You can now order this Android phone with a physical QWERTY keyboard

There was a time when phones with QWERTY keyboards were all the rage. That’s no longer the case today, where a bulk of the phones we see on retail shelves are conventional slab-style devices. However, some brands have tried to resurrect the idea of QWERTY keyboard phones, with Unihertz being among the more popular names out there. If you’ve been on the lookout for more options in this segment, the latest offering by Minimal may be worth checking out.

Minimal has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund its second-generation smartphone, known as the Phone 2. Starting with a goal of just $100,000, the project has already surpassed the $800,000 barrier, suggesting there’s plenty of excitement for its latest offering. Minimal says it will start shipping the Phone 2 to backers by December this year.

The Phone 2 will pack a 3.92-inch, 1080 x 1240, 90Hz AMOLED screen, paired with a backlit physical QWERTY keyboard. This is a key change from the Phone 1’s 4.3-inch e-paper screen. MediaTek’s Dimensity 8300 is the chipset of choice for the Phone 2, and it comes with 256GB and 512GB storage options, both with 8GB of RAM. It runs an unspecified version of Android out of the box with the Minimal OS skin.

There’s a single 50MP f/1.8 camera on the back, along with a 20MP f/2.0 sensor for selfies and video calls. Keeping the hardware ticking is a 3,000mAh battery, aided by 27W fast wired charging and 15W Qi-based wireless charging.

Another feature worth pointing out here is a programmable switch, which can be configured to perform a variety of functions. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the Phone 2 is the conventional LED indicator, which lets you assign a specific color to a contact or app’s notifications.

The device crams in a 3.5mm headphone jack for good measure, something that we don’t see much of among modern-day smartphones, with a side-placed fingerprint scanner included as well. Minimal will offer the Phone 2 in Pearl and Onyx colors, while Kickstarter backers get exclusive access to the Ember version as part of the full-spec Founders Edition model.

The Phone 2 in the 256GB + 8GB configuration will cost you $599 on Kickstarter. Meanwhile, the 512GB + 8GB model is available for $675 as part of an early bird offer, discounted from the $699 standard asking price. The top-spec Founders Edition model in Ember will cost $899.

All models ship globally, and Minimal is also offering $100 worth of freebies with each device. This includes three packs of screen protectors, a 27W fast charger, a fitted case, plus other extras. There’s money to be saved if you’re looking to get two units of the Minimal Phone 2 as part of a bundle.

The company announced the first-gen Minimal Phone on Indiegogo in 2024, though it faced multiple delays along the way. This meant it didn’t reach backers until early last year. With this in mind, project backers will hope the same doesn’t happen with the Minimal Phone 2, though the company acknowledges that delays can still occur.