Introducing the Enough Phone: Designed by Users Tired of Oversized Screens

The timing might seem unfavorable, yet it could also present an excellent opportunity for innovation in the smartphone market.

Brennan Jordan and Austin Boer, two of the driving forces behind the Enough Phone, are introducing a compact smartphone that operates on either stock Android or the minimalist OdysseyOS. Their venture is currently seeking support on Kickstarter, and just a day post-launch, they are already past the halfway mark towards their goal of $250,000.

The Enough Phone features specifications such as a 5.3-inch display, a user-replaceable 3,500mAh battery, a MediaTek Dimensity 7500 processor, a rear camera equipped with a 50-megapixel Sony sensor, and 8GB of RAM. The dimensions make it comparable to the iPhone Mini, a model the founders are quite familiar with, having been former users themselves.

Jordan and Boer also co-founded Sleke, a software startup specializing in refurbished phones preloaded with OdysseyOS, which aims to create a distraction-free Android experience. By installing their software on existing devices, they not only promote sustainability but also expedite the market release of their product, Boer explains. Currently, they offer small batches of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 through the Sleke platform; however, many customers expressed the desire for a smaller device.

“One of the main comments we receive is, ‘I don’t want such a large phone for a minimalist operating system,’” Boer notes. They were motivated to create a smaller smartphone when Will Stults, who runs an online store for non-smartphones called Dumbwireless, reached out to them. Stults brings valuable experience from working with a prominent smartphone manufacturer.

However, the current landscape poses significant challenges for smartphone manufacturers of all sizes. The ongoing chip shortage has resulted in increased costs and a limited supply of RAM. Both Jordan and Boer acknowledge the financial pressures, particularly concerning pricing. Despite providing early bird discounts on their Kickstarter campaign, the retail price for the Enough Phone is set at $599. “We don’t want to charge so much, but as a startup, there’s only so much we can do,” Boer states, emphasizing that they prefer to maintain self-funding to uphold their core values. External funding could shift priorities and compel them to limit their promised five years of software support.

The development process is proceeding as planned. As stated on their Kickstarter page, they are currently in the production tooling phase, with the aim of shipping devices by May 2027. However, they caution that the lingering effects of the RAM shortage could still impact their timeline.

Boer views the current difficulties as a potential advantage, noting that while others have avoided this venture, the challenges also represent a unique opportunity. “Nobody was tackling this, which is why it might seem like an inconvenient time to start. Yet, that’s also what makes it an ideal moment for us to step in. Let’s take matters into our own hands,” he asserts.