Light Phone II vs Nokia 235 4G
Our Winner: Light Phone II
The Light Phone II remains the purest expression of intentional tech: a tiny E-ink phone with a curated toolbox and zero feeds. Buy it discounted while it lasts, or step up to the III. The Nokia 235 4G remains the better choice if the ~$234 savings matter more than the differences below.
Feature Comparison
| Specification | Light Phone II | Nokia 235 4G |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Light | Nokia |
| Model number | LP2 | TA-1614 |
| Release year | 2019 | 2024 |
| Availability | limited | available |
| Price | $299 | $64.99 |
| Operating system | LightOS (Android-based) | Series 30+ |
| Processor | Qualcomm MSM8909W | Unisoc T107 |
| RAM | 1GB | 64MB |
| Storage | 8GB | 128MB |
| Expandable storage | None | microSD up to 32GB |
| Display | 2.84" E-ink touchscreen | 2.8" QVGA |
| Battery | 950 mAh | 1450 mAh |
| Battery life | 1-2 days typical use | Up to 11 hours talk time, weeks on standby |
| Weight | 78 g | 119 g |
| Dimensions | 95.85 x 55 x 6.5 mm | 135.9 x 56.2 x 13.9 mm |
| Camera | None | 2MP with flash |
| Form factor | bar | bar |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
| GPS | Yes | No |
| NFC | No | No |
| USB-C | Yes | Yes |
| Hotspot | Yes | No |
| Dual SIM | No | Yes |
| VoLTE | Yes | Yes |
| Hearing aid compatibility | Not rated | Not rated |
| Network support | 4G LTE | 4G LTE, 2G GSM |
| US carriers | Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T | T-Mobile |
Design
Light Phone II
At 78 grams and the footprint of a credit card, it disappears in a pocket. The matte casing and minimal typography are quietly beautiful.
Nokia 235 4G
Flat sides and a matte finish give it an understated, current look. The keypad is roomy thanks to the taller body.
Battery
Light Phone II
The 950 mAh cell is the weak spot: a day or two of typical use. A power-user habit of evening charging solves it.
Nokia 235 4G
The removable 1450 mAh cell delivers weeks of standby and up to 11 hours of talk time, charged over USB-C.
Features & Connectivity
Light Phone II
4G VoLTE on all three major US networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS for turn-by-turn directions, and a hotspot.
Nokia 235 4G
4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, FM radio, dual SIM. No Wi-Fi, GPS, or hotspot — and US support is effectively T-Mobile only.
Privacy
Light Phone II
Light runs no ads, sells no data, and requires only a lightweight dashboard account. The phone has no app store and no trackers.
Nokia 235 4G
Series 30+ has no app ecosystem and no account requirements, making the 235 4G effectively tracking-free.
Ease of Use & Performance
Light Phone II
Tools open promptly, but the E-ink refresh makes everything feel measured. Calls are clear and reliable.
Nokia 235 4G
Everything is instant. The 2MP camera manages passable daylight snapshots for documentation purposes.
Value
The Light Phone II sells for about $299 and the Nokia 235 4G for about $64.99. That makes the Nokia 235 4G the value pick by roughly $234 — worth weighing against the feature differences above.
Final Recommendation
Buy the Light Phone II if you want the stronger overall package — especially for minimalists and adhd use. Choose the Nokia 235 4G if your priority is kids or minimalists, or if budget is the deciding factor.
Buy the Light Phone II
Light Phone II · $299We may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no cost to you.
Buy the Nokia 235 4G
Nokia 235 4G · $64.99We may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no cost to you.