Mudita Kompakt is a minimalist E-ink phone designed with a focus on distraction-free use and privacy.

It features a 4.3-inch E-ink screen, a 3,300mAh battery that offers up to 6 days of standby time, dual SIM and eSIM support, USB-C or wireless charging, and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack.

On unboxing, I appreciated the clean and thoughtful packaging, along with the clear instructions and easy device setup.

The apps that come built into the device are intentionally limited to a handful of essentials. This includes Phone and SMS right on the home screen, and in the app library you’ll find tools like Alarm, Calculator, Calendar, and E-reader.

What stands out a bit more are the Meditation and Chess apps. As someone who’s been getting into chess during breaks, I was definitely delighted to see it though it might just be the most distracting app on the device.

Besides keeping in touch with others, I could see myself using this as my on the go E-reader to take advantage of the E-ink display, which is easy on the eyes and readable in both sunlight and low light.

One small feature I appreciated was the App Layout, which allows you to toggle off certain apps that you don’t need in the settings.

Personally, I chose to hide Recorder, Maps, and Weather. I don’t really use voice recordings, though it might be handy for those who take voice notes. As for Maps and Weather, they just didn’t work well for me. Maps lacks navigation, and Weather doesn’t seem to support my location here in Singapore.

I’m hopeful to see added functionalities and improvements in future updates. Plus, as of writing, we’re still in the pre-order phase.

Lastly, I found it really neat that it came with a fingerprint reader for unlocking the device. With the naturally slower typing experience on an E-ink device, being able to unlock it instantly with a tap makes the experience much more seamless.

Outside of the device, there’s the Mudita Center desktop app for importing contacts, ebooks, and music, or transferring items like photos. This is also where you can create backups or restore them.

When compared to other minimalist phones, it seems to land in the middle above the lower end options like Nokia, and just below higher-end picks like the Light Phone III.

Coming in at $439, and currently $70 off for preorder, Mudita Kompakt may not be an instant grab but it’s definitely a solid option.