Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Light Phone?

Light Phones are simple, unlocked phones with a few essential tools. Whether you need a break from your smartphone or are ready to ditch the smartphone for good, Light Phones are designed for going light, enjoying quality time free of distractions. It's about using the right tool for the job.

Learn more about using the Light Phone II!
Learn more about Light Phone III

How does it work?

Light Phones are unlocked cell phones. They require an active and compatible nano-SIM to function. The phone works standalone, without any need for an additional smartphone.
There is a dashboard website for managing your Light Phone, things like importing contacts to adding or removing the various tools that are available.
Light Phones can also be used as a complement to your existing smartphone, for taking a break and going light, either by swapping your SIM between devices, or by getting a second phone number for the Light Phone.
Note that iMessage will need to be disabled for iPhone users to ensure that your incoming messages come as SMS texts through the carrier and SIM card.

What are the color options?

The Light Phone II is available in two colors, black and light gray. These two colors match the lightest and darkest shades of the E-ink screen display.
The Light Phone III is offered exclusively in black.

Does it support group messaging?

Yep, Light Phones supports threaded group messages. You also have the option to add a custom name for the group or mute notifications from the group details page. Group messaging can be completely disabled in the settings as well.

What is the battery life?

The battery life of the Light Phone II is approximately 1-2 days of 'light' regular usage. Long phone conversations, or using the phone as a hotspot, will drain the battery more significantly. The Light Phone II's battery size is 950mAh.
For the Light Phone III, we have nearly doubled the battery from 950mAh of the Light Phone II to 1800mAh, and we are confident it should last through a full day of normal usage.

Will it work with my carrier?

Light Phones are unlocked and are not limited to any specific carrier. We designed Light Phone III as a single model that will work worldwide.
We've built a compatibility checker that will let you know if each phone is compatible with your region. We highly recommend double-checking with your carrier before purchasing.
Compatibility Checker

Technical specifications?

The Light Phone III

Check it out here

The Light Phone II

• Network: 4G LTE (LTE FDD + VoLTE)
  • North American Model: B2, B4, B12, B13, B17, B25, B26
  • International Model: B1, B3, B5, B7, B8, B20, B28
• Screen: E-Ink
• Dimensions: 95.85 x 55.85 x 8.75mm
• Weight: 78g
• Battery: 1-2 days of regular use; up to 7 days standby (950 mAh)
• Operating System: Light OS
• Connectivity: GPS, Bluetooth (4.2), Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
• Memory: 1GB RAM / 8GB ROM
• Battery: 950 mAh
• S.A.R. Value: Head: 1.20 W/kg & Body: .52 W/kg
• Charging Port: Micro USB
• Waterproof: IPX3 (splash resistant)
• Headphone Jack: Yes
• Colors: available in black and light gray

What is an E-Ink Screen?

The Light Phone II uses a technology called "electronic paper," also commonly called E-Ink. It's completely legible in direct sunlight. The E-Ink screen has some unique characteristics to the technology itself, including screen refreshes and ghosting. Below is an example of what an E-ink refresh looks like:

Does it have Bluetooth? Wifi?

Both the Light Phone II and Light Phone III have Bluetooth & wifi capabilities.
Both phones also support Wifi tethering as a personal hotspot to other devices.

What about internationally?

Light Phone III is being designed as a single model for use worldwide.
There are two models of the Light Phone II optimized for various regions of the world.
Please use the compatibility checker linked below to see which Light II model is compatible with your region or carrier. Compatibility Checker

What languages are supported?

The Light Phone II currently only supports an English keyboard/language on the device itself. However, you can view incoming messages in a variety of languages.

What is included with the phone?

The Light Phone II ships unlocked. The package includes a Light-branded micro USB cable and a SIM pin, and it does not include a wall adapter.
The Light Phone III will also ship unlocked, and will include a USB-c to USB-c cable and a SIM pin.

How much does it cost?

The Light Phone II costs $299. The Light Phone III is available for $899 unlocked or starting at $59/month with a two-year Light Service plan contract.
The Light Flip is available for $299 unlocked or starting at $39/month with a two-year Light Service plan contract.

What is the return policy?

We can only accept returns for manufacturer defects. This means that we cannot accept returns for simply being disappointed in the product. We will always refund 100% for orders canceled before shipping.
Click here for the full return policy instructions.

What about for parents?

The Light Phone II is a great phone for parents to give to children as an alternative to a smartphone.

What is carbon offsetting?

We began by carrying out a study focusing on carbon emissions from the different phases of our device’s life, from production to disposal. We offer the option to carbon offset your Light Phone II at the point of sale. You can read the full report and learn more about our offset partner Hudson Carbon.

Existing users can also retroactively offset their Light Phone II! [Click Here to offset an existing Light Phone II](/content/products/offsets "CLIK HERE TO OFFSET AN EXISTING LIGHT PHONE II"/index.html).