Three months with the Mudita Kompakt

Mudita Products
1

Ahoi hive Mind.

Three months have passed since I started using the Mudita Kompakt and it´s mixed feelings.

Backstory: (skip it, if in a hurry)

My first smartphone was an iPhone3 that my Sister didn´t use anymore, unfortunately it developed a faulty microphone after some years that Apple was unable to repair at reasonable cost. Getting an Galaxy 4 Mini turned out cheaper. With the Galaxys Operating System I was quite unsatisfied in terms of compatibility and usability, why it got surpassed solely with iPhones and I was very hesistant to go for another Android phone ever since.

But, as the IPhone 3, I personally loved the Galaxy Minis Footprint, both seemed to fit perfect in my favorite trousers backpockets, even with the headphone jack connected. Something appearing out of sight, since the iPhone 6 and 16E got bigger and still where the most compact phones in Apples portfolio.

After phone, wallet and keys were stolen from my car, Apples handling of the incident and Apple Care turned out to be not very customer friendly after all, as I had to encounter numerous times before ,when running into trouble with other phone, tables or MacBooks. Also my social media habits got out of hand the past years.

It was time to make a switch.

The Mudita Kompakt offered once again the compact footprint I missed, a headphone jack and no social media. Also there was at least the chance to get WhatsApp, Spotify and the local public transport App, which is basically all I ever needed from a smartphone anyways, but without at least WhatsApp working properly, it would be basically useless, since none of my contacts would go back to text solely via SMS (rightly, it´s not 1997 anymore!).

So I got a Kompakt from second hand, with 1 battery cycle, the previous owner hated it.

If the Kompakt turned out to be unsatisfactory also for me, at least I would have burned lass than half the money.

State of play:

So far the Kompakt turned out to be working, mostly.

Thanks to one thread in this forum that explained how to do sideloading of apps, I got WhatsApp, WhatsApp Businness, Spotify, Thunderbird, OpenBubbles (a third party iMessage client), the local public transport app and also Firefox up and running.

No Idea why, but had to install Aurora Store through F-Droid, otherwise I was unable to download and install apps.

Mudita is in a very comfortable position - they offer a phone that is sort of functional out of the Box - and can run third party apps eventually, at the customers risk, but basically are not very interested in supporting them, at least that´s my perception, after getting in touch with the support.

Still, the look and feel of the Kompakt is super nice and helps me to slow down, at least a little.

Also, the headphone output sounds very good, powerful and clear, at least to my taste.

Thoughts on stock apps:

Summary

Camera:

The image quality is super soft, basically it has a touch of cheap point and shoot cameras from the 90s.

Personally, I like this very much.

Focus is off often, there is no way to tell the camera on what to focus and it is a gamble the desired parts are in focus or not.

Also, on the E-Ink screen there is no chance to check if the focus war proper or not.

It would be very beneficial to have the usual focus point setting via touchscreen also implement on the Kompakt.

Image gallery:

Can only be reached through the camera app.

Would be very beneficial to have it as an independent app.

Maps:

Love the idea of offline Maps.

Not sure if it is the E-Ink screen, weak processing hardware or both, but it is kind of exhausting to zoom in and out, or move the map, since this takes virtually forever.

Also, without GPS there is no chance to get a route suggestion, because the app does not allow to set the departure point manually.

Not very satisfying, because sometimes I want to check routing for different starting points, than my current location, or from my living appartment, where the Kompakt won´t get a prober GPS location anyway.

Battery draw is isane, when the GPS is used. Where my iPhone eventually lost 20% on a 2 hour drive, the Kompakt is from 80% down to 20% something, on open terrain.

Calculator:

Basically another flavor of the Braun calculator that stand sponsor also for the iPhones calculator.

Unfortunately no scientific functions available.

Phone:

Looks exactly like on early iPhones. Personally, I like the straightforward user interface.

Contacts can be accessed only via the phone App. From time to time, it is more complicated and would be easier to access contacts also with an independent app, as it is with the image gallery.

SMS:

Very simple app, but works fine for sending and receiving SMS.

Unfortunately NO RCS SUPPORT!!!

Alarm Clock:

Easy to use, unfortunately no custom alarm clock sound.

Weather:

Very simple, clear layout.

Eventually it would be beneficial to show chance of rain in percent, as wind speed and direction.

But also, this would somewhat clog the straightforward app, a little. Not sure myself.

Handling of third party apps:

Summary

WhatsApp & WhatsApp Business:

Using both, usually I share one phone number only with workmates and register it to WhatsApp Business, while I share another phone number with friends and family, that is registered to normal WhatsApp. Helps me keep things separated.

This worked without flaws and was mandatory for me.

Open Bubbles:

There are three Persons that hesitate to use WhatsApp and solely rely on iMessage.

Open Bubbles registers to Apple servers by using the hardware ID of an Mac (in my case an 2011 old MacBook Pro), which worked flawless.

Setting up Open Bubbles isn´t super self explaining, but easy when following the guide.

Spotifiy:

Works, but is a bit laggy. The dark Theme does not work very well on the E-Ink screen.

Also from time to time Spotify reverts the data path from SD Card back to the internal storage.

Setting the path back to SD card takes ages moving the files.

Not very comfortable, but better than no Spotify at all.

BLOATWARE:

Every stock app I can only hide, but no uninstall, is basically bloatware for me.

I have no use for the reader, meditation app, music, recorder or, god forbid, chess.

less Distractions:

Personally, I think this is just Avant-BLAH and a very half hearted concept on the Kompakt.

Calming Ringtones?

Hate them all. A simple “bling” or “ring-ring” would be way less distracting for me, than a “calming guitar”.

Custom ringtones can only be set via third party apps.

Offline Switch?

Understand the idea, but personally have no use for it.

Code?

Why there is only the option to set six digit or no code?

A four digit code is still better than no code.

Don´t understand this.

Notifications?

No Notifications for third party apps.

Would prefer to see on the (un)lock screen if there are new messages on third party messengers.

Currently I´m spending way more time than necessary unlocking and chekcing third party messengers for new messages.

Would be way less distractive if there was a simple notification on the (un)lock screen, as it is with SMS and missed calls.

To assume SMS is the only messenger necessary ranks between patronizing and backward.

Mute?

Ringtones can be muted. Standard ever since. But no chance to turn of the F***ING BUZZER.

Unmute/Buzzer/Mute, basically every phone can do this, the Kompakt can´t.

Personally, I prefer my phone to be mostly quiet and eventually turn on the buzzer, when waiting of urgent calls or messages.

User interface:

Absolutely don´t understand, why there is no way to organize apps in custom order.

Also, don´t understand why it is not possible to put important apps on the home screen, above the phone and sms app, a second row of three would fit nicely there.

No understanding for the “Apps” icon on the home screen. Swiping to get to the next page seems way easier anyways.

Also no understanding for the navigation arrows when having more than one page of apps. Costs 1/4 of rare screen real estate.

Summary:

Most of the stated points are more or less inconvenient, but don´t break the deal primarily.

But after reading through the forum and some encounters with support, I have very little hope, Mudita will change anything about this in the near future.

May it be because it is against their understanding of a less distracting phone or simply limited capacity when it comes to software development.

Best, Flo.

7 Likes
2

Have you tried Katapult? It should solve some of your issues:

  1. Notification count for third-party apps
  2. Re-ordering of apps, renaming of apps, custom icons, optimizing third-party app icons
  3. Allows you to change home apps and add another row of 3 extra apps if desired.
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Dear @Floh - Welcome to the Mudita forum.

Its awesome that you tried to use the Kompakt as a smartphone with all the apps you installed.

I enjoined reading your critique, and yes, its not 1997, Kompakt is more like a pre-Palm Pilot device but with a sim card slot.

I hope you can recover quickly from the Kompakt phone experience.

An inexpensive or hand me down old smartphone will meet your needs and bring you peace.

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Hello gezimos,

thanks for your reply, I tried Katapult once, as many other launchers, then eventually began to code my own attempt, but that´s still far from being usable.

Gave it another shot just now - it´s quite nice, would be close to perfect, if swiping to the side would bring it from home screen to all apps.

Hello smuch,

well, thanks a lot for the welcome, (I guess).

Just let me ask if you are a regular user, or employed by mudita, and if both, in wich position you are talking here.

Concerning even the stock Kompakt can do way more than the Palm, I´m not so sure about this.

Also, the Palm wasn´t advertised with the benefit of sideloading Android apps.

Since your answer is more or less the same when it comes to third party apps and notifications on the forum, please consider the following:

- with “all the apps I {you} installed” the Kompakt basically doesn´t do any different than it could do out of the box

- Spotify doesn´t do anything different than the stock Music app, it´s playing music when I demand it

- the world hasn´t agreed on one messenger, to stay in touch, there isn´t just one to rely on, even when used rarely

- even with additional messengers, the Kompakt isn´t more or less smart as it would be with the stock SMS app, just a little more versatile

-.an e-mail Client is useful, all QR- or barcodes for shipping and collecting parcels come as e-mail, not paper anymore, where I live

- just to collect or ship my parcels, I wouldn´t consider printing them (what a waste) or using a smartphone, Kompakt is doing this just fine

- less distraction means different for different people

- personally, I prefer a muted phone laying upside down, which I would occasionally check for new messages on the lock screen and put it away again (happily)

- since this is asked for not only by me, but others and eventually more to come, it was included in my summary, to help others interested in the Kompakt and eventually give the Mudita developers on more hint to reconsider the handling of notifications

- just because this is a litte more asked for than the Kompakt can do anyways, recommending a regular smartphone is not helpful

With all due respect, Flo.

4 Likes
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Regular yes, employed no, position unbiased

You do write very well, I will recommend any potential buyer reads your post before deciding to acquire a Kompakt

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I concur with the suggestion to install Katapult. Out of the box the Kompakt is not perfect by any means, but with sideloading the Katapult launcher and other community apps it becomes fantastic, in my opinion - at least if one’s purpose with the phone is:

  • to spend less time on the internet and social media
  • be able to access some essential apps
  • still have the option to use the internet for basic things without getting stuck there for hours
  • have a functioning phone (calls and messages)

Any smartphone will obviously do some things “better”. But that’s the whole point: smartphones do things so well and so smoothly that most people get addicted. The Kompakt (with sideloaded additions) is a very good compromise.

1 Like
Is this the end?
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That is coming in the upcoming update, I’ve added option to Swipe to open all apps (either swipe up or swipe left, depending on the Gesture directions chosen as there will be an option for this: horizontal&vertical).

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Dear @Floh That’s your opinion about helpfulness.

It would be much less effort for you to minimalize a reliable smartphone for your requirements.

Easier to make a smartphone do a lot less than to make the Kompakt do a little more.

Disable, Delete, Disregard the apps you Don’t require, and set screen to monochrome.

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@Floh Thank you for taking the time to write such a LONG detailed three-month review. This is exactly the kind of feedback that is useful for us, because it clearly separates what works for you, what feels inconvenient, and what becomes a real daily-use blocker. Clearly, you’ve put a lot of thought into this feedback & we REALLY appreciate it.

I’m glad to hear that the overall look and feel of Mudita Kompakt works for you & that the compact form factor is something you appreciate, and that the headphone output has been a positive surprise. It’s also helpful to know that you’ve been able to make the phone fit your own setup with apps like WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, Spotify, Thunderbird, OpenBubbles and your local public transport app.

At the same time, you raise several very valid points. Some of them are requests we’ve seen from other users as well, including better app organization, more control over ringtones/vibration, custom alarm sounds, clearer access to Gallery and Contacts, improvements to Maps, and more flexibility around notifications. Your point about third-party notifications is especially worth noting, because you’re framing it not as “I want more distractions,” but as the opposite: a simple lock screen indication could reduce the need to keep unlocking the phone and checking apps manually.

The Maps feedback is also very concrete. Being able to set a departure point manually, especially when GPS is unavailable or when planning a route from somewhere else, makes sense. We’ll pass that on together with your comments about GPS-related battery drain.

Regarding third-party apps: Kompakt is designed primarily around its built-in experience, and sideloaded apps are used at the user’s own discretion. That said, we understand that for many people, apps like WhatsApp or local transport services are part of what makes the device usable in everyday life. While we cannot guarantee full compatibility with every third-party app, feedback like yours helps us better understand where the current experience creates friction.

I also hear your broader point that “less distracting” shouldn’t feel like “less flexible.” That balance is important, and your review gives us several concrete examples of where the current implementation may feel more limiting than calming.

Thanks again for the honest and detailed write-up. I’ll make sure the relevant points are shared internally.

1 Like