The third-generation Light Phone from the New York-based company has arrived, featuring thoughtful upgrades designed to keep you mostly unplugged while enhancing usability.

Figure 1. Light Phone III: Minimalist Design with Monochrome Screen & Camera.

The compact Light Phone III has a more square-shaped design than its predecessor, featuring a 3.92-inch monochrome AMOLED display behind matte glass, replacing the previous E Ink screen. Figure 1 shows Light Phone III: Minimalist Design with Monochrome Screen & Camera.

For the first time, the Light Phone III includes a camera, capturing 12-megapixel photos from a 50-megapixel sensor. Light Phone Inc. claims its binning technique enhances low-light performance, while the team has fine-tuned colors and other settings to evoke the aesthetic of classic point-and-shoot film cameras.

The sample photos shown here look decent, though they’re not meant to compete with high-end smartphone cameras packed with advanced hardware and computational photography tricks. The aim is simply to provide a fun, easy-to-use camera without overcomplicating things.

The Light Phone III also features a USB-C charging port, a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, a flashlight, and an NFC chip for payments. It supports 5G across most bands, ensuring compatibility with many international carriers, and is only available unlocked. However, there’s no charger included in the box, and unfortunately, it lacks a headphone jack.

I really appreciate the addition of tactile controls on the Light Phone III. It includes volume buttons, a menu button, and a dedicated shutter button that allows for half-press focusing before capturing a shot. There's also a separate wheel for adjusting screen brightness on the fly, which doubles as a flashlight switch when clicked.

Like its predecessors, the III runs the minimalist, Android-based LightOS, offering only a handful of essential apps. These include an alarm, calculator, calendar, messaging app, and music and podcast players. Navigation is powered by the Here mapping platform, ensuring privacy by keeping location data and search history private.

The main appeal here is the absence of third-party apps constantly sending notifications, pushing ads for unnecessary purchases, or collecting and selling your data.

The Light Phone III comes with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, an updated Qualcomm SM4450 processor, and a user-replaceable 1,800mAh battery. According to the company, this setup should provide a full day of use, with the potential for even longer battery life between charges.

A Minimalist Approach to Modern Tech

The Light Phone III is designed to help users break free from the constant distractions of modern smartphones. Unlike mainstream devices packed with social media, endless notifications, and data-tracking apps, this phone embraces simplicity. Its stripped-down functionality encourages mindfulness while still offering essential tools for everyday use.

Monochrome AMOLED Display – A Shift from E Ink

One of the most significant upgrades is the move from an E Ink screen to a 3.92-inch monochrome AMOLED display with a matte glass cover. This change enhances visibility, improves responsiveness, and provides a more refined user experience while maintaining a distraction-free environment.

A Camera with a Vintage Feel

For the first time, the Light Phone series includes a 12MP camera (using a 50MP sensor with pixel binning). The company has fine-tuned its image processing to resemble classic point-and-shoot film cameras, prioritizing fun and simplicity over high-end computational photography. This addition allows users to capture moments without the temptation of endless photo editing apps.

Practical Features Without Overload

Despite its minimalist approach, the Light Phone III packs useful features:

• Tactile controls (volume buttons, menu button, dedicated shutter button)
• A physical brightness adjustment wheel that doubles as a flashlight switch
• NFC for payments, a fingerprint sensor, and USB-C charging
• 5G connectivity for global carrier compatibilityHowever, it lacks a headphone jack and doesn’t include a charger in the box, which may be drawbacks for some users.

Source:NEW ALTAS

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025),”Anti-Distraction Light Phone III Features Monochrome Screen and Camera", AnaTechmaz, pp. 232