Google is not the one firm betting massive on AI in its smartphones, and whereas the not too long ago revealed Pixel 10 lineup seems to be promising, there’s one other AI-powered smartphone that has caught my eye. Meet the iKKO MindOne, a minuscule new smartphone that’s at the moment ending up a marketing campaign over on Kickstarter.
The machine, which the corporate advertises as being “card-sized,” measures simply 86×72mm and is simply 8.9mm thick. That is simply 3.39×2.83 inches in dimension 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 larger machine, iKKO additionally provides an adjunct referred to as the Snap-in-Case, which you’ll be able to snap the cellphone into for entry to a full bodily QWERTY keyboard and a constructed-in headphone jack.
In response to the corporate’s Kickstarter page — which is hours from being accomplished on the time of writing — the AI smartphone will not be solely powered by Android 15, however it additionally contains a secondary light-weight OS referred to 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 cellphone’s largest promoting factors: free world web entry.
You may nonetheless want a cellphone 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 companies. That lineup consists of all the pieces from language translation to reside AI assist just like Gemini Reside. It is not fairly as thrilling as limitless free web, however it does imply you may by no means be locked out of utilizing AI that requires on-line entry — not less than not within the international locations that assist it.
At a look, the smartphone seems to be about as massive as a debit card — or in all probability nearer to a pockets, simply primarily based on the comparisons made in a video that the corporate launched. Most of that house is taken up by a 4.02-inch AMOLED Sapphire Glass Show. There is not any ugly digicam cutout on this small display screen, both, because the digicam is definitely one other a part of the cellphone’s gimmick.
As a substitute of getting each a entrance-dealing with and a rear-dealing with digicam, the MindOne as a substitute solely has one digicam, which will be flipped round. It contains a 50MP Sony sensor, which will be locked at any angle as you flip it. iKKO showed off the camera’s capabilities in a YouTube video, and it seems to be prefer it delivers some strong outcomes.
Ultimately, there might be two fashions obtainable — the MindOne and the MindOne Professional — although iKKO is simply promoting the MindOne Professional by way of Kickstarter in the meanwhile. The bottom MindOne will not function the Sapphire Glass display screen, and it will not include the free world web for AI companies. However that is the one distinction between the 2 that I may discover.
An AI cellphone constructed for focus?
iKKO says that the MindOne is “the place focus meets freedom” and that “whereas most telephones battle to your consideration, MindOne provides it again.” Based mostly on that, it appears fairly clear that the corporate is advertising this as a smartphone that additionally doubles as an AI-powered productiveness machine.
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-Cell, Verizon, and extra. You may view the present listing of specs on the cellphone’s Kickstarter page to get a greater thought of what iKKO is planning.
After all, the entire present claims are primarily based on what the corporate has showcased on its Kickstarter web page and in advertising movies. The ultimate product’s actual capabilities may change drastically between now and the machine’s estimated transport date, which is at the moment December 2025. We cannot know for certain if the machine the corporate is advertising is definitely the one it is promoting till folks begin getting their fingers 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 by way of Kickstarter, it can save you as much as $130 with early-chook pricing.
Contributing to Kickstarter campaigns is all the time a threat, however iKKO does have a confirmed monitor report with profitable Kickstarter campaigns which have really shipped the promised gadgets, having previously launched its ActiveBuds AI earbuds back in 2023.