Minimal Phone 2 Swaps E Ink for 3.92-Inch 90Hz AMOLED as It Adds 5G

Q: What hidden feature does the Minimal Phone 2's mysterious new top switch unlock, and could it redefine the physical keyboard experience?

The function of the Minimal Phone 2’s top switch has not been officially disclosed, so any claim beyond that is speculation. The strongest clue in the additional reporting is that some outlets describe it as a possible physical silent or “kill” switch, which would fit the phone’s distraction-reduction pitch far better than a generic hardware toggle. If that reporting is accurate, the switch would likely let users instantly mute notifications, cut off selected apps or radios, or drop into a stripped-down focus mode without opening menus. On a device built around a physical keyboard and intentional use, that kind of one-action control could matter more than on a standard touchscreen phone: it would turn the hardware itself into part of the productivity workflow, not just the input method. Whether it redefines the physical keyboard experience depends on what Minimal ties it to in software. If the switch is merely a mute toggle, it is useful but not transformative. If it can trigger a keyboard-centric mode—such as message-only access, shortcut profiles, notification lockdown, or a communications-only interface—it could make the keyboard feel like the center of a purpose-built system rather than a nostalgic add-on. For now, the only fully defensible answer is that the switch’s feature remains unconfirmed. But the evidence points to a focus-oriented hardware control, and that would be one of the more meaningful ideas in the current QWERTY-phone niche.

3 articles · Updated · Digital Trends · Aug 10

The Minimal Company unveiled Minimal Phone 2 with a 3.92-inch 90Hz AMOLED display, replacing the E Ink screen that defined the original device.
That shift addresses E Ink’s slow animations and limited media appeal, while 5G support signals a new chipset in the redesigned handset.
The phone keeps its physical QWERTY keyboard, now with backlit metal-dome keys, remappable shortcuts, a silent switch and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
A curved aluminum body replaces the first model’s sharp-edged shell, and the device will ship in Black or Silver.
Kickstarter funding remains open for 29 more days, but the project has already hit its goal, clearing the way for a commercial launch.