Sideloading apps is easy, but I would also expect it. Honestly, if Mudita holds true to their values, then they just cannot release a phone where you don’t own the hardware including the right to install apps because, after all, it’s AOSP. You buy it, you own it.
Also, looking at the memory, the processor, the battery and especially the e-ink screen, a lot of apps will not work well. WhatsApp and Signal will, and also some utilities, which is the point. Browsing or media will be painful.
Lastly, and this is a big one for me: I appreciate dumbphones for their simplicity. This is not a dumbphone. My current dumbphone does calls and texts (over 2G because still available here). It fits in my coin pocket. The battery lasts a week. There are NO UPDATES, NO NOTIFICATIONS except missed call and sms. It just works, always. It’s a breath of fresh air in a world where everything bothers you with updates all of the time. Even my car. Sheesh. This alone makes me hesitant to buy the Kompakt.
Yeah honestly this has me in a real pickle …there are so many things I love about the Kompakt but the sideloading bothers me but like you said maybe because of the e-ink these apps will be so difficult to use you won’t bother , I honestly don’t know what I will decide but I am leaning again towards the Light phone 3 because of their philosophy that is just more in line with my dumbphone philosophy. I have backed both projects now so will see what happens but I will have a few months with the LP3 and I have a feeling I may not want to let it go after using it for so long. Decisions decisions lol
I know how you feel. I have two Android feature phones / flip phones, and even though they don’t run apps well, it was just too tempting to install the things I need and then I get frustrated. It lacks the simplicity.
To me because it does not have an actual playstore to download apps doesn’t technically make it a smartphone I guess? Because I have to go and sideload apps using a computer, thats the other way to think about it, yes it may take 2 seconds to do that but when I am out around town sitting with my kids I can’t pull out my kompakt and download facebook onto it right there and then.
Also what about a phone like the Sunbeam, it has waze on it, and yes its a directions app but its still an app so does that make the sunbeam a smartphone? And they are releasing another sunbeam soon with email, so does that make the sunbeam now a smartphone company?
I think maybe Mudita is giving you the choice to make the Kompakt a dumbphone or a smartphone…choice is up to you, but that choice has friction to it because there is no access to the google playstore or apple store
I really love this company and the harmony so I want this phone to work for me, the more and more i think about it, its not a true smart phone, it is a minimalist phone still but yes can you make it a smartphone I suppose you can, But I CAN CHOOSE not too and I think over the past 2-3 years being smartphone free a phone like the Kompakt that yes could let me side load apps but what apps am I going to download? I am on no social media whatsoever, I close facebook, instagram, twitter years ago and will never return to them so what temptation is there for me to sideload? Only thing I could think of would be a browser, but I am not sure you could do that could you on the Kompakt.
But it would be nice if yes I could download slack for when I have to work downtown, and then uninstall when I am working remotely which is the majority of the time. I am going to really think things through over the next few months this is a big decision because whatever phone I pick I want it to be my phone for a long time. This is where the advantage goes to the Light phone because they will support that phone for literally a decade where as Mudita has just committed to 3 years of updates which is not good in my opinion that seems short
It’s not black and white. You don’t need to have a dumbphone as your only or primary phone. It’s fine to just have a simple device for part-time use. As I said, I have a super simple dumbphone which only does calls and text. My smartphone usually remains on a charger or on the desk and forwards calls and texts to that dumbphone. I carry the dumbphone most of the time, because in regular situations I don’t need the internet or apps, I just want to be reachable: In the house, around town, grocery shopping, picking up the kids etc.
But when I need public transportation, go somewhere I don’t know, travel etc. I take my smartphone. Such hybrid approach already releaves my mind a lot of the ‘always on’ stress and the distractions the smartphone may bring.
But where would a Mudita Kompakt fit in my life? Will it allow me to leave my smartphone more at home because it covers more use cases? I don’t think so. I love the device, I really do. But is it useful for me, or will it end up in a drawer next to other feature phones I have?
I agree. Even though I won’t be purchasing the Kompakt, I plan on going hybrid with using the Light Phone 3 as my primary, with my current iPhone I’m using as my secondary. I just need a phone with tools when I’m out and about, but when I need to use the internet and download tickets, etc. I’ll have my iPhone as backup and I have an iPad at home that functions as a computer for me for when I need a bigger device. Right now, that’s how I imagine my usage. I’ve repeatedly said in Reddit forums that there’s no rule that you have to have one phone always (even though I understand why some people want to just have one phone, it doesn’t mean it fits everyone’s lifestyle), so I completely agree with you.
I truly do believe a hybrid lifestyle is the way to survive in a world where you want simplicity, but need modern-day technology. I’m happy that the LP3 will be very simple, without ability to download other “apps” and I can go ahead and use that alone. However, if I need to download plane tickets, travel, use a QR reader, I will have my iPhone to use! Very handy;
@nilss Great points! And I’m glad you found something that works for you. PLUS- I get where you’re coming from, especially about the simplicity and freedom that a true “dumbphone” provides. It’s just nice to have a device that simply does its job without the constant noise of updates and notifications.
That said, I think there’s an important aspect here: for many of us who frequently travel or connect internationally, the ability to stay in touch without racking up massive fees is essential. Calling and texting across borders can add up fast, and data roaming charges are often steep. Having apps like Signal, WhatsApp, or other communication tools becomes less about complexity and more about practicality and affordability. They provide a cost-effective way to keep in touch, while still letting users avoid the all-consuming nature of typical smartphones.
I was in Australia this year & let me tell you, getting phone call on my POLISH NUMBER from POLAND cost me nearly an arm & a leg.
Mudita Kompakt is a middle ground- a more "mindful phone” that respects privacy and keeps things simple without leaving people completely disconnected in today’s world. It’s certainly a different take, but perhaps that balance could appeal to those who need a bit more flexibility.
Agreed, it’s also why I use WhatsApp while traveling, for better or for worse (all my groups are muted!). As you could read before, I use two devices: a dumbphone for daily use out and about (at home, around town), and a smartphone for other moments (the smartphone has my main number but forwards calls to the dumbphone when I choose so). It helps me to remain mindful, because my smartphone is not always with me and hence my brain is not always distracted. I found that now even when I carry my smartphone, I use it far less.
Certainly a lot for me to think about. I want whatever phone I pick to be my phone for the long-term, it is a difficult decision for sure but like I said I think the LP3 may have a slight advantage because it will be in my hands in 2 months where as the Kompakt is 6 months away from being shipped…thats a long time with the LP3, might be hard to part with it, and the Kompakt does not have podcasts either which after thinking about it is a large part of my daily life, I listen to mental health podcast that really help me in the morning with my anxiety. Right now literally for the past 3 months now I have been using the Light phone and it clicks off all the boxes I love the OS, and when the LP3 gets here its the same OS witch a larger screen with the ability to take pics AND VIDEO, which the Kompakt can’t. I said it before and I will say it again…decisions decisions lol
Hi there, I think we wrote a bit too unclear about possibility of adding 3rd party apps. As for now Mudita OSK is a closed operating system without any official way to add apps beside what we included in the whole MuditaOSK package. Especially that making Android apps to run correctly they need to be optimized for eink and not being dependent on google services (which all were erased from our device). Moreover adding 3rd party apps can potentially cause device to stop working correctly and also void the guarantee. What we wanted to say is, that there is a theoretical (even practical to some extend, as we did some experiments on our own) possibility to try to make Android apps running on our device using some " back door" techniques. Mudita doesn’t recommend doing that, but we are also aware that we cannot stop our users from experimenting, especially if You are technically advanced user, but still this can be done solely on ones own responsibility.
We preferred to mention that openly as we knew that we would have a lot of questions about it.
I hope this clarify situation a bit, and big thank You for supporting us!
If you knew adding third party apps can possibly cause damage to the device why would you make this possible Michael? I don’t understand this decision and I think it’s not responsible. You had a vision for this company, and your Kompakt commercial is all flashy with comments about reading books being in the moment yet you give people A WIDE OPEN back door to turn this device into a device that can become filled with distractions, especially for people that suffere severe tech addiction. I don’t understand this decision at all I have tried and tried but ultimately I think I will be cancelling my pre-order and sticking with my Light phone 3 because that company has not went back on their principals. I already know you guys will never release a Pure 2, firstly because it was a mess that never worked properly in a variety of regions. That is the device that you should have fixed first, that is a true minimalist phone. All you have done with the Kompakt is sold it as a minimalist device when in fact it is a smartphone. I guarantee you right now a lot of people are going to make some errors sideloading apps and mess up their phone voiding warranty and that just good business since you are giving them the ability to do so.
I think the position is quite clear on this:
Mudita’s approach is all about providing users with freedom and flexibility, not imposing limitations.
With Mudita Kompakt, we recognize that each user has unique needs. For those who know they aren’t “techy” or feel that extra apps would distract them, there’s no need to sideload anything. The phone can function as a purely minimalist device as intended. However, for those who are more technologically inclined and confident in their ability to manage sideloading, Mudita Kompakt gives you the choice to explore that option. The philosophy here is one of personal empowerment, allowing users to tailor their experience to fit their individual preferences and lifestyle.
Mudita’s aim has always been to create a platform that respects your autonomy. As for the potential risks, we encourage those choosing to sideload to be informed about the possible impacts on their device and warranty.
Ultimately, it’s about giving each person the choice to use Mudita Kompakt on their own terms, whether that’s staying purely minimalist or exploring a bit more.
And as Steve Jobs once wisely noted, “If you want to make everyone happy, sell ice cream.” Even then, there are gluten-free, non-dairy, keto, and diabetic considerations, so trying to please everyone can end up pleasing no one.
We truly appreciate the feedback, but feel there’s no need to continuously debate this.
I suggest that you clarify this in the Kickstarter FAQ, because the way it is written there makes it easy for people to understand that they can simply download the app APK and add it to their phone without a backdoor. I’m almost sure that some people pledged with that in mind and will be extremely disappointed.
@roberto I will let the team know.
And BTW- I’m looking for your comment about the special character support & I just got word from the team that IT WILL BE READY at LAUNCH