Flagship smartphones turn our heads on a regular basis, but we should also pay attention to devices like the Sidephone SP-01, which I don’t think we’ve talked about enough. Or at all.
Time to fix that, and introduce you to a phone that does something different. Really different.
What is the Sidephone SP-01?
Less than a smartphone, more like a modular feature phone
Credit: Sidephone
The Sidephone SP-01 isn’t a smartphone. It’s more like a feature phone with a modular twist, due to a unique feature we’ve not really seen elsewhere.
It has a removable keyboard, which can be swapped out for alternative keyboards and input methods.
The keyboard is magnetically attached to the phone’s body, and the company has announced a re-mappable T9 keyboard and an iPod-style touch wheel, which it currently calls the Sundial.
The company is talking about further attachments, including a QWERTY keyboard, a set of gaming controls, and an icon-driven pad to turn the device into a fancy remote control.
It runs Google Android AOSP and does not include access to Google Play. However, there is a custom app library with key apps ready to download, plus it will be possible to sideload APK files.
Because it doesn’t have Google Services installed, there will still be limits as to what apps will work.
For the hardware, it has a 2.8-inch screen, a MediaTek processor, USB-C charging, 4G LTE, and a camera described as “retro 00’s style.”
The look of the phone is a cross between an original Apple iPhone, early Nokias like the C5, and even Lumia designs.
The Sidephone is described as an ideal first step for anyone wanting to lessen their reliance on a smartphone, but we’d also say it’ll be attractive to anyone who loves the tactility of a physical keyboard, just like how the Clicks Keyboard case appeals to BlackBerry fans.
Since the input method is entirely customizable, the Sidephone has the potential to be whatever the owner wants it to be.
Cases designed to wrap around the raised screen and keyboard will allow for personalization, too.
Who’s behind it?
Meet the team
Unlike a niche phone from a big-name brand, the Sidephone comes from a team of just a few people who are sharing a lot of the experience on a dedicated Subreddit, giving potential buyers the chance to really get to know the project and the people behind it.
While co-founders Chris Ristovski and Sebastian Snell appear to be newcomers to the world of consumer tech, a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) reveals that Laurent Le Pen is handling manufacturing in Shenzhen, China.
It’s likely this is the French entrepreneur best known for founding Omate, a wearable technology company with considerable pedigree.
A working prototype of the phone has been shown off on Sidephone’s YouTube channel, and initially, pre-orders were expected to ship at the end of summer 2025.
According to the order page, shipping is now likely to take place in January 2026, and it appears that only 1,000 will be available during the first run. The phone’s full price is $300, but is available at the moment for $250.
Why take notice?
A thirst for something different
Credit: Sidephone
Modern smartphones are incredibly powerful and genuinely exciting, but the industry lacks fun and variety, and the days of small companies launching devices that do something different seem to be mostly behind us.
However, things are changing. Whether it’s through online connections that make it less arduous to set up manufacturing, more people sharing their ideas quickly and easily, a thirst from tech fans who want something new, or passionate individuals spurred on by other successes to get things started, variety is returning.
It’s the reason I’m excited about Kevin Michaluk’s (AKA CrackBerry Kevin) plan to bring back BlackBerry, and why I’ve pre-ordered the Pebble Time 2 smartwatch.
These projects aren’t backed by billionaire moguls and aren’t just capitalizing on the AI bubble in the hope of making a quick buck.
Watch with interest
But still keep a sensible head
These products are being developed by people, just like the Sidephone SP-01. We’re seeing its development live, through YouTube and Reddit, rather than paying up front in a crowdfunding campaign, unsure of whether the end product will actually work as promised.
It’s refreshing, fun, and interactive, without being performative.
This also comes with downsides for the team and warnings for us as potential buyers not to expect an entirely smooth launch.
Failures and setbacks are seen happening in real-time, and a recent post on the subreddit sums up the reasons we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves, and remember this is a product in development by a small team, so issues will come up.
I’d still rather see these problems shared, not hidden away due to fear of losing buyers.
All this is why we should be talking about the Sidephone SP-01, and paying attention to its development and eventual release.
Even if the product isn’t for you, watching what happens is still fascinating for tech fans exhausted by the crushing inevitability of yet another powerhouse smartphone release.
You can learn more or pre-order the Sidephone SP-01 on the company’s website.
