A minimal fold phone that boldly excludes social media and infinite-scroll apps is emerging. It targets users who want to reduce smartphone addiction and prefer a calls-and-texts-focused experience.

On July 21 (local time), IT outlet Engadget reported that U.S. startup Light is developing the clamshell phone "Light Flip" and is aiming for an April 2027 launch.

The Light Flip brings the philosophy of the "Light Phone III," unveiled by the company last year, into a fold-phone form factor. The interface is designed as a simple layout that shows only necessary functions, with white text on a black background.

Its biggest feature is that it deliberately removes elements that increase smartphone usage time. The company decided not to include social media or infinite-scroll apps on the Light Flip. Instead, it focuses on providing an experience centered on calls, texts and limited essential tools.

The hardware is also closer to a traditional fold phone. It uses a 12-button numeric keypad instead of a touchscreen, and includes directional keys, a select button and 3 dedicated function buttons. The side has a home button and volume controls, and the bottom includes a USB-C port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a speaker.

The exterior also follows existing fold-phone designs. When closed, there is no separate external display and only a notification light is provided. A 50-megapixel camera is installed on the back, but the photos actually stored are 12 megapixels. The battery is designed to be replaceable. Users can open a screw-on cover and replace the battery themselves, and the material uses plastic instead of the aluminum used in the Light Phone III. It will also be offered in 6 colors, an increase from before.

There is also a change in how it will be sold. The Light Flip is the company's first model sold with a combined mobile plan and device. On a 2-year contract, the $39-a-month plan includes the device and Light service, unlimited voice calls and texts, and 1GB of data a month. The company explained that since the product's purpose is to minimize smartphone use itself, that amount of data is sufficient for most users. It also plans to offer a $69-a-month unlimited plan for users who frequently use 5G hotspots. The Light Phone III also plans to be sold in the future as a combined device-and-plan product for $59 a month.

The development of this fold phone reflects user demand. Co-founders Joe Hollier (조 홀리어) and Kaiwei Tang (카이웨이 탕) said there were many opinions, especially among younger users, calling for a form factor even less "smartphone-like" than the Light Phone III. They also explained that while more users are seeking older fold phones to reduce smartphone usage time, many standard fold phones currently on sale lack functionality, leading them to create a new alternative.

Light is also preparing to expand its feature ecosystem. The company is developing the "Light SDK" that allows outside developers to build dedicated features, and it aims to begin distributing third-party tools starting this fall. It also plans to support easy porting of existing tools for the Light Phone III to a keypad-centered interface.

The Light Flip is currently taking pre-orders, and the official launch is scheduled for April 2027. The industry views the Light Flip as set to test market reaction as a new type of mobile device targeting demand for "digital minimalism" to reduce dependence on smartphones, rather than as a simple retro fold phone.