Light Phone II vs Light Phone III
Our Winner: Light Phone III
The Light Phone III is the first minimalist phone that feels like zero compromise on quality. If budget allows, it is the best intentional phone you can buy today. The Light Phone II remains the better choice if the ~$300 savings matter more than the differences below.
Feature Comparison
| Specification | Light Phone II | Light Phone III |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Light | Light |
| Model number | LP2 | LP3 |
| Release year | 2019 | 2025 |
| Availability | limited | available |
| Price | $299 | $599 |
| Operating system | LightOS (Android-based) | LightOS (Android-based) |
| Processor | Qualcomm MSM8909W | Qualcomm SM4450 |
| RAM | 1GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 8GB | 128GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None |
| Display | 2.84" E-ink touchscreen | 3.92" matte black-and-white OLED |
| Battery | 950 mAh | 1800 mAh |
| Battery life | 1-2 days typical use | 1-2 days typical use |
| Weight | 78 g | 124 g |
| Dimensions | 95.85 x 55 x 6.5 mm | 106 x 55.3 x 12 mm |
| Camera | None | 50MP rear, 8MP front |
| Form factor | bar | bar |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Hotspot | Yes | Yes |
| Dual SIM | No | No |
| VoLTE | Yes | Yes |
| Hearing aid compatibility | Not rated | Not rated |
| Network support | 4G LTE | 4G LTE (5G-capable hardware) |
| US carriers | Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T | Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T |
Design
Light Phone II
At 78 grams and the footprint of a credit card, it disappears in a pocket. The matte casing and minimal typography are quietly beautiful.
Light Phone III
Machined aluminum sides, a two-stage shutter button, and a scroll wheel give it genuine gadget joy. It feels like a premium camera company made a phone.
Battery
Light Phone II
The 950 mAh cell is the weak spot: a day or two of typical use. A power-user habit of evening charging solves it.
Light Phone III
The 1800 mAh replaceable battery lasts a day or two. Not class-leading, but USB-C fast charging and easy replacement soften the blow.
Features & Connectivity
Light Phone II
4G VoLTE on all three major US networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS for turn-by-turn directions, and a hotspot.
Light Phone III
4G VoLTE on Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, plus Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, hotspot, and NFC hardware for future features.
Privacy
Light Phone II
Light runs no ads, sells no data, and requires only a lightweight dashboard account. The phone has no app store and no trackers.
Light Phone III
No ads, no data selling, no third-party apps, no cloud lock-in. Combined with the fingerprint reader, it is the most private polished phone experience available.
Ease of Use & Performance
Light Phone II
Tools open promptly, but the E-ink refresh makes everything feel measured. Calls are clear and reliable.
Light Phone III
The Snapdragon-class chip makes LightOS feel effortless. The 50MP camera produces genuinely good monochrome-workflow photos saved in full color.
Value
The Light Phone II sells for about $299 and the Light Phone III for about $599. That makes the Light Phone II the value pick by roughly $300 — worth weighing against the feature differences above.
Final Recommendation
Buy the Light Phone III if you want the stronger overall package — especially for minimalists and privacy use. Choose the Light Phone II if your priority is minimalists or adhd, or if budget is the deciding factor.
Buy the Light Phone II
Light Phone II · $299We may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no cost to you.
Buy the Light Phone III
Light Phone III · $599We may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no cost to you.