In today’s Internet-obsessed age, some mobile users need a digital detox, but they still want a phone that’s both functional and stylish. Enter the Talkase T3, a sleek, credit card-sized device that Mashable spotted at last weekend’s Mobile World Congress tech show in Barcelona, Spain.
The Talkase T3 is a new, improved version of a mini GSM phone that its maker successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2014. Its design is akin to a retro calculator, with large, square buttons and a rectangular digital screen. The Talkase T3’s main selling point, however, is its size: It’s slim enough to slip into a wallet, making it a great on-the-go device. Plus, it’s cheap, retailing for just $33.
That being said, if you purchase the Talkase T3, you’ll be forsaking a lot of features that, by now, are standard on most cell phones. A so-called "dumbphone," the device lacks a camera, and it doesn’t have apps or games. And while there’s a built-in hotspot feature that allows you to turn its 3G connection into a Wi-Fi hotspot, it’s definitely not ideal for hours of Internet surfing. But if you’re looking for just the basics—i.e. calling, messaging, an alarm clock, and a music player—the phone's minimalism might just be the thing for you. The tradeoff? Even though you'll sacrifice bells and whistles with the Talkase T3, you'll score an incredible battery life: 72 hours from only one charge.