Light, a maker of minimalist phones designed to help consumers get away from smartphones and social media, will launch its new Light Phone III on March 27. This version of the device, like the previous one, has a simple black and white display and essential features such as support for calls, texts, navigation, alarms, hotspots, calendar, and more, including music. However, the updated device now comes with a 3.92-inch AMOLED display instead of an e-paper screen.
It also has a camera and an NFC chip for future payment tools.
First announced last summer, the Light Phone III improves repairability as it is now possible to access the battery, replace the screen and USB port.
The company said it has also tried to improve the usability and performance of the device by making it about the same width as most iPhones for easier use.
“It’s actually going to retain a lot of the characteristics that people love about the e-ink screen, [while] it feels much different than a glossy smartphone screen,” Light co-founder Joe Hollier explained last year when the phone was first introduced.
As before, customers will be able to choose whether they want to use the unlocked device as their primary phone or simply as a backup for when they want to disconnect from the network, without losing access to critical tools for navigating modern life.
Light sells its own data plans starting at $30 per month for 1 GB of data.
However, the Light Phone III update will slightly increase its price. Instead of $299 like the older e-ink device, the Light Phone III will be available for $599 for a limited time.
