Light Phone III: Could a $600 "Dumb" Phone Be the Cure for Digital Distraction?

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the constant distractions of your smartphone? Do you find it hard to focus, finish a book, or simply be present in the moment? You might be suffering from "brain rot," a term used to describe the inability to think deeply after too much screen time.

The Light Phone III, a minimalist phone from a New York City startup, aims to combat this digital overload. Priced at $600, this stripped-down device offers only essential functions: calls, texts, photos, maps, music, and podcasts. There's no web browser, app store, social media, or even email.

Kaiwei Tang, CEO of Light, believes that the Light Phone can help users reduce stress, increase productivity, and rediscover creativity. The idea is that by removing the constant temptation of apps and notifications, users can be more mindful and engaged with their surroundings.

One reviewer decided to test the Light Phone III as their primary phone for a week to see if it could cure their "brain rot". They found moments of enjoyment, appreciating the lack of temptation to stare at the screen while waiting for a train or eating alone. Phone calls were clear, and the maps app worked well. It was a reminder of simpler times when phones were primarily used for conversation.

However, the downsides of a dumber phone soon became apparent. The reviewer encountered several inconveniences due to the lack of smartphone features. They were unable to enter a train station because they had converted their physical transit pass to a virtual one stored in their smartphone's mobile wallet. They also couldn't log in to their rock climbing gym because the Light Phone lacked a web browser to generate a temporary bar code.

Texting was also a challenge, as the Light Phone's keyboard lacked autocorrect, resulting in terse conversations. Photos taken with the phone's camera were poorly lit and grainy, resembling images from a phone camera from 15 years ago.

One afternoon, the reviewer had to drop off an Amazon return at a UPS Store, which required scanning a QR code. Since the Light Phone had no email app or web browser to download the code, they had to load it on their computer screen and take a mediocre picture with the phone.

While the Light Phone's goal is admirable, the reviewer's experience highlights how dependent society has become on advanced smartphone features. Many aspects of our lives, such as transportation, work, payments, and home automation, revolve around our smartphones.

The Light Phone might be better suited as a secondary leisure phone for people to unplug when they are off work. However, even then, the camera quality may be a deal-breaker for some.

Light's CEO acknowledges that the Light Phone is not for everyone but suggests that parents have considered buying the phone for their children to be less distracted in school. The company is also working on adding more tools, such as mobile payments and the ability to request a Lyft car.