I’ve never wanted to love such a useless product - Light Phone III
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Promos
Get an exclusive 15% discount on Saily data plans! Use code SHORTCIRCUIT at checkout. Download Saily app or go to saily.com The Light Phone 3 is a smartphone that’s not trying to be smart — at least not in the usual way. It skips out on the algorithmic doomscrolling, social media rabbit holes, and addictive apps to give you just the essentials: calls, texts, calendar, camera, and music... sort of. Linus gives it a look and tries to figure out if a minimalist phone like this can actually fit into his very connected life. Spoiler: it’s complicated.
Check out the Light Phone III: lmg.gg Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Want us to unbox something? Make a suggestion at lmg.gg ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET A VPN: piavpn.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Intro 0:15 - What the Light Phone 3 can (and can’t) do 1:27 - Hardware tour & features 3:15 - Sponsor 3:47 - Call quality 5:50 - Light OS walkthrough 6:50 - Camera test & Polaroid vibes 9:30 - Calculator, calendar, and limitations 11:20 - Music, podcasts & Bluetooth quirks 14:04 - Final impressions and price
The video opens with Linus recalling a personal moment of wanting less phone distraction after an evening with his daughter, then pivots to the Light Phone 3 unboxing. He notes the device is designed to be minimal, functioning as a phone, alarm, calendar, notes, settings, and more, but without a web browser or social media apps. The first impression centers on the device’s chunky build and the hardware layout: two-stage camera button, left side brightness wheel, a fingerprint sensor that isn’t yet functional, a USB-C port, and a matte, e-ink like appearance that hints at a calm, distraction-free experience. The host emphasizes the philosophy behind Light OS and the tension between wanting to like the product and grappling with how to actually integrate it into a fully connected life. The hardware tour highlights the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, 6 GB RAM, and 128 GB storage, which promise responsiveness but also contribute to a surprisingly steep price compared to prior models. Across the section, he underscores the major design choice of dropping a traditional web browser and social apps in favor of a focused, intention-driven user experience, while acknowledging the practical trade offs it imposes for daily use.
Topics · technology · mobile · product-design · digital-wellbeing
Questions answered
- What is the Light Phone 3 primarily designed to do and not do?
- It is designed to be a minimal, distraction-free device that handles calls, texts, calendar, camera, and music, without a web browser or social media apps.
- What are the notable hardware features mentioned?
- Two-stage camera button, left brightness wheel, fingerprint sensor, USB-C port, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, OLED display replacement for e-ink style look.
- What are the main trade-offs discussed for daily use?
- The phone sacrifices apps and data access, which complicates tasks like navigation and messaging across multiple platforms, raising questions about practicality in a connected life.
- How does the reviewer feel about the price point?
- The reviewer expresses skepticism about the price, noting it is high and debating whether the minimalist experience justifies the cost.