Sidephone has launched the SP-01, a fully customisable, distraction-light Android handset featuring interchangeable modules such as a T9 keypad, QWERTY keyboard, gaming controller, and shortcut panels, aiming to redefine user focus and flexibility in mobile design.
Sidephone has moved its SP-01 from concept to something customers can actually order, pitching the device as a modular, distraction-light handset built around interchangeable physical controls. The main appeal is the lower section of the phone, which can be swapped to suit the task in hand: a classic T9 keypad, a compact QWERTY board, a gaming controller module or a shortcut panel with a scroll wheel inspired by older iPods. New Atlas reported that the phone is now on sale from $299 with the numeric keypad included, while extra modules cost $29 each.
The hardware swap is designed to be fast, with Sidephone saying the magnetic attachment system lets users change modules in about a second. That means the phone can shift from old-school number entry to a more familiar text layout without replacing the device itself. The QWERTY option uses a compact 5×5 physical key grid with predictive typing, according to Notebookcheck, while the controller tile adds directional and action buttons for games. Sidephone also offers shortcut controls that can be mapped differently depending on the app in use.
Unlike a standard smartphone, the SP-01 runs Android without Google services or the Play Store, a choice the company links to its aim of reducing distractions. Sidephone describes the device as closer to a basic phone than a full smartphone, even though it still supports modern messaging and apps. According to the company and product listings, it comes with tools such as camera, maps, calendar, notes, voice recording, file management, WhatsApp and Proton Mail, while extra software can be added through QR code-based downloads or via Obtainium.
The phone itself is modest by mainstream smartphone standards. Sidephone says the SP-01 has a 2.8-inch touchscreen, a 2,000 mAh battery that should last several days and a rear camera, with the company’s own materials listing a 12-megapixel sensor while La Razón cites 13 megapixels. The handset keeps the slim-bar shape of older mobile phones, though its modular design makes it thicker than many rivals even before a keypad is attached. Sidephone’s site lists the device at $249, with pre-orders opened in 2025 and first shipments expected in fall or early 2026, depending on the region.
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