Light Phone II Review: E Ink, No Browser or Camera
By Finn Albar
The Light Phone II is a good small E Ink phone for calls, texts, directions, and music, with no browser, camera, or feeds. Buy a refurbished one only if Light still has a unit and your carrier is on its compatibility list; otherwise the Light Phone III is the safer choice.
It fits someone who wants directions and music without a browser, and it gives up the camera and 5G. If you only want fewer apps, start with the best minimalist launchers for Android.
Who the Light Phone II is for
It suits someone on a supported carrier, such as AT&T or T-Mobile, who wants an E Ink screen that reads well in sunlight.
Skip it if you want an authenticator tool or software that keeps getting updates. Those buyers should look at the Light Phone III.
Price and availability
Light
Phone II
Unavailable$299
- Network
- 4G
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Battery
- 950 mAh
- Screen
- 2.84 in
4G · Wi-Fi · GPS · Hotspot · Headphone jack · Music · Touchscreen
The Light Phone II is no longer sold new, and Light’s homepage introduces only the Light Phone III and the Light Flip.
Light has sold refurbished units of the North America model with a one-year warranty. Ask Light support whether it has one, because a reseller’s unit has no warranty.
What matters
The E Ink screen and typing
The E Ink screen brings refreshes, ghosting, and a slower cadence than a smartphone. It reads well in direct sunlight, and a screen light comes on in the dark.
Typing uses a QWERTY keyboard, and the phone is English only. Voice-to-text is optional, but it needs cell data.
Directions and the tool list
You add tools from Light’s dashboard website: alarm, calculator, music, podcasts, notes, calendar, timer, directory, directions, and the hotspot. Directions searches addresses and businesses, speaks turns for walking and driving, and has a transit mode.
It needs a data connection to plan a route, and the first GPS lock usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. Also, about 35 minutes of live navigation warms the phone and drains the battery, so use offline mode for long drives.
Carrier activation in the US
The North American model works with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (not prepaid), Ting, Mint, US Mobile, and Light’s own plan. Consumer Cellular, Metro by T-Mobile, Straight Talk, Tracfone, and Visible are not, and Light takes no returns for an unlisted carrier.
Light’s own plan runs $25 a month for calls, texts, and 1GB of data, or $45 for unlimited data. The SIM is free. If you are leaving an iPhone, turn off iMessage first.
Battery and charging
Light rates the battery at one to two days of regular use. Directions and the hotspot drain it faster, and so does a weak signal.
The phone charges over micro USB, not USB-C, and Light’s box has no wall adapter. It keeps a headphone jack, which suits wired earbuds.
The app gap
Light built the phone never to browse the internet, and its tools never include email, social media, news, or ads. The authenticator tool comes only on Light’s newer phones, the Light Phone III and the Light Flip, so use text-message codes or another device for two-factor. 2FA without a smartphone compares those devices.
Light has no timeline for WhatsApp, Signal, or Spotify. Move those to another device before you switch.
Software updates and support
The last Phone II update, LightOS v442, arrived on September 15, 2025. Every 2026 entry in Light’s change log is for the Phone III only. Still, Light has no plans to stop making or supporting the Phone II.
Support is by email. A cracked screen can be repaired at Light’s Brooklyn studio for $100, with shipping both ways included in the US.
Returns, warranty, and repair
Light takes returns for manufacturer defects within one year of your order, refunds orders that have not shipped, and takes back phones still in their shrink wrap.
Refurbished units may have small scratches, but they carry a one-year warranty. Email support before you send any phone back.
Limitations
The screen is small and slow, and long messages are a chore. There is no camera, no 5G, and no authenticator tool, and Light’s last Phone II update is more than a year old.
Do not buy it if your carrier is not on Light’s list, such as Consumer Cellular or Metro by T-Mobile. Do not make it your only phone if you rely on WhatsApp, a banking app, or a camera.
Anyone who wants a new phone with a full warranty and steady updates should choose the Light Phone III.
Pros
- Small E Ink phone with directions, music, and a hotspot
- No browser, camera, email, or feeds, by Light's design
- Tools are added from a web dashboard
- Works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon (not prepaid)
- Refurbished units carry a one-year warranty
Cons
- No longer sold new
- Last Phone II software update was September 2025
- Slow E Ink screen makes typing deliberate
- No camera, no 5G, no authenticator tool
- Most resold carrier plans (MVNOs) do not work
Alternatives
The Light Phone III is the same idea on current hardware, with a camera, 5G, and an authenticator tool; see our Light Phone III review.
The Mudita Kompakt is an E Ink alternative you can order new, with a larger screen, a camera, and offline maps; see our Mudita Kompakt review. Mudita rates the battery at up to six days in standby.
A minimalist launcher on your current phone is a lighter step than any new phone. Every option is in best dumbphones.
Common questions
Can you still buy a Light Phone II?
Not new. Light has offered refurbished units of the North America model, so ask Light support whether it has one. Resale voids Light’s warranty, so a reseller’s unit has none.
Should I buy a refurbished Light Phone II?
Only if Light support has a unit and your carrier is on its list. A refurbished unit may have small scratches and carries a one-year warranty, but the phone’s last update was in September 2025. If you want a camera or steady updates, buy the Light Phone III instead.
What is the difference between the Light Phone II and Light Phone III?
The Phone II has a small E Ink screen, 4G, micro USB, and no camera. The Phone III has a matte OLED screen, 5G, USB-C, a camera, and an authenticator tool. Both run Light OS with no browser, but Light limits its developer program and side-loaded tools to the Phone III.
Does the Light Phone II have GPS and maps?
Yes. Its Directions tool searches addresses and businesses, speaks turns for walking and driving, and has a transit mode. It needs a data connection to plan a route.
Can the Light Phone II use WhatsApp?
No. Light has no timeline for WhatsApp, Signal, or Spotify, and the phone has no browser or app store. The Wisephone II in our Wisephone II review runs WhatsApp, but it needs a WiseOS subscription.
Still worth buying refurbished?
The Light Phone II is a good phone that is hard to get. It works on the carriers Light supports, but its last Phone II update is from September 2025.
If you can get a refurbished one and want E Ink, directions, and little else, it is still a fair buy. Otherwise we would pick the Light Phone III for a camera, or the Mudita Kompakt for a larger E Ink screen.
