This tiny e-ink phone promises more privacy and a distraction-free life

The smartphone, which has just launched on Kickstarter, comes with a custom OS.

If you ever wanted a phone with fewer distractions than a smartphone but found dumbphones too boring, Mudita’s Kompakt might be the answer.

Polish company Mudita, created by Michał Kiciński, a businessman who co-founded the studio behind titles like The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077, has just launched a phone on Kickstarter.

The new device runs on MuditaOS K, a custom-built operating system based on the Android Open Source Project. The company says the OS prioritizes simplicity and has only essential apps, such as an alarm, calendar, recorder, and even a dedicated app for meditation.

Privacy is another highlighted feature. The smartphone cuts off microphones and the camera at the hardware level and has a fingerprint sensor for securing information. Mudita claims that the smartphone has no Google services, meaning that there will be no data sharing with the company.

The Kompakt, which comes with three years of security updates, has a 4.3-inch e-ink screen with an 800x480p resolution. The monochromic screen leaves room for more battery capacity, as a colorful one typically consumes larger amounts of energy.

The fully charged smartphone, with its 3300 mAh battery, should reportedly last for six days. It also supports wireless charging, dual SIMs, and e-SIMs and is IP-54 rated for water and dust resistance.

The device is powered by Quad-core MediaTek mt6761V/WBSystem on a chip, and has 3GB of RAM, which may be good enough considering its minimalist features.

The phone has 32GB of inner storage, an 8MP main camera, and doesn’t support 5G connectivity.

Two versions of the device will be available: Global, and the one designed for North America, as its infrastructure differs from the rest of the world.

Currently, the phone on Kickstarter is sold for $324, with shipments planned for spring. The company says that the retail price will be 34% percent higher.