[EXCLUSIVE]: In an era of foldables, makers of the enough phone want you to trust a smaller, quieter device

Over the past few years, a rebellion (read: quiet disdain) has been brewing in the smartphone world. The endless barrage of notifications, the doomscrolling spiral, and a device that knows more about you than your closest friends, while sitting one breach away from leaking all of it, have nudged a growing number of people to push back.

They aren’t ditching smartphones entirely. For most of them, that simply isn’t an option. But they are clawing back their time and attention in whatever way they can. Some have gone all the way back to dumb phones with physical T9 keypads. Others are settling into a middle ground, with devices that keep the essentials of a modern phone and strip away everything built to hook you.

The Light Phone III, the Minimal Phone 2, and the Mudita Kompakt are some of the best examples, and each one tries to loosen the grip a conventional phone has on your day. The latest addition to the list is the Enough Phone, a small-ish phone that wants to serve the purpose of a phone, without overwhelming you. I had a brief chat with the folks behind Enough Phone, trying to understand their motivation behind it, and some of the hardware sacrifices that they had to make.

All the right features. No more. No Less.

“Smartphones bombard us with information and do it on screens that have inflated in size. enough means we are making a phone that provides just the right amount of all the right features to help you do what you need your smartphone to do. No more, no less,” the team team tells me.

Let’s start with the size, and the dispaly diagonal. Why go small? And why not monochrome? The team tells me that this phone is a mix of a digital well-being device and a rescue for people who are simply tired of huge slabs of glass. The team says demand for phones with smaller displays has gone up considerably, and they’re confident there are enough takers to keep demand going for this device.

That confidence is worth noting, because Apple also tried to make a small phone and ditched the idea after just two years. Barely any mainstream smartphone brands make a compact phone either. Enough says it sees itself as a boutique brand, and at its scale, consumer demand is enough to keep it afloat.

The phone is a collaborative product, shared between Will Stults, who runs his own venture selling dumb phones, and Sleke, which was co-founded by Austin Boer and Brennan Jordan. Sleke mainly develops the firmware that runs on these dumbified devices. Dumbwireless and Sleke already have a retailer-manufacturer relationship, and that’s how the idea for the Enough Phone was born.

Thoughtful cuts

Coming back to the device, it has a 5.3-inch screen, which is a pretty specific number. When I asked the team about it, they called it something of a Goldilocks point from a functional perspective. Go any smaller, and things get cramped and less rewarding to use. And that’s not just about the UI. A smaller screen also means a smaller chassis, which leaves less room for the components one normally expects from a mid-range device in 2026.

In the pursuit of a small phone, the team also held on to a fast-vanishing convenience: a replaceable battery. That’s one of the reasons the device is 12mm thick, more than twice the waistline of the iPhone Air. The thicker body also means the camera sits flush with the rear shell, which is a rarity in the smartphone world right now.

What is going to raise eyebrows is the display, which is just HD resolution. When I asked the team about it, they countered that thanks to the 5.3-inch size, you still get a pixel density of 320 ppi. That’s close to what Apple sold as a Retina display for years without any major complaints from users. The team also tells me their key focus is on making essential apps, such as banking, navigation, and messaging, work properly on the phone above anything else.

There are definitely phones that offer a much higher resolution at the same size, so why not go for at least full HD? The team says they could have used a higher-resolution panel, specifically an OLED screen instead of the LCD on the Enough Phone. But that would have raised the cost of the device so much that finding customers would have become harder.

A similar theme plays out under the hood, where you get MediaTek’s mid-tier Dimensity 7500 processor. The team says they prioritized power efficiency, price, and MediaTek’s long-term support commitment, which runs all the way to 2032. Likewise, the Enough Phone comes armed with a Sony’s 1/1.56-inch, 50-megapixel IMX766 sensor, which has been a mainstay on budget mid-rangers for a while now.

Once again, the team argues that it isn’t all about the camera hardware, because the output depends as much on the sensor as it does on the software tuning and the headroom provided by the image processor on the chip. This is where the Dimensity 7500 lands in a sweet spot, though the team tells me the camera is still under development and they’ll keep tuning it in the months ahead.

When I asked about the ingress protection (aka IP rating) situation, the team didn’t provide any technical details. “While we can’t commit to a rating yet, we are confident the enough phone will at least meet the standards of safe, everyday smartphone usage vis-a-vis weatherproofing,” they tell me.

The software sets it apart

Software is where things get intriguing. The phone will offer buyers a choice between stock Android and OdysseyOS, which is developed by Sleke. However, this isn’t a dual-boot situation, and once you lock in an operating system, you won’t be able to switch back and forth. The team is still hashing out the process for customers who decide to switch, but so far, nothing has been set in stone.

So what makes Odyssey OS special? The team tells me that Odyssey OS locks out access to social media platforms, games, and even a proper web browser. It still retains access to what the team calls helpful apps, the ones a person runs into on a day-to-day basis. The phone can still open links and scan QR codes through a built-in browser, but you can’t open it directly, because it doesn’t appear in the app directory.

Even when it does open, it’s rudimentary, and lacks the most basic features of a modern web browser, such as a URL bar, tabs, and bookmarks. “OdysseyOS, is deGoogled by default and uses microG as an open-source stand-in for Google Play Services. Most banking (and other) apps work, but some apps with Google-dependent functionality may not work as expected, while others, like Google Wallet, do not function at all,” I am told.

The team, however, promises that whether you pick stock Android or Sleke’s Odyssey OS, you will get Android version updates and security patches all the way up to 2032. Another interesting aspect is the hybrid slot, which can hold a physical SIM or a microSD card for storage expansion. The team is also eyeing global coverage in terms of carrier support.

How badly do you need a small phone?

But the asking price of $599 is what will test the loyalty, or even the interest, of potential buyers. At that price, you can get pretty decent mid-range phones from the likes of Samsung and Google. The folks behind the Enough Phone tell me that if small size is your biggest deciding factor when buying a phone, the Enough Phone will offer enough functional and practical versatility to justify its price tag.

I also asked the team about the ongoing memory crunch, which has forced nearly every tech brand to raise prices on phones, laptops, tablets, and a whole bunch of other consumer electronics. They tell me they’re aware of the situation, and if component prices rise only modestly, they can still hold the device’s current MSRP.

The team is still uncertain whether it will land support for the privacy-centric GrapheneOS, or let users unlock the bootloader on the Enough Phone. On the production side, the first test builds have already arrived, and an engineering prototype will be ready by December.

As for the removable battery, you won’t find replacements at third-party retailers. The company will make and sell the batteries directly, though their price is yet to be decided. The team, however, assures me that it wants to keep them as affordable as possible.

The Kickstarter campaign for Enough Phone is now live, with early bird pricing set at $449, a special platform price of $499, and regular sticker price worth $599. Shipments of the device are expected to begin in May next year. You can read the the full unedited interview below the video:

Let’s start with the name. What does “enough” mean to you? Is this phone about owning a smaller phone, or about using your phone less?

Smartphones bombard us with information and do it on screens that have inflated in size. enough means we are making a phone that provides just the right amount of all the right features to help you do what you need your smartphone to do. No more, no less.

You offer both stock Android and OdysseyOS. So is the Enough Phone a digital wellbeing device, or a small phone for people who are simply tired of huge slabs? Who’s the buyer you have in mind?

Both. People are tired: Both of large phones and of phones that ask for our attention beyond what is reasonable. In large part, we built this for ourselves, because we simply want a phone that is smaller than what currently exists. We also care about promoting healthy relationships between ourselves and our tech. With that in mind, we want to give people an option that helps them have a more intentional phone-life balance.

Small phones have a rough track record. Apple dropped the iPhone mini because of weak sales, and most compact Android phones have stayed niche. What makes you confident the demand is real this time?

We have seen growing demand for a small smartphone such that we are confident we will be met with a large group of interested people. Response to smallandroid.com, Reddit’s r/smallphones, YouTube videos about small phones (like Nothing’s concept phone video), and response volume to our own promotion make us confident that support for this phone will be sustained. The large brands likely won’t create a small phone because of their focus on other emerging categories like foldables and the fact that demand for small phones is still generally smaller than for their other flagships. While there isn’t enough demand for those companies to pay attention, there is certainly enough demand for a boutique smartphone company like us to service.

Who’s actually behind the Enough Phone? Tell me about the team’s background in hardware, and who you’re partnering with to manufacture it.

We come from two companies with experience in the smartphone sector. Will Stults started Dumbwireless.com with his partner Daisy where they sell dumbphones and other digital wellness products to help people develop healthy relationships with their phones. He also has past experience collaborating with smartphone ODMs on product development. Austin Boer and Brennan Jordan are enough phone’s other two partners. They are cofounders of SLEKE., which makes dumbphone firmware for people who need more than what a flip phone provides, and more restriction than what a screentime limiting app provides. They have been operating SLEKE. for 3 years and are experienced in mobile firmware and software development. Before enough, the three have been doing business together for two years, via a manufacturer-retailer relationship between SLEKE. and Dumbwireless. In early 2026, both Will and SLEKE. had the intention of manufacturing a smaller smartphone. Based on the good working relationship between the two small companies, Will, Austin, and Brennan opted for cooperation rather than competition. That was the birth of enough!

You said 5.3 inches was the smallest screen you could find that still worked for performance and 5G. What were the trade-offs below that size? Was it the antennas, the battery, or the display supply?

If we had gone any smaller, we would start to see large declines in usability and functional “room” within the phone for basic components and features that are expected on midrange+ smartphones in 2026.

The phone is about 12mm thick, which is chunky by modern standards. How much of that comes from the removable battery and the flush camera, and was it a trade-off you were happy to make?

A removable battery means a longer-lasting device, but it also requires more space for the same capacity. We also don’t think a camera bump is something people want. So the two decisions went hand-in-hand. At the smaller size, we’re confident that people will find the shape natural and pleasant, both in-hand and in their pockets.

Many apps are now designed for 6-inch-plus screens. Have you tested how popular apps, banking apps, and keyboards behave on a 5.3-inch, 720p display?

One of the advantages of Android is that applications are generally designed to accommodate a wide range of screen sizes and resolutions. The 5.3” screen size allows us to deliver a small smartphone without sacrificing the functionality people need. 720p still delivers around 320 pixels per inch, allowing us to balance display quality, battery life, and performance. As we build the software, we will prioritize compatibility testing for essential applications (banking, messaging, navigation, keyboards, etc.)

A 720p LCD panel at a $599 MSRP will raise eyebrows. Why LCD over OLED? Was it cost, supply at this size, or battery life?

It’s a result of both cost and part availability. If we had opted for a custom OLED of the dimensions required, that would greatly raise the cost of the device far beyond what we (or customers) would have been comfortable with.

Why the Dimensity 7500? Was it about efficiency, price, or MediaTek’s support commitment through 2032?

A combination of all of it! We wanted a great midrange chip and this was it. We believe the specs speak for themselves here. We are confident this chip will contribute to giving the enough phone an exceptional user experience.

With the longer support for software updates, our users don’t have to think about replacing their phone until the 2030s. This SoC, in combination with the replaceable battery, contributes to our efforts in building technology that prioritizes sustainability and longevity.

The Sony IMX766 is a sensor many readers will recognize from older mid-range and flagship phones. What are you doing on the image processing side to make it competitive in 2026?

The IMX766 has proven itself as a capable, relatively large 1/1.56-inch, 50MP sensor. Image quality depends not only on the sensor, but also on SoC and software tuning. One of the reasons we chose the Dimensity 7500 is for its modern image-processing architecture. A good sensor and SoC provide a necessary foundation, but image processing and algos also have a big impact. Our camera is under development, and we’ll provide updates as that development progresses.

Why did you choose recycled polycarbonate, and what does a screw-down back plate mean for durability and waterproofing? You say water resistance ratings are still being finalized. What are you realistically aiming for?

Using recycled PC is a great way to use a high-performance material while also reducing the environmental footprint of the enough phone.

While we can’t commit to a rating yet, we are confident the enough phone will at least meet the standards of safe, everyday smartphone usage vis-a-vis weatherproofing.

How easy is the battery swap? Will you sell replacement batteries yourselves, and for how long?

Details are TBD, but the aim is to make the battery replacement experience intuitive and to make replacements easily available.

How does the partnership with SLEKE. work? Can buyers switch between stock Android and OdysseyOS whenever they want, or is the choice made at purchase?

We are still ironing out the details here, as these early days have been focused on getting the hardware off the ground. At the time of purchase, customers will have the option to choose Android or OdysseyOS (only one OS on-device at a time). Buyers will not be able to change back and forth via an on-device setting, as that would enable easy bypass of the experience that SLEKE. provides. Details on what will happen if a customer would later like to opt for the other OS are still being discussed.

In OdysseyOS, what can’t you do? For example, can you still use WhatsApp, banking apps, maps, and two-factor authentication?

OdysseyOS does not have any access to social media, multimedia, games, or a direct browser. You have access to all the helpful apps that we need in day to day life just without the distractions (more about the SLEKE. app policy). We also allow for opening of links and scanning QR codes via a hidden browser, permitted if the site isn’t in our 3,000,000 URL blocklist. This blocklist includes social media, adult content, news streaming, search engines, games, and other common ‘distracting’ categories. The browser does not show up in the app list and its URL bar, favorites, tabs, and bookmarks buttons are removed (more on the OdysseyOS design).

“Software support through 2032” covers a lot of ground. Does it include major Android version upgrades, or only security patches? And who delivers the updates, you or SLEKE.?

Both major version updates and security patches. Both SLEKE. and enough will deliver ongoing security and major version updates.

The press release lists the battery as 3,500 to 4,000mAh, but the website shows a fixed 3,500mAh. Which is it, and what’s holding up the final number?

We’re still waiting for final testing, but we’re aiming for as much power as we have safe space for.

The website says “5G or 4G LTE.” Are there two separate models, and if so, will the 4G version cost less?

One model that supports both.

You mention eSIM, one physical SIM, and microSD. Is that a hybrid slot, where the SIM and microSD share space, or can you use both at once?

Currently designed as a hybrid slot.

You promise global bands. Will the phone be certified with US carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, or will it simply work unlocked?

Details here are TBD. We will provide a list for carrier support when more details are confirmed. We aim for broad global coverage.

Price, crowdfunding, and risk

Your final MSRP is $599, which puts you in the same range as Google’s Pixel A-series and Samsung’s mid-range phones. How do you convince someone that a smaller, lower-spec phone is worth the same money?

If you are shopping for a smartphone with all the newest features, the large brands have great options. If the size of the phone is your biggest deciding factor, people can be confident that when they buy an enough phone, they have all the tech they need to power their favorite apps, delivered in a small form factor.

Your roadmap mentions the memory shortage caused by AI investment. How exposed are you to rising component costs, and could the $599 price change before launch?

We don’t want to speculate too much on factors that are beyond our control, but we have confidence in our ability to manage our component costs and supply chain timelines. We have also built in tolerances to account for moderate increases in cost and delays in the production process.

What carriers will we support?

Aiming for broad global coverage. In the United States we aim for T-Mobile support first then ATT.

What is the process for choosing between Android and OdysseyOS?

Details on the Android/OdysseyOS will be provided on the Kickstarter, but you won’t have to make your decision until the post-campaign fulfilment phase and you’re free to change your mind until it ships!

Will there be a 3.5mm headphone jack?

There will not be a 3.5mm jack, but wired USB-C earphones or dongle should do the trick.

Is this phone GrapheneOS compatible?

The first phone will not meet GrapheneOS hardware requirements. If we continue operating and have the opportunity to make more devices, we may have more room to build with GrapheneOS’s requirements in mind!

About the chances of a de-Googled OS?

Regarding de-Googled OS support, we can speak to the operators of those projects to see if they will build on enough phone.

Is the bootloader unlockable?

Regarding unlockable bootloader, it is too soon to tell. This is a feature we will discuss in the coming months. Because an unlockable bootloader is mostly meant to help load alternative operating systems, the answer also depends on the demand we get from maintainers and users of those projects.

When can we expect to see a working prototype demo?

The first test builds using the finished motherboard design began last week and an early engineering prototype is expected by December!

Is the battery available via third party or will you solely be selling it? How much are the replacements?

We will be making the replaceable batteries ourselves. If third parties would like to make compatible batteries, we welcome that! We have not yet determined the price of a replaceable battery, but we aim for it to be affordable. We believe that replacement parts shouldn’t break the bank.

Tell me something about the network compatibility situation?

We are aiming for global network compatibility, with a focus on the major telecom carriers. The details of network compatibility will vary by carrier, region, and bands. The current plan is to apply for FCC and CE certification in early 2027.

T-Mobile is expected to be supported first, then AT&T. For Verizon, while we have compatible bands, certification by Verizon is anticipated to be a very long process.

Does the phone come with Google Play Services, Play Store, and support Google Wallet and banking apps?

For standard Android, we expect to have Google Play preinstalled and be Play Protect Certified (incl. Wallet) and will be undergoing the certification process in early 2027.

OdysseyOS, is deGoogled by default and uses microG as an open-source stand-in for Google Play Services. Most banking (and other) apps work, but some apps with Google-dependent functionality may not work as expected, while others, like Google Wallet, do not function at all.