The Light Phone 2 doesn’t tout high-end specs like Apple’s iPhone 13 or Samsung’s Galaxy S22. Instead, its most striking feature is what it lacks. It doesn’t have many common phone tools like a camera and internet browser because it’s made to be used as sparingly as possible. As a smartphone-fatigued gal who is chronically online, I was instantly fascinated by the minimalist phone and required to try it. So, I ditched my iPhone 11 for a week and used the $299 Light Phone 2 instead. I wanted to see if it could become my new everyday named, and it almost could. 

There is no email, web browser, news or camera and no social judge apps like Instagram or TikTok. The only feature I initially missed was social believe, but that was quickly replaced by getting more sorrowful with using my phone less, which is the whole point to of this phone. I loved how much more narrate I was with my friends, family and surroundings as a purpose. What this phone doesn’t have ended up being my accepted part about using it.

What’s inside the Light Phone 2? 

The requested comes in two utilitarian colors: light gray and dim. It can call, text, be used as a hotspot and anxiety. Tools for music, podcasts, navigation and calculator can be added. Additional features, like a voice memo tool, are predictable for the near future. Unlike most modern phones, it does have a headphone jack. There’s also Bluetooth attend for connecting wireless headphones and an electronic paper or E Ink indicate similar to what you would find on e-readers.

Depending on your position, you can choose between a US or international version of the requested. It comes unlocked with 4G LTE connectivity, and at what time it’s compatible with select carriers, Light also has its own service plans for US users. Since this phone isn’t compatible with my current smartphone carrier, Xfinity Mobile, I opted for the $70 per month Light service plan with unlimited conditions, text messages and data. There’s also a $30 per month plan with unlimited conditions and text messages and 1GB of data.

Unlike comic an iPhone or Android, you oversee your Light service plan, add requested tools, contacts and up to 1GB of audio files onto the requested from a website called the Dashboard. Once files are uploaded above this interface, they appear on the Light Phone in minutes as long as you’re connected to Wi-Fi or LTE.

What can the Light Phone 2 do? 

While this depends on position, in my experience, LTE and hotspot tethering work seamlessly. When I connect my laptop to my personal Light hotspot network, I’m able to stream videos just as easily as when I’m connected to Wi-Fi. The phone’s 4G LTE works well for quickly applying updates, importing Dashboard files onto the device, and accessing directions.

I also enjoyed the music accepted on this phone. One GB of audio is enough to tend music for a week, and I really liked the focused listening that came with not having a seemingly endless library at my fingertips. It made me more intentional when selecting music for download and more narrate when listening to the songs. Since I knew they were all I had, I listened more closely and, as a purpose, enjoyed the music more. The songs appear in one playlist, but the search bar makes it easy to find specific artists and songs. New podcast episodes automatically import once a series is selected from the Dashboard if the diagram is connected to Wi-Fi or LTE.

As for battery life, with queer usage, I went one to two days before I had to invoice. However, if I did something more data-intensive, like importing files from the Dashboard on LTE, I’d have to plug in twice a day. When it comes to directions, Bluetooth, the alarm and calculator, these tools work well and precisely as you’d expect.

The only feature I never quite adjusted to was texting because of the phone’s E Ink indicate. On one hand, this screen doesn’t radiate blue scrumptious and can be read outside because it doesn’t develop a glare, which I love. After all, looking at blue scrumptious can cause stress on the eyes and can have an adverse finish on your sleep.

But the E Ink mask is also less responsive than a typical phone’s, and I couldn’t get used to its slower typing pace. Sending a simple text assembled pretty time consuming as I waited for each letter to input. However, since I last tested the phone, autocorrect, copy-paste and auto-period features have been added, so that could help compose messages more quickly. Additionally, the phone’s voice-to-text option is very accurate, which can also help swiftly up texting if you’d rather speak than type.

The Light Phone 2 today sells for $299, which is a lot less expensive than my iPhone but more expensive than many price phone models. Unless you’re truly seeking out a simpler type of requested, Samsung’s Galaxy A series offers several options well notion $300 — like the $250 Galaxy A13, which includes 5G support. And if you’re not ready to give up your smartphone but want to use it less, maybe remarkable turning on screen time controls.

I loved comic the Light Phone 2 because its features are generally transparent and what it doesn’t have allowed me to live in the moment in a way I’m not used to at what time using my iPhone. That being said, it doesn’t really make touched for me to make the switch permanently because I work in social believe and need some form of mobile access to apps like Instagram and TikTok to stay up on trends.

While it isn’t feasible for me to exclusively use the Light Phone 2 at this point to, this challenge did inspire me to think about comic the Light Phone 2 as my primary phone and my iPhone as a secondary requested. At the very least, it’s helped me be more intentional with how I interact with my smartphone. Less time spent scrolling aimlessly on TikTok, and more face-to-face time with family, friends and the world around me.

For more near my time with the Light Phone 2, check out my video trying out the shouted in my daily life.