The Mudita Compact is a minimalist phone designed for those who don’t want distracting devices in their pockets or handbags. Instead of a large color display, it features a small, black-and-white E-Ink screen.
Although it runs on an Android-based operating system, the Mudita Kompact doesn’t come with any Google apps or services. Instead, it offers only a few basic apps, including calling, texting, taking notes, reading e-books, and listening to music.
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Mudita Kompakt Review
Designed by a Polish brand known for its mindfulness-focused technology, the Mudita Kompact isn’t just another smartphone.
It’s purposefully built from the ground up with a clear purpose: to reduce digital distractions and support a more present and distraction-free life. And it achieves this without the complexity or learning curve of modern devices.
At the heart of the Mudita Kompact is a 4.3-inch E-Ink screen that delivers a paper-like, glare-free experience, reducing eye strain and visual noise.
The device is powered by MuditaOS K, a privacy-conscious, Google-free operating system that offers clarity and control by minimizing bloat and background tracking.
Imagine accessing core functions like calling, texting, maps, music, calendar, and weather without the pinging and endless scrolling.
A physical Offline+ mode switch gives users the option to completely disconnect. GSM, camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and even the microphone can all be disabled at the hardware level. This is a deliberate feature for those who prefer to use their phone as a tool rather than a simple connection device.
Design
The Mudita Kompakt’s design is reminiscent of the iPhone 3G, though not exactly the same. It also shares some similarities with the Palm Pre.
Its blunt, rounded rectangular shape and soft rubber back provide a comfortable grip. It’s very comfortable to hold, and the soft back provides a nice grip. However, it does attract fingerprints and smudges.
On the back is a small 8MP camera and a flash with a warm or cool color tone. On the left is the SIM tray and the Offline mode switch.
This switch allows you to turn off the Mudita Kompakt’s network. When you don’t want to make calls, text, or connect to other devices, simply flip it over and it will turn off all functionality.
On the top are the headphone jack and microphone. On the bottom are the USB-C port and speaker. On the right side are the power button/fingerprint reader and the volume rocker. The buttons have a nice tactile feel, and the fingerprint reader is also accurate.
On the front is a 4.3-inch display with thick bezels. Below the display are the back, home, and settings buttons. These buttons are capacitive and offer excellent tactile feedback. The settings button provides quick access to settings, volume, brightness, and other functions.
Display
The Mudita Compact’s 4.3-inch E-Ink display is actually one of its strengths. It’s a very good display that’s easy on the eyes, and if you understand that it’s not a smartphone display, you’ll be very satisfied with it.
Because it’s an E-Ink display, it consumes less power and extends battery life. I’ll elaborate on this later. The touch response of the display is very fast, and I never felt like my inputs weren’t being received. This is a clear difference from color OLED displays.
Performance
The quad-core MediaTek processor and 3GB of RAM are fully compatible with the default operating system, and I didn’t install any additional apps. I used the Mudita Compact out of the box without installing any third-party apps.
The touch response is as good as any other E-Ink display, so don’t expect OLED performance. The fingerprint sensor is fast and located on the power button. Maps are fine—not as fast as a smartphone, but fine. There’s a bit of lag, but that’s the point of this device.
Listening to music and reading documents are also fast and easy. Overall, the performance is decent. The Android version is a bit old, but unless you sideload apps, which is the biggest reason to move away from smartphones, it shouldn’t be a major issue.
The built-in storage is 32GB, expandable via microSD card. If you want to store a lot of music or books, 64GB or more is recommended. Overall, the performance is more than expected.
If you expect more, you’re setting your standards too high and aren’t ready for a phone as small as the Mudita Compact.
Battery Life
The Mudita Compact’s battery life is truly impressive. I’ve used it for over five days on a full charge. This is partly due to the e-ink colorless display, which consumes far less battery, and partly because I didn’t use it like a regular smartphone.
I didn’t sideload apps, install any additional e-readers, music apps, or games. I just used the device as it was when I first started using it. Because I didn’t install any additional apps, the battery lasted longer.
If you sideload apps through the Aurora Store or other means, or install apps that make your phone more active, the battery life will vary.
Even if you add other apps, I think the battery life will be quite good. Overall, if you’re looking for a big break from the smartphone world, this is the device for you. Calls and text messages last a long time.
Software
The Mudita Kompakt runs Android 12. Yes, that’s right, Android 12. If this were a Samsung, Motorola, or OnePlus device, it would be absolutely ridiculous.
But this is neither of those, nor a true smartphone. Running Android 12 alone, you’ll have all the features you need. Unless you sideload apps, you might run into issues.
The only real features worth mentioning here are the Maps app, the Weather app, and the Music app. The Maps app isn’t like Google Maps. When you enter a location, you have to download the area you’re looking for; it’s not pre-installed.
It’s almost like a local map app, meaning data is stored on the device rather than being retrieved from an app or network. It’s a basic app, making it difficult to use.
The weather app is basic and seems to work well, but don’t expect all the features you’d find in other smartphone weather apps.
The music app is also basic and isn’t a streaming music app. However, you can sideload Spotify. You’ll need to connect the Mudita Compact to your computer and install MP3 files to use the app. You can listen to a few pre-installed music tracks.
There’s also a meditation app, which helps you focus and breathe for a while. If you enjoy meditation, this is a good app. Overall, the software is basic. There are no special features or apps. It’s just the basics, and that’s why you’re buying it.
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