The Small Phone's Long Shot
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A new Kickstarter entrant attempts to revive the compact handset as industry giants pivot toward larger screens and AI.
The Enough Phone is attempting to carve out a niche in a market where major manufacturers have largely abandoned compact handsets. Launching via Kickstarter for $499—with an estimated final price of $599—the device features a 5.3-inch screen, contrasting with the 6.3-inch displays found on devices like the iPhone 17, as reported by Wired.
The handset is the project of Austin Boer, Brennan Jordan, and William Stults. Boer and Jordan lead Sleke, a company established in 2024, while Stults operates the ecommerce platform Dumbwireless. The Enough Phone offers users a choice between stock Android 17 or OdysseyOS, a restricted Android fork from Sleke that blocks social media, browsers, and games to reduce digital distraction.
Market trends suggest a steep climb for the startup. Wired reports that Apple ceased production of the iPhone Mini in 2023 due to poor sales, and Sony discontinued its compact Xperia 5 series that same year. Asus also paused its mobile division earlier this year to prioritize robotics, smart glasses, and AI.
Under the hood, the device is built from polycarbonate and powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7500 processor, paired with 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM. To ensure all-day battery life, the device is 12 millimeters thick—significantly thicker than the 7.8 mm iPhone 17. It includes a 50-megapixel Sony rear camera and a 32-megapixel selfie camera, though it lacks a headphone jack due to space constraints. Expected to ship in May 2027, the device joins a fragmented field of small-screen alternatives including the Light Phone III, Minimal Phone, Mudita Kompakt, and the keyboard-equipped Communicator from Clicks.