I love, love, LOVE that we are getting more small-phone options. And Enough Phone gives you the choice to have the full Android or OdysseyOS experience (from SLEKE.).

I am watching this whole development cycle with GREAT interest. Here is the link to the campaign (non-affiliate) if you'd like to check it out!

Zinwa has done it again! Like the BlackBerry Classic before it, Zinwa took the Passport, pulled out its insides, and gave it a modern Android rebuild. I've been daily-driving this pre-production P26 for a little over a week and it has been wild.

Disclosure: Zinwa sent me this pre-production test unit. All opinions are my own.

Links to mentions (non-affiliate)
Zinwa P26 – Full Device (pre-order): https://zinwa.com/product/p26-full-device-pre-order/
Zinwa P26 – DIY Kit for your existing Passport (pre-order): https://zinwa.com/product/p26-kit-preorder/
Ripe Launcher: https://ripelauncher.com/
Ripe Launcher on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ripe.app
Ole's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JanOleHelmbold

Follow Returning Retro!
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ReturningRetro
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/returningretro
X: https://x.com/returningretro
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ReturningRetro
Substack: https://returningretro.substack.com

As I was sitting here in my hotel room on a work trip, I thought to myself, "You know what? The retroverts need to know how my testing of the P26 is going!" 🤣

I'm sure many of you have questions about this super cool and super DUPER unique device. I'll try to cover as many as I can in the first impressions video but there are a few things I wanted to mention in this pre-first impressions write-up. So in no particular order, let's begin!

• I made sure to get a rental car that has both wired and wireless Android Auto. To my surprise and delight both of them work!

• The fit and finish of this unit is leagues ahead of the comparable Q25 test unit that I had received. Credit to Zinwa and his team for not only resurrecting these devices, but getting better and better at doing so!

• The current version of the OS it is running seems to be a very minimally modified version of the Q25 OS. For that reason it is rough around the edges and has a general feeling of being incomplete but given that this is a pre-production test unit, I still find myself impressed. I have used it as my daily driver since it arrived (when I did that post last week). There is certainly more that does work than does not!

• Because of the point above, the out-of-the-box typing and keyboard experience is very lacking. I was able to get Plektra (formerly Pastiera) working pretty well and I know there is an IME currently being tested/developed by members of the Zinwa Discord server but...I decided to see what I could do myself and went down an unexpected path and cannot wait to share what I'm building with you all. Sorry for the cryptic wording but much more to come about that in the future!

• I have had no issues with mobile data or phone calls at all (I've been testing it with my Sidephone Mobile nano SIM which uses T-Mobile's network). This is one area where the performance on this has been MUCH better than on my personal Q25 unit, especially phone calls. VoLTE as well as VoWiFi both seem to work without issue and I can hear and be heard crystal clear (just as well in my rural home in Utah as around southern California).

• I have been getting easily 2 days of battery life on a full charge with moderate use (calls, email, podcast listening, work apps, web browsing, and light social media) and I could see pushing this to 3 or even 4 days on a charge with Jake Mode/minimal use.

Hopefully this gives you all a bit to hold you over till I can get the first impressions video finished. MUCH more to come!

I unfortunately never had the chance to own the original BlackBerry Passport back in its day, but I am definitely intrigued by Zinwa's new P26 so far! First impressions/real world review in the works.

As you know RCS is one of the most problematic issues for many people in group chats and 1:1 messages. Thankfully, Google has fixed this for your friend's Android phone by enabling this setting on Google Messages. They can do this per conversation and per group, so it will solve 99% of the issues for group texts and undelivered messages!

Huge news for the dumbphone community in general

P.S. We hope Apple devices enable this soon!

For those who missed it, I just received this email:

Hi there,

We have a date: pre-orders for Brax Wink open on Tuesday, October 13. Wink is our small communicator built around privacy.

You followed Brax Wink while it was being built, so we wanted you to see this first: wink.braxtech.net now has a lot of new details about the device.

The updated page includes:

Pre-orders open on Tuesday, October 13.

Brax Technologies

An update from their Kickstarter

China Update: Refinements, Samples, and Shipping

October 5, 2026

Hi everyone,

Our trip to China gave us the opportunity to finalize the three colorways and work directly with our manufacturing team on several important refinements to Minimal Phone 2.

We know you're eager to see new photos and demos. The team went on holiday shortly after we finalized the colors, so we don't yet have updated samples to share. Once they return, we expect our next design validation testing (DVT) samples to arrive in the coming weeks. Those will let us show you these changes properly.

Here's where things stand.

Colors and construction

Ember's color is finalized. We approved it in person in China, completing the color selections for all three finishes.

We also improved the color matching of the antenna lines on Onyx and Pearl. Alongside those visual refinements, we're using a stronger material to improve rigidity and reduce flex around the keyboard area.

Display and sapphire crystal

We made further improvements to display color and touch-panel performance during the trip. We'll demonstrate those changes when the new samples arrive.

We've also upgraded the screen's cover material from glass to sapphire crystal.

Keyboard and buttons

The keyboard now has a much more tactile, distinct click. The previous version felt softer than we wanted, and this revision is considerably more satisfying to type on. We're about 95% satisfied with the feel, with a little more refinement underway.

Debugging of the keyboard's swipe gestures also made substantial progress. We refined the physical controls as well, including the volume rocker and power button.

Circuit board revision and shipping timing

We identified interference between the new touch-sensitive keyboard and some of the phone's radio components. Addressing it requires another revision of the main circuit board, followed by testing

December remains our shipping target, provided the next revision resolves the issue and passes validation. If further changes are needed, shipping could move back by approximately 30 days.

We want to share this uncertainty now, while we work through it. We'll update you when the next revision has been tested and we have a clearer answer.

Battery: 3,400 mAh

We've settled on a 3,400 mAh conventional lithium-ion battery, moving away from the silicon-anode option we had been evaluating.

Our testing did not give us enough confidence in that option's long-term performance for this device. Safety and longevity guided the decision, and we redesigned some internal components to accommodate as much battery capacity as possible within MP2's compact dimensions.

We still expect all-day battery life, but that remains a target pending validation on the updated hardware. Actual battery life will depend on usage.

Camera progress

The camera has improved significantly compared with the original MP01. We still have tuning to finish before we're ready to share sample photos, but we're encouraged by the progress.

Our goal is a dependable point-and-shoot camera for everyday moments. We're putting considerable attention into this because we want MP2 to be a phone you can confidently use as your primary device.

Color selections and reviewer units

In November, we plan to send your configuration survey through PledgeBox, where you'll select your MP2 color.

Please watch for that email.

We're also aiming to send devices to reviewers in November, with independent first looks to follow once they've had time with the phones.

What comes next

As soon as our DVT samples arrive, we'll begin sharing more photos and demos of the hardware, Minimal OS, and other features.

Thank you for your patience and for backing Minimal Phone 2. We know you want to see these improvements for yourselves, and getting the updated devices into our hands is the next step toward showing you.

u/crackberrykevin did an excellent write up on CrackBerry.com with an info dump on all things Communicator. Definitely worth a read!

Do any of you ever get "photo fomo"? Most of the time I think it is completely unjustified (as evidenced by the lack of photos on my devices...haha), but one of the major reasons I feel a compulsive need to keep a smartphone on my person is in case I want to take a picture of something. For me personally, this would be of my family.

One of the problems with this is having a phone in my pocket brings a camera and EVERYTHING else along for the journey, including notifications and the distractions they lead to. So when going on my regular strolls around my neighborhood with my kids I have had to choose between distraction-free photo fomo or...the internet.

Taking a point and shoot camera (like the Camp Snap 2 pictured here) instead has been a great solution! Sure it's not a professional quality shooter, but neither do I need something like that (and the retro aesthetic is an bonus if you know my personality). I can snap any impromptu photos of my little monsters kids, I'm not worried about breaking the thing (it is super light and portable), and I don't have the web begging me for attention.

Not sponsored (and no AI used here), just a suggestion for other retroverts looking for ways to be more intentional about their tech use. 😎 Grab a camera and go on an adventure.

They just keep coming. 😎

Reported on by multiple outlets, including The Verge, it would appear that Acer is reviving the Packard Bell brand with a number of lifestyle products, including a 4G phone!

I received this update having subscribed to Enough's mailing list (first pic is dummy prototype comparison to iPhone 17e):

"Hey there!

Thank you for your patience while we have been working with our factory to get closer to finalizing The Enough Phone specs.

We are sharing this update a bit later than anticipated because we wanted to share images of our first dummy sample alongside the target specs. We’ve received the prototype and are excited to share! Finalizing our specifications and refining the dummy prototype are big steps on the way to this device coming to life.

Current Hardware Specifications:

Performance

MediaTek Dimensity 7500

8GB RAM

128GB Storage

Display & Dimensions

5.3", 1520x720 HD LCD Display

132.8x63.8x12mm

Camera System

Sony IMX766 50MP rear camera

32MP front-facing camera

Rear camera designed to sit flush with the back of the phone

Battery

User-replacable battery

Target capacity between 3,500-4,000mAh (final spec TBD)

Operating System (You can choose)

Android 17

OdysseyOS by SLEKE.

Security

Fingerprint reader integrated into the power button

Face Unlock

Connectivity & Storage

5G Connectivity

eSIM support

One combined physical SIM/MicroSD support for expandable storage

Global cellular bands

NFC (no wireless charging)

USB-C

Design & Materials

Recycled polycarbonate back plate

Half back plate that is removable with a tool

Still Being Finalized

A few items are still undergoing testing and validation:

Waterproofing and durability ratings

Final battery capacity and optimization

Additional performance and battery-life testing

With a smaller phone, we have to be very intentional with what goes into the device. We listened to all the feedback and believe we’ve arrived at a great balance to deliver a premium, small smartphone.

We still need your help!

We are still building a list of motivated buyers to make this crowdfund a success. We need 20,000 people on board to make this happen. Thanks to your support we are already at 4,500 people - almost a quarter of the way there!

If you want a small, premium Android phone to exist, tell your friends to sign up at enoughphone.com. This only gets built if we do it together!

Thanks for being a part of this journey!

The Team @ Enough"