Light III Design Decisions | The Light Phone
Light III Design Decisions
June 2024
When we set out to make a new Light Phone, we were not starting from a blank piece of paper. With almost 10 years, and over a hundred thousand Light Phones sold, we had a lot of experience to guide us.
We're creating a new phone because we want to make it even easier for more people to go light, an experience that has been proven so beneficial for so many.
The Light Phone III is our definition of what we think a phone should be.
IMPROVE TEXTING:
Texting is a core feature of any modern phone. While we love hearing feedback that Light Phone II users find themselves calling more than texting, it has been a hurdle for others trying to adopt to the small E-ink screen. Texting is undeniably a huge part of so many of our users' day to day experience with the phone. We've improved texting on the Light Phone III by switching to a larger AMOLED screen, increasing the responsiveness, increasing the overall real estate, and allowing for portrait mode texting.
WIDER SIZE:
One realization we had while thinking about the size of the new phone's screen was that width, rather than length, is more valuable for improving overall usability across the LightOS. This is especially true when it comes to texting or using tools like directions.
MATTE GLASS:
It was vitally important to us that we retain the calm simplicity of the black & white E-ink screen from the Light Phone II. We'll be using a custom etched matte glass for the front screen which feels drastically different than any smartphone screen on the market. We believe this keeps a lot of the essence of the E-ink screen.
LIGHT WHEEL:
We wanted to be able to quickly adjust the screen's brightness in any given environment, from bright daylight to a candle-lit dinner, with simple pleasure of using an analog wheel.
The wheel is unique for a phone. We imagine there are a variety of ways a user could customize the wheel in different tools to suit their needs.
The wheel itself is also clickable, and will turn on the flashlight with a click.
CAMERA:
There are a variety of reasons why a camera can be quite a handy tool, from documenting a moment, snapping references & inspiration, remembering a flyer or schedule, showing your spouse the options of towels at the store or for self defense.
So we have also added a camera, but… in our own way. Taking inspiration from our favorite point-and-shoot film cameras, it has a dedicated two-step shutter button which can be half-pressed to focus, and full-pressed to snap a photo. The camera shutter button is also a simple shortcut to open the camera without even needing to open the phone itself.
The camera is intentionally limited to center focus and a fixed focal length. It's not supposed to replace professional cameras, but rather serve as a image taking tool for when you might need it.
The camera lens also sits flat without extruding from the back of the phone.
There is a front-facing camera as well, which we don't anticipate being used in our initial launch, though it offers the possibility for future accessibility features like video calls.
SPEAKER:
We've added a loud speaker and grill to the bottom front face of the phone. With the extra depth of the large speaker grill, we've been able to optimize the acoustics of the speaker itself. Whether using it as a loudspeaker on calls or to listen to a podcast, this is a welcome upgrade.
METAL:
Aligned with our goals of making a phone that can last the test of time, the phone is enclosed in a recycled aluminium chassis, adding to both the premium nature and longevity of the device itself.
GLOBAL MODEL:
One drawback of the small size of the Light Phone II was the limitation of how many antennas (bands) we could fit. We had to create two versions, one for North America and one optimized for Europe and the rest of the world. For the Light Phone III, not only did we add support for 5G, but we were also able to fit many more antenna bands and now offer a single model that can be used in more regions around the globe.
BIGGER (& REMOVABLE) BATTERY:
For the Light Phone III we made the battery bigger to ensure it could support the additional antennas. The new battery is now 1800mAh, from 950mAh of the Light Phone II.
We know all batteries inevitably start to degrade after about three years of usage. We don't want the device to become obsolete because of the degrading battery, so we've added a removable battery cover to make replacing the battery possible in the future. We plan to offer replacement batteries for users that feel comfortable swapping themselves, or you can use Light's repair service to replace it for you.
FUTURE-PROOFING
There are features that we will continue to explore after the Light Phone III ships via software updates. For instance, the Light Phone III has an NFC chip that will have no immediate use. However, it will open up the possibilities for future tools like a digital wallet.
Other upgrades like USB-C charging port, ensure we can continue to sell in the EU beyond 2025. We've added a second microphone to support noise cancellation, a fingerprint ID to make securely opening your phone easier, and added an overall faster chip and included much more memory.