Light Phone III vs Mudita Kompakt vs Sunbeam F1 Pro (2026)
Updated 2026-11-10 · By the Touch Grass editors
Buy the Light Phone III (about $899) if you want one phone to replace your smartphone, with maps, music, podcasts and a 50MP camera. Buy the Mudita Kompakt (about $399) for an E Ink screen and up to 6 days of battery. Buy the Sunbeam F1 Pro Hickory (about $359) if you want a cheap, rugged flip phone with Waze. All three work on regular carrier plans.
These are the three dumb phones people compare most in 2026. They all skip the browser and the feeds, and they all run on a normal US phone plan. Where they differ is the screen, the built-in tools and the price, which runs from about $359 to about $899.
Here's how they stack up, using each maker's published specs and coverage we could verify. Check the retailer for today's price, since all three have had promos and price changes.
| Light Phone III | Mudita Kompakt | Sunbeam F1 Pro (Hickory) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | About $899 (pre-order) | About $399 (regular price has been $439) | About $359 |
| Screen | 3.92" monochrome OLED touchscreen | 4.3" E Ink, 800×480 | 2.8" touchscreen in a flip |
| Monthly cost | Your carrier plan, or a 2-year Light plan from $59/mo | Your carrier plan | Your carrier plan. Optional Sunbeam Premium add-on |
| Apps and tools | Built-in messaging, maps, music, podcasts, camera, notes, calendar. No third-party apps | MuditaOS K tools incl. offline maps and camera. No app store; Android apps can be sideloaded | Calls, texts and Waze. No browser or app store |
| Battery | User-replaceable | 3,300mAh, up to 6 days standby (Mudita) | Removable 2,200mAh |
| Best for | Replacing your smartphone full time | Battery life and a calm screen | A cheap, tough flip phone with directions |
What is the main difference between the three?
The Light Phone III is a premium all-in-one, the Mudita Kompakt is an E Ink phone built around battery life, and the Sunbeam F1 Pro is a flip phone built for calls, texts and driving.
Each one answers a different question. The Light asks, "What if a phone did everything useful and nothing addictive?" The Mudita asks, "What if the screen itself were boring to look at?" The Sunbeam keeps things simple and puts Waze on a flip phone.
Light Phone III
The premium minimalist phone, with a black-and-white OLED $899pre-orderMudita Kompakt
An E Ink "calm phone" with a battery that lasts days $399may be a promo priceSunbeam F1 Pro (Hickory)
A rugged flip phone with Waze, and nothing else to scroll $359Which has the best screen?
The Light Phone III has the sharpest, fastest screen of the three, and the Mudita Kompakt has the easiest one on the eyes.
- Light Phone III: a 3.92" black-and-white OLED touchscreen. It responds like a normal phone but shows no color, which takes a lot of pull out of it.
- Mudita Kompakt: a 4.3" E Ink display at 800×480. It looks like printed paper and sips power, but it refreshes slowly, so photos and scrolling feel sluggish.
- Sunbeam F1 Pro: a 2.8" touchscreen inside a flip. It's small, which is the point. You close it and it's done.
How much does each one cost per month?
All three run on your regular phone plan, so the monthly cost is whatever you already pay your carrier.
Light also sells a 2-year Light plan from $59/mo if you'd rather bundle. Mudita doesn't list a subscription for the Kompakt. Sunbeam sells an optional Premium add-on with live traffic, radar weather and points-of-interest search after a 30-day trial, but the free versions of weather and navigation keep working without it. Waze needs a plan with data.
Which one has the most apps?
The Light Phone III has the most useful built-in tools, and the Mudita Kompakt is the only one that can add Android apps.
The Light Phone III ships with messaging, maps (on HERE, with private access according to Engadget), a music player, a podcast player, a calendar, voice notes, an alarm, a timer and a flashlight. It runs no third-party apps at all. The Mudita Kompakt has no app store, but Mudita says you can sideload Android apps through its Mudita Center desktop app. Apps that need Google services, or that weren't designed for E Ink, may not work well. The Sunbeam F1 Pro Hickory keeps it to calls, texts and Waze.
If you need WhatsApp or Signal, none of these is a sure thing. The Kompakt is your best shot. Sunbeam's separate Poplar and Walnut editions are covered as Signal-capable, but they were out of stock when we checked.
Do they work on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile?
All three are sold for US networks, but check each maker's compatibility list against your exact carrier before you buy.
- Mudita Kompakt: the North America version is FCC and PTCRB certified for US and Canadian carriers. Mudita says the Global version also worked on AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon in its tests.
- Sunbeam F1 Pro: Sunbeam's table lists Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T retail service as supported. Visible, Spectrum and US Cellular are listed as not whitelisted, and Xfinity is listed as unsupported.
- Light Phone III: Light runs a compatibility checker on its site. Published reviews disagree on Verizon support, so use the checker with your carrier and plan type.
Which is best for photos, music and directions?
The Light Phone III wins for photos and music, and the Sunbeam F1 Pro Hickory is the most familiar for directions because it has Waze.
The Light's 50MP camera and fingerprint sensor make it the most capable phone here. The Mudita has offline maps, which helps when signal drops. If you go with the Sunbeam or Mudita and miss music, pair it with a small MP3 player like the Innioasis Y1.
Which should you buy?
Buy the phone that matches how much of your smartphone you want to keep.
- Get the Light Phone III if you want one device to carry every day, with a good camera, music and maps, and you can spend about $899.
- Get the Mudita Kompakt if battery life and a screen that doesn't glow matter most, or if you might need one or two Android apps.
- Get the Sunbeam F1 Pro Hickory if you want the cheapest of the three, you drive a lot, or you want something rugged.
Still deciding whether to switch at all? Read what a dumb phone is and how to switch first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Light Phone III worth the price?
If you want to leave your smartphone at home most days, it is the most complete option, with maps, music, podcasts and a 50MP camera. If you only need calls, texts and directions, the Sunbeam F1 Pro does that for about $540 less.
Can the Mudita Kompakt run WhatsApp?
Mudita says you can sideload Android apps through Mudita Center, but apps that rely on Google services may not work well. It may work, but there is no guarantee.
Which dumb phone has the best battery?
The Mudita Kompakt, rated by Mudita at up to 6 days on standby. The Light Phone III and Sunbeam F1 Pro both have batteries you can replace yourself.
Do any of these phones need a subscription?
No. All three work on a regular carrier plan. Light offers an optional 2-year plan from $59/mo, and Sunbeam offers an optional Premium add-on.
Which one is best as a teen's first phone?
The Sunbeam F1 Pro is popular with parents because it has no browser or app store and costs the least. For phones built around parental controls, see our best first phones for kids guide.
Do these phones get group texts?
They send and receive SMS and MMS. Sunbeam lists MMS support by carrier in its compatibility table, so check yours. None of them can join iMessage.
Sources
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