A new flip phone has arrived for those looking to escape constant screen notifications. The Light Flip pairs a classic clamshell design with a highly restrictive interface designed to encourage digital detox. But buyers will have to wait until next year to purchase the device.
The device keeps things simple by omitting an outer screen altogether. Instead, a tiny notification light tells you when you have a message. Flipping the phone open reveals a 2.8 inch OLED display running at 480x640 pixels. Under the hood, the device runs on a MediaTek MT8873 processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Power comes from a removable 1800 mAh battery that charges through a USB C port.
This phone runs on LightOS, a custom operating system that only includes basic tools like a calendar, a notepad, and a podcast player. There is no web browser or social media. In the coming autumn, the company plans to release a software development kit to let creators build basic tools for the platform. For typing, you can use traditional T9 predictive text or speak your messages aloud via voice input.
The device features a 50 megapixel camera on the back and a standard headphone jack. It also supports Wi Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS navigation. The body carries an IP54 rating to guard against dust and light rain. When the phone goes on sale in April of next year, it will be bundled with a cellular service plan. The basic package costs 39 dollars per month for 2 years, which includes the phone and unlimited calls and texts with 1GB of data. An unlimited data option will also be available for 69 dollars per month.
