Minimal Phone Review: A QWERTY-Backed E Ink Smartphone for the Intentional User

The Minimal Phone (officially the MP01) is perhaps one of the most unconventional smartphones of the decade—reviving the physical QWERTY keyboard in an era dominated by on-screen swipes and taps. It merges the nostalgic appeal of BlackBerry-style typing with modern features like Android 14, wireless charging, and full Google Play support. But most notably, it does all of this through a 4.3-inch E Ink screen.

That screen alone sets the tone for the entire experience. Designed to reduce distractions and prevent endless scrolling, the MP01 pushes a message of intentional use—where communication and clarity matter more than colorful widgets or viral videos. But does this minimalist smartphone deliver on its focused promise, or is it simply underpowered in a world of power users?

Priced at $400, the Minimal Phone includes some surprisingly premium features for its category—such as a fingerprint sensor, adjustable front light, physical navigation buttons, a 3,000mAh battery, and an actual headphone jack. Yet, as with many crowdfunded first-gen products, it comes with quirks and a few rough edges.

In this full review, we’re going to examine every aspect of the MP01 experience—from display sharpness and software polish to stylus-like typing, battery life, and long-term usability. Whether you’re eyeing it as a digital detox companion or simply curious how it stacks up to the likes of Bigme HiBreak Pro or Hisense A9, this deep dive covers it all.

Let’s begin.

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Screen Technology & Display:

The Minimal Phone sports a 4.3-inch monochrome E Ink panel with a resolution of 800×600 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of around 230 PPI. While that may sound modest compared to modern OLED displays or even high-end E Ink tablets, the screen performs admirably within its niche. Text appears reasonably sharp, and the grayscale contrast is strong enough for comfortable reading and messaging.

This isn’t your average e-reader display, either. Despite not officially confirming it, the screen characteristics suggest it’s likely using E Ink Carta 1200, which offers noticeably brighter backgrounds and improved contrast compared to earlier generations. It doesn’t quite reach the crispness of 300 PPI devices like the Kindle Paperwhite, but it’s more than usable for everyday tasks like texting, email, or document reading.

What really enhances its usability, though, is the built-in front light. Featuring both warm and cool LEDs, the MP01 allows for fine-tuned temperature control—ideal for those who read in darker settings. With a peak brightness of 280 nits and a low minimum of just 0.8 nits, the front light feels well-balanced. The only drawback? The light sensor sometimes ramps brightness to 100% in darkness, which is counterproductive and hopefully fixable in a firmware update.

One limitation is the panel’s refresh speed. Like all E Ink screens, there’s an inherent lag, especially when scrolling or navigating content-rich apps. Thankfully, the device includes E Ink refresh profiles accessible via a long press of the side button, allowing users to toggle between HD mode (for clarity) and fast mode (for speed). It’s a nice touch, though you’ll find yourself switching modes often depending on what app you’re using.

Ghosting is present but manageable. The MP01 doesn’t feature advanced localized rendering like the reMarkable Paper Pro, so previous page shadows can linger. However, a swipe-up gesture refreshes the display instantly, clearing the ghosting manually.

As a display optimized for focus and function, the Minimal Phone’s screen may not wow in a specs sheet—but it’s well-executed for its intended purpose.

Writing Experience & Keyboard Typing:

Instead of a stylus, the Minimal Phone embraces a full physical QWERTY keyboard—a rare and nostalgic feature in the modern smartphone era. Sitting just below the E Ink screen, this 35-key backlit layout is surprisingly effective for typing long messages or emails without relying on a virtual keyboard.

Typing on the keyboard delivers a tactile, clicky feedback that’s both satisfying and reliable. Each key has a distinct actuation, so you’ll rarely wonder whether your press registered. However, there are quirks. The space bar feels oddly mushy, occasionally registering an unintentional double-tap. Also, some users may notice that keys have a slight tilt when pressed, which can feel awkward during prolonged typing sessions.

 

The keyboard’s backlight is adjustable via quick settings, allowing for low-light typing. It’s not overly bright, which is ideal for E Ink’s purposefully subdued visuals. Layout-wise, the inclusion of dedicated symbols and function shortcuts is helpful, though adapting from touchscreen keyboards may take some time.

Thanks to a recent firmware update, key registration and input speed have improved dramatically. Earlier bugs causing skipped keystrokes have been resolved, allowing for more fluid typing. The only real adjustment curve comes from re-learning to type on physical buttons in the swipe era.

Ultimately, while it lacks handwriting recognition or stylus input, the Minimal Phone offers a throwback alternative with its QWERTY keyboard—fitting perfectly into the minimalist ethos and encouraging deliberate, distraction-free communication.

Organization & Workflow:

The Minimal Phone may be a simple E Ink device at heart, but its workflow possibilities are surprisingly robust—thanks mostly to its physical keyboard, minimalist Android interface, and thoughtful shortcut features. There’s no native handwriting recognition or notebook-style organization, but it more than compensates with its app versatility and quick access features.

Out of the box, the phone runs a clean build of Android 14, so users can organize their apps and widgets just like on a typical Android phone. The preinstalled Minimal Launcher takes a distraction-free approach, displaying only a few core apps to help you stay focused, but you can easily swap it out for something more customizable like Nova Launcher.

For multitasking, the MP01 relies on its capacitive buttons—back, home, and multitasking—which are located just below the screen. They’re not illuminated, so there’s a short learning curve in finding them in low light, but once you get the hang of it, switching between apps is straightforward.

You can also program the dedicated E Ink side button to quickly adjust display refresh modes or bring up E Ink-specific settings, depending on your needs. While these features don’t mimic the in-depth organizational systems of e-note devices like the Supernote or reMarkable, they give you just enough control to streamline how you use your apps and communication tools.

If you’re someone who thrives on simplicity but still wants the ability to tweak your workflow through Android apps, keyboard shortcuts, or widgets, the Minimal Phone offers just enough flexibility—without overwhelming you with options or unnecessary features.

Reading & File Support:

When it comes to reading, the Minimal Phone delivers a solid experience for casual use, though it’s not built to replace a dedicated eReader. Its 4.3-inch E Ink display is compact but clear enough to enjoy eBooks, documents, and articles on the go. Thanks to Android 14 and Google Play support, you’re free to install Kindle, Kobo, Libby, Moon+ Reader, or any reading app of your choice.

Page turns work well using the physical volume buttons, which helps reduce finger movement and makes one-handed reading comfortable. Ghosting is minimal when displaying text-heavy content, and it rarely distracts. The front light with adjustable color temperature makes night reading much easier—especially with the warm light setting, which feels more comfortable than standard white LED backlights.

However, the lack of contrast customization within the E Ink quick settings may limit the usability of some reading apps that display heavy graphics or light gray text. This won’t affect most novels, but it’s noticeable when reading PDFs or textbooks with diagrams.

PDFs are viewable via third-party apps, but the small screen means lots of zooming and scrolling, which is not ideal. File format support depends entirely on the app you use—so as long as you download the right tool, you’re good to go with EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and even comic book formats like CBZ.

The only major downside is the display size. It’s compact enough to fit in your pocket, but that also means shorter reading sessions are more enjoyable than long ones. That said, if you’re looking for a highly portable E Ink reader with full app freedom, the Minimal Phone gets the job done.

Battery Life & Charging:

The battery life on the Minimal Phone is a tale of two extremes. On one hand, its deep sleep standby performance is excellent. Leave the phone idle and you can go several days without charging—ideal for minimal use like occasional calls, texting, or light reading.

However, things change quickly when the screen is on. Just keeping the device active without even doing much can drain the 3,000mAh battery in under five hours. This high drain during active use suggests some underlying optimization issues, possibly related to the E Ink refresh handling or background app behavior.

Reading with the Kindle app, for instance, drains around 20% per hour, which is steep for an E Ink device. The phone also gets slightly warm under continuous use, further accelerating the battery drain.

Thankfully, the device supports both USB-C and Qi wireless charging, which makes topping up convenient, especially in a car or at your desk. Charging is relatively quick, and wireless heat buildup is minimal compared to many LCD phones.

If you’re someone who uses your phone sporadically and values standby endurance, the battery life may work just fine for you—but for power users, this remains a weak point.

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Build Quality & Design:

The Minimal Phone makes a bold first impression with its retro-inspired QWERTY keyboard and compact blocky form. It clearly borrows design cues from classic BlackBerry models, but reinterprets them with a minimalist twist. At just 4.3 inches, the screen is small by today’s standards, but the entire device feels like a deliberate effort to maximize focus and reduce distractions.

The build is solid, especially considering it’s a first-generation product born out of a crowdfunding campaign. Its plastic backplate may not feel premium, but it contributes to the phone’s lightness and durability. Unfortunately, it’s also a fingerprint magnet and can look quite smudgy within minutes of use. A silicone case is available, though some users—especially early backers—have reported not receiving theirs.

The edges of the phone are strikingly sharp, creating a visual appeal but sacrificing a bit of comfort in hand. It’s not painful to hold, but you’ll always be conscious that you’re holding something with defined edges. Still, over time, most users will adapt to its grip and shape.

All the necessary ports are well-positioned. On the bottom, you’ll find a USB-C port, a speaker, and a 3.5mm headphone jack—a rare treat in 2025. The power button is located on the right side, complete with an integrated fingerprint reader that’s responsive and well-placed under the thumb. Volume buttons and a dedicated E Ink refresh/settings button sit on the left, though the placement of the latter—wedged between volume keys—makes it harder to find blindly.

The back houses a 16MP camera and LED flash, but the module is flush and minimal, blending well with the overall design. While the camera’s performance is poor (as covered later), its placement and design don’t interfere with handling or aesthetics.

Beneath the minimalist casing is a modern MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, NFC, Bluetooth, WiFi, and global LTE support. There’s also dual SIM or SIM + microSD functionality via the hybrid tray. The build may not scream luxury, but it’s robust, thoughtful, and utilitarian—matching the product’s core mission.

Pricing & Value:

At $399, the Minimal Phone sits in an interesting space—it’s not quite budget, but far from flagship. Considering its niche hardware, QWERTY keyboard, Android 14, E Ink display, NFC, dual SIM, and wireless charging, the price feels fair for what you’re getting.

There’s no subscription model attached, unlike some competitors like the reMarkable, which adds long-term value. You also get official Google Play support, which avoids the compromises found on more locked-down E Ink devices.

However, it’s not perfect. The occasional software glitches, sluggish app performance, and weak camera do remind you that you’re buying into a niche product—not a mainstream powerhouse.

Still, for digital minimalists or e-ink enthusiasts, the Minimal Phone offers a rare blend of form, function, and focus. If you’re the right user, this is a compelling investment that doesn’t feel overpriced.

App Ecosystem & Connectivity:

One of the strongest selling points of the Minimal Phone is its full Google Play support. Unlike many e-ink devices that require sideloading or APK workarounds, the MP01 gives you out-of-the-box access to essential apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Kindle, Libby, Google Maps, and even banking apps.

Android Auto works reliably, although connection times can be a little inconsistent. Once connected, GPS tracking and voice navigation function well—assuming you’re using HD refresh mode to reduce screen ghosting. That said, Hey Google voice activation is hit-or-miss, so tapping the screen is often the more reliable route.

The Minimal Phone’s connectivity options are quite complete for a niche device. It includes dual SIM slots, microSD support (or second SIM), NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, a compass, and full LTE band compatibility—alongside FCC certification for global use.

App responsiveness, however, can be a mixed bag. Without per-app refresh settings, you’ll find yourself manually switching E Ink modes to balance legibility and responsiveness. Some apps aren’t well-optimized for the 4.3-inch screen, cutting off content or UI elements. And while the Kindle app runs well, many visually rich apps like YouTube or Instagram are essentially unusable.

Still, for essential communication, reading, maps, and light productivity, the Minimal Phone gets the job done better than most other E Ink smartphones.

Minimal Phone “Pros and Cons”:

Pros:

• Physical QWERTY keyboard for tactile typing
• Runs Android 14 with official Google Play support
• Dual SIM + microSD support with NFC and Android Auto
• Wireless charging and adjustable front light
• Thoughtfully designed for minimalism and focus
• Great app compatibility (Kindle, Signal, WhatsApp, etc.)

Cons:

• Poor rear camera performance
• Some software bugs and UI roughness
• Battery drain is high when not in standby

Conclusion:

The Minimal Phone (MP01) isn’t for everyone—but it’s absolutely for someone. If you’re looking to break away from overstimulation, doomscrolling, or digital noise, this compact, keyboard-equipped E Ink smartphone offers a refreshing change of pace. It’s not trying to compete with flagship Android phones. Instead, it creates a more intentional user experience centered on minimal distractions and basic function.

The physical QWERTY keyboard is a delight once you get used to it. Typing feels satisfying, and having tactile feedback on a modern device is something rare these days. Combined with excellent app compatibility, Android 14, dual SIM support, and Google services, it brings surprising depth under its minimalist shell.

That said, this phone still shows its first-gen roots. Bugs like the “disco mode,” inconsistent light settings, clunky refresh switching, and a poor camera weigh it down. Battery performance also needs polishing, especially in idle-on mode.

But the recent firmware fixes show that the company is listening, and it gives hope that further refinement is coming. At $400, it’s an investment in a niche idea—but if that niche speaks to you, there’s really nothing else quite like the Minimal Phone right now.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is the Minimal Phone good for reading books or documents?

• Yes, the 4.3″ E Ink screen and QWERTY keyboard make it ideal for focused reading, especially with the Kindle app or Libby. The physical volume buttons can turn pages, and the front light helps in low-light conditions.

Does the Minimal Phone run WhatsApp or Signal?

• Absolutely. Thanks to Android 14 and Google Play support, you can install messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and others without any workarounds.

Can you use Android Auto with the Minimal Phone?

• Yes, the Minimal Phone is compatible with Android Auto and worked well in testing. Wireless charging adds convenience when using it in your car.

How long does the battery last on the Minimal Phone?

• Battery life is mixed. In standby, it can last several days. But during active use (especially with front light on or using apps), it drains quickly—around 20% per hour for light reading.

Is the Minimal Phone good for photography?

• No. The rear 16MP camera is underwhelming and produces poor images. It’s best used for QR scanning or occasional quick snaps—not for social media or serious photography.

Does it support dual SIM cards and microSD?

• Yes. You can choose between dual SIMs or one SIM plus microSD. Expandable storage goes up to 2TB, which is great for music, books, and offline content.

Can I customize the screen refresh settings?

• Yes. There’s a dedicated app to adjust screen refresh modes (Slow, Normal, Fast). However, there’s no per-app setting, which means switching modes manually is often necessary.

Is the Minimal Phone waterproof?

• There is no official waterproof or IP rating mentioned. It’s best to avoid exposure to water or heavy dust.

Does the Minimal Phone support Google Maps and navigation?

• Yes, Google Maps works well, and the built-in GPS handles navigation without issues. Contrast visibility in maps may suffer slightly due to the E Ink screen, but it’s functional.

Is this phone for me?

• If you’re looking for a distraction-free smartphone experience with tactile input and essential Android app access, the Minimal Phone could be a perfect fit. But if you’re expecting flagship performance, fast visuals, or multimedia capability—it’s best to look elsewhere.