Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

‘No one’s making a phone like this’: Light’s co-founders on building for the anti-smartphone generation

read original more articles
Why This Matters

The Light Phone's innovative approach to minimalism and digital well-being resonates with a growing movement against smartphone overuse, highlighting a shift in consumer preferences and industry focus towards simpler, less distracting devices. This trend could influence future product development and encourage tech companies to prioritize mental health and user control. As awareness of digital addiction increases, these devices offer a compelling alternative for those seeking a healthier relationship with technology.

Key Takeaways

Loading the player…

With the Light Phone, Kaiwei Tang and Joe Hollier have spent over a decade exploring the value of simplicity in our relationship to technology, partnering along the way with players like Andrew Yang, Kendrick Lamar, and Pete Davidson. Now, with a new flip phone and a growing wave of “attention activists” pushing back against Big Tech, they think the rest of the world is finally catching up to them.

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, Amanda Silberling talks with Tang and Hollier about the company’s newly announced flip phone, why they think the anti-smartphone backlash is only just getting started, and what it takes to break an addiction that fits in your pocket.

Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.