Sidephone has built an Android phone around a swappable USB keypad, entering a niche between the distraction-heavy smartphone and the stripped-back dumbphone by offering physical input options without sacrificing app compatibility.
We saw the device at Beyond Expo 2026, where its keypad system came in two layouts, a QWERTY configuration for text-heavy users and a numpad layout for those who prefer a more traditional input style, with a growing selection of cases and colour options.
That restraint extends to the camera, which prioritises simplicity over the high-resolution computational photography that dominates modern flagships, producing shots designed to be printed and kept rather than shared online.
Running Android without Google or Google Play services, the device supports thousands of existing apps that function independently of Google’s infrastructure, covering essentials like calls, SMS, camera, files, and a gallery app out of the box.
Privacy-focused app ecosystem
Beyond the defaults, Sidephone ships with several optional app bundles focused on privacy and open-source software, including the full Proton suite covering mail, VPN, calendar, drive, and password management, as well as Signal, WhatsApp, and a browser choice between Vivaldi and Firefox.
The Essentials bundle adds Maps powered by HERE, LocalSend for cross-platform file sharing, a local music player via Auxio, and a voice recorder, while the Misc bundle extends further with AntennaPod for podcasts, BreezyWeather, and Obtanium for installing apps directly from developer release pages.
Support for third-party messaging apps, including Telegram, Threema, and WeChat, is also listed as a work in progress, alongside compatibility with music streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal.
For anyone considering making the switch, more information and ordering are available on the Sidephone website, with the broader community active on Reddit at r/Sidephone.
