23 Sept 2025
I use my phone a lot. And I am 90 per cent sure you do too (let me guess: you are reading this on your screen right now). The average screen time in the UAE in 2024 sits at 4 hours and 27 minutes a day, which is basically half a working day invested into swiping and tapping. But reality is unkind: the world demands connectivity. A life without a phone seems possible only in carefully sterilised environments, such as offline retreats with no Wi-Fi signal in a 50 km radius. If you don't answer, parents panic, employers fume, friends stage search-and-rescue operations. And imagine a life without a camera. Missing your cat sticking its tongue out in the most cinematic way, or failing to document a painfully overpriced coffee, is arguably more traumatic than an army of unread notifications. And that is without mentioning alarms, flashlights, calculators, taxi apps, and every other function until eternity.
So yes, phone-free life is impossible, even for the most hermit-like amongst us. Yet doomscrolling remains a pandemic in its own right, and not just for adults. Protecting children from the digital abyss (yes, skibidi toilets will be remembered as a regrettable cultural milestone) is another headache. Add to that failing eyesight, disrupted sleep, and the joy of blue light accelerating the ageing process. Thank you, technology.
So what is the answer? Here is the hint: it is like going back in time, but with a designer twist. The Nokia 3310 will probably not rise from the grave, but “non-smart smartphones” are here. Also known as e-ink phones, they combine modern hardware with an air of mindful nostalgia. Shall we dive in?
What are e-ink smartphones?
Think Kindle, but as a phone. It doesn't sound very futuristic, right? But here is the deal. E-ink displays are gentler on the eyes, perfectly legible in bright sunlight (finally you can read passive-aggressive work emails while sunbathing), and they last much longer on a single charge. No more emergency powerbanks clinging to life at 2 per cent. They come in flavours ranging from “total digital detox” to “all the usual apps but in moody black and white”. In essence, e-ink smartphones are devices with monochrome electronic paper displays designed to reduce distraction, extend battery life, and generally make your phone feel more like a tool than an all-you-can-eat buffet of dopamine.
And here come the options:
For no compromise: Light Phone III
Meet the Light Phone III. A device that proudly rejects everything that makes a modern smartphone “smart”. It has no infinite feeds, no email, and definitely no TikTok. What it does have is a metal frame, a USB-C port, a fingerprint ID, a 5G chip, and even a camera — although one inspired by point-and-shoot film cameras rather than the 72-megapixel monsters on your friend’s new iPhone. The shutter is physical and clicky, the photos are restrained, and the experience is deliberate.
The Light Phone is built to last, not to be replaced annually at the altar of planned obsolescence. With a swappable battery, repairable parts, and even recycled plastic in its body, it is a protest as much as a product. Inside, you get a menu of optional tools: an alarm, calculator, calendar, notes, and a timer. Tools are never pre-installed — you pick what you want, and that is it.
At $699, it isn't cheap, but perhaps the price is less about hardware and more about buying yourself back some attention span. And yes, it will work in the Middle East with carriers like Etisalat, du, STC, and the rest.
Back to BlackBerry times: The Minimal Phone
Millennials, brace yourselves: the keyboard is back. The Minimal Phone looks like a Kindle and a BlackBerry went on a slightly awkward date and decided to co-parent. It has an e-paper display, a physical QWERTY keyboard, and full Android 14 with access to the Google Play Store. That means you can install any app you like… but on a tiny black-and-white screen that refreshes so slowly it feels like revenge for your teenage MySpace phase.
The point is friction. Typing is slower, scrolling is painful, videos look terrible, and the camera is laughably bad. All of which means you will probably not spend three hours on Instagram. Mission accomplished. This is the phone for people who secretly crave their old BlackBerry Curve, but also want to be smug about reducing screen time.
Option for travellers: Mudita Kompakt
Mudita Kompakt is the zen monk of the e-ink phone world. It is minimalist, privacy-obsessed, and cleanly designed. There are no ads, no tracking, no intrusive apps. You even get a physical switch to kill the microphone, modem, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth in one satisfying flick. The 4.3" e-ink display cuts eye strain, the battery lasts up to six days, and it offers offline maps and a headphone jack (retro never looked so practical). It is for those who want fewer distractions but still need a functional device when hopping between Europe, the US, or anywhere else with dodgy roaming fees.
Other e-ink phones worth mentioning
- Hisense A9
- Onyx Boox Palma
- Yotaphone 2
You might want to try it if…
- You are truly tired of doomscrolling and want a break from the endless content conveyor belt.
- You are looking for a second phone for weekends and holidays — no Slack, no Gmail, just peace.
- You want your child to stay connected without handing them a gateway to TikTok’s darkest recesses.
- You are a tech geek who enjoys dropping an e-ink phone on the table just to stop iPhone debates mid-sentence.
- You experience anxiety, bad sleep, or simply want less blue light invading your circadian rhythm.
Conclusion
I don't believe e-ink smartphones will lead a global revolution. We are far too spoiled by instant access, fast apps, and high-definition everything. But they are a reminder that “faster, better, stronger” isn't always the only path forward. Sometimes, deliberately worse is exactly what we need.
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