefer it to an iPad.. :)
I actually do wear a lot of gray, ha, and my Dad is a traditional black and white film photographer. You can find my Mira review here: ua-cam.com/video/J-7SDe5nYVo/v-deo.html. I love that the Mira's black and white, because it's less distracting, and I find I don't need color for 95% of what I do. I expect there will be large color e ink screens in the few years, although I'm not even sure I'd want one for my main monitor, given said distraction. Like you, e ink is heaven to me, and even with the quirks, it's easily the best $2,000 I've ever spent, because I use it so much. Don't think the LP can be repaired, because it's so customized, according to this page, but they say you can send it in for a discounted replacement: support.thelightphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052976811-Repairability. What kind of books do you write as an author?
@@AndrewFolts hi, thanks for getting back, right now I am writing on a couple scripts due to having been both in film school as a wrier and in literature program as an author..But I seem to always fall back to psychological thriller with the mix of magic realism, mystery and phenomena as the feel of my stories under the hood... Ok, I will look into the Mira again, perhaps one can find it at discount somewhere! 😅...I get migraine with crystals and astigmatism from normal laptop screens like the MacBook, just gives me a headache and more... had hopes on could write by hand in the Supernote and that it would translate handwritten into printed text, but they never got there with my A5 Supernote... maybe in the future one can write only by hand on an e-ink and have it transfered into printed text for editors and colleges to read, that would be really something amazing! thanks for getting back!
I’d love to give up social media but is the light phone able to listen to any music? I would still like a music app of some sort :]
You can have one playlist with the LP and supposedly they're considering a Spotify integration, which would be sweet. Another option is to get a Hisense e ink phone, and although they're Chinese and don't have access to Google Play apps, you can run Spotify and UA-cam through the browser, which is what I do: ebay.to/3ZKpXWz
I want to get this so badly, but I don’t know what I would do without being able to Google something off rip at any moment. It would be a companion phone to my IPhone because I do truly need it for work, but man do I want to throw my phone out of a window.
I hated my iPhone so much that I literally rearranged my life/career so that I didn't need one, ha. The LP is probably not that helpful if you still have a smartphone, because the temptation will sill be there.