Google is not the one firm betting large on AI in its smartphones, and whereas the just lately revealed Pixel 10 lineup seems promising, there’s one other AI-powered smartphone that has caught my eye. Meet the iKKO MindOne, a minuscule new smartphone that’s presently ending up a marketing campaign over on Kickstarter.
The system, which the corporate advertises as being “card-sized,” measures simply 86×72mm and is just 8.9mm thick. That is simply 3.39×2.83 inches in measurement and solely 0.35 inches thick. Suffice it to say, this factor is small, even when in comparison with different small telephones like iPhone SE, which Apple has since changed with the iPhone 16e. In case you do desire a barely greater system, iKKO additionally gives an adjunct known as the Snap-in-Case, which you’ll be able to snap the telephone into for entry to a full bodily QWERTY keyboard and a built-in headphone jack.
In keeping with the corporate’s Kickstarter web page — which is hours from being accomplished on the time of writing — the AI smartphone shouldn’t be solely powered by Android 15, nevertheless it additionally includes a secondary light-weight OS known as iKKO AI OS. Even that twin working system is not what makes the iKKO MindOne stand out. What actually caught my consideration is without doubt one of the telephone’s greatest promoting factors: free world web entry.
You will nonetheless want a telephone plan for this card-sized smartphone
Now, I wish to caveat that final revelation by saying that the one free web entry you are getting is for AI-powered providers. That lineup contains all the things from language translation to stay AI assist much like Gemini Dwell. It is not fairly as thrilling as limitless free web, nevertheless it does imply you may by no means be locked out of utilizing AI that requires on-line entry — a minimum of not within the international locations that assist it.
At a look, the smartphone seems about as large as a debit card — or in all probability nearer to a pockets, simply based mostly on the comparisons made in a video that the corporate launched. Most of that area is taken up by a 4.02-inch AMOLED Sapphire Glass Show. There is not any ugly digital camera cutout on this small display screen, both, because the digital camera is definitely one other a part of the telephone’s gimmick.
As an alternative of getting each a front-facing and a rear-facing digital camera, the MindOne as a substitute solely has one digital camera, which could be flipped round. It includes a 50MP Sony sensor, which could be locked at any angle as you flip it. iKKO confirmed off the digital camera’s capabilities in a YouTube video, and it seems prefer it delivers some stable outcomes.
Finally, there might be two fashions accessible — the MindOne and the MindOne Professional — although iKKO is just promoting the MindOne Professional through Kickstarter in the mean time. The bottom MindOne will not function the Sapphire Glass display screen, and it will not include the free world web for AI providers. However that is the one distinction between the 2 that I may discover.
An AI telephone constructed for focus?
iKKO says that the MindOne is “the place focus meets freedom” and that “whereas most telephones struggle on your consideration, MindOne provides it again.” Primarily based on that, it appears fairly clear that the corporate is advertising and marketing this as a smartphone that additionally doubles as an AI-powered productiveness system.
It is solely geared up with 4G+ capabilities and 8GB of RAM with 256GB of inner storage. It does function a 2200 mAh battery, and assist for a Nano-SIM card that may connect with a number of community carriers, together with AT&T, T-Cellular, Verizon, and extra. You possibly can view the present record of specs on the telephone’s Kickstarter web page to get a greater concept of what iKKO is planning.
In fact, all the present claims are based mostly on what the corporate has showcased on its Kickstarter web page and in advertising and marketing movies. The ultimate product’s precise capabilities may change drastically between now and the system’s estimated transport date, which is presently December 2025. We cannot know for certain if the system the corporate is advertising and marketing is definitely the one it is promoting till folks begin getting their palms on it. The bottom MindOne is listed to promote at $389, whereas the MindOne Professional will value $499. That stated, if you are going to buy early through Kickstarter, it can save you as much as $130 with early-bird pricing.
Contributing to Kickstarter campaigns is at all times a threat, however iKKO does have a confirmed monitor document with profitable Kickstarter campaigns which have truly shipped the promised gadgets, having beforehand launched its ActiveBuds AI earbuds again in 2023.
