only essential apps like calls and texts run on ‘offone’, a 3D printed phone with e-ink display

A 3D printed phone with e-ink display for calls and texts

Marko Lazic, an architect turned tech startup founder, introduces the Offone, a 3D printed phone with an e-ink display that only runs essential apps such as calls, texts, messaging platforms, and even taxi services. Its slim body and compact size fit in the palm of the hand, and its screen, given that it has an e-ink display, looks like a piece of paper with pencil writings and icons on it. This decision allows for the absence of screen glare and blue light, which can lead to eye strain. Marko Lazic says optional lighting may be available too so that users can read their messages and sift through their calls even at night or in the dark.

Marko lazic’s offone has ‘maps’ apps too

Offone’s design is straightforward. It uses ‘universal’ or known icons instead of captions or texts to indicate the apps the users can use. Marko Lazic hopes that by doing this, there will be no language barriers since users navigate using intuitive symbols. The 3D printed phone with an e-ink display also only allows essential apps like maps, Uber, and Waze to function since adding social media platforms, unless they’re used for messaging, may defeat the purpose of having a minimalist, less-cluttered lifestyle with a phone. There’s no camera available either, as Offone brings back the old days of keypad phones, and it also has a touchscreen display.

stepping back from endless apps and notifications

Marko Lazic has yet to unveil the final screen size of the phone, but he already has his target audience: business people who frequently travel, grandparents who need a less-hassle communication device, and generally, people who want to step back from the endless apps and notifications. As of publishing the story, Marko Lazic has yet to announce the arrival date of Offone and the production timeline of his 3D printed phone with an e-ink display. He first introduced Offone in 2016. In other news, phones with paper-like screens seem to appeal to technology designers, with devices such as the Minimal Phone and the AI smartphone A Phone, A Friend coming up.

project info:

name: Offone

design: Marko Lazic