Minimal Phone 2 Brings Back the QWERTY Keyboard With OLED Display, Starts at $599

Minimal Phone 2 has been announced as a compact Android smartphone built around something rarely seen on modern phones — a full physical QWERTY keyboard.

The second-generation model makes a major change from the original Minimal Phone by replacing its E-Ink display with a 3.92-inch OLED panel while retaining the keyboard-focused design.

The phone is currently being offered through Kickstarter, with pricing starting at $599.

Minimal Phone 2 Price

The announced configurations include:

Limited early Kickstarter tiers have also appeared below the standard campaign pricing, so availability and final pledge prices can vary as tiers sell out. Community tracking showed an early tier around $549.

3.92-Inch OLED Replaces E-Ink

One of the biggest upgrades is the display.

The Minimal Phone 2 features a 3.92-inch OLED screen with a 1080 × 1240 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate.

This is a significant departure from the first Minimal Phone, which used a 4.3-inch E-Ink display. The original design intentionally made media consumption less attractive, but E-Ink also introduced slower refresh rates and ghosting.

The new OLED panel should make everyday Android apps considerably smoother while Minimal continues to focus on reducing unnecessary smartphone distractions.

Physical QWERTY Keyboard Is the Main Attraction

The full physical keyboard remains the defining feature of the Minimal Phone 2.

Minimal says the keyboard has been redesigned around natural thumb movement, with sculpted keys and rows that fan slightly outward to improve typing comfort.

Keys are also backlit and can be mapped to shortcuts.

According to DeviceDecode, the physical keyboard could be the biggest reason to consider the Minimal Phone 2. Modern Android smartphones with integrated QWERTY keyboards remain extremely rare, making the device an interesting option for former BlackBerry users and people who type extensively on their phones.

Minimal itself says the second generation uses a better keyboard and a more refined, smaller design.

Dimensity 8300 Brings Serious Performance

Unlike many minimalist phones that use entry-level processors, the Minimal Phone 2 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8300.

That gives the device considerably more processing headroom for Android apps, multitasking and everyday productivity than its minimalist appearance might suggest.

The phone is available with up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.

Recent comparisons with other upcoming keyboard phones also list the Minimal Phone 2 with the Dimensity 8300, 8GB configurations and a 3.92-inch 90Hz display.

50MP Camera and 20MP Selfie Camera

Despite its compact body, the Minimal Phone 2 includes a 50MP main rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture.

A 20MP front camera handles selfies and video calls.

The minimalist rear design uses a single main camera instead of the increasingly large multi-camera modules found on mainstream smartphones.

3,000mAh Battery With Wireless Charging

The device packs a 3,000mAh battery supporting:

1. 27W wired charging
2. 15W wireless charging

The battery is relatively small by 2026 smartphone standards, although the compact screen and focus-oriented usage model may reduce power consumption compared with conventional large-screen smartphones.

The 3,000mAh capacity is one of the main points currently being discussed by potential buyers, particularly compared with competing physical-keyboard phones using larger batteries.

Minimal Phone 2 Specifications

The device's 122.6 × 72 × 9.48mm dimensions were also previously confirmed publicly by Minimal Company founder Armen Youssefian.

USB-C Display Output and Headphone Jack

Minimal has also packed in connectivity features that have disappeared from many mainstream phones.

The phone includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, dual speakers, dual microphones and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Its USB-C 3.2 port supports DisplayPort video output, allowing the phone to connect to compatible external displays.

A Modern BlackBerry Alternative?

The Minimal Phone 2 arrives at an interesting time.

Physical keyboard smartphones are seeing renewed interest, with devices such as the Clicks Communicator and Unihertz Titan series also targeting users who miss tactile typing.

But Minimal is taking a different approach by combining a premium aluminum body, compact dimensions, powerful Dimensity 8300 processor and minimalist Android interface.

According to DeviceDecode, the Minimal Phone 2 looks less like a traditional “dumbphone” and more like a modern BlackBerry-style productivity phone designed to reduce unnecessary screen time.

That distinction could help it stand out — although its $599 starting price and 3,000mAh battery may be the two biggest factors buyers will need to consider.

Source

Minimal Company, Kickstarter, IT Home, Digital Trends, AnTuTu — August 2026