# Meadow's minimal phone lets you skip your smartphone > A new Android device supplements rather than replaces your phone, supporting apps like Uber and Apple Music on a three-inch screen. - Title: Meadow's minimal phone lets you skip your smartphone - Summary: A new Android device supplements rather than replaces your phone, supporting apps like Uber and Apple Music on a three-inch screen. Meadow, a minimalist… - Keywords: meadow, smartphones, minimal phone, android, shreyas narlanka, digital wellness, hardware startup, technology, startups, Meadow's, minimal, phone - Source: TechCrunch — https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/25/meadow-lets-you-leave-your-smartphone-at-home-without-sacrificing-the-essentials - Author: Amanda Silberling - Published: 2026-09-25T14:05:04+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: meadow, smartphones, minimal phone, android, shreyas narlanka, digital wellness, hardware startup, technology, startups ## A three-inch screen that works The author tested Meadow at a concert, using its three-inch square screen to show a ticket barcode to the bouncer. The code scanned successfully, letting her enter without her iPhone. ## Meadow founder Shreyas Narlanka's vision Narlanka built Meadow to help people get outside and unplug while maintaining a social life, not to slow down or focus on work like other minimal phones do. > the reason we're different is because we're all about getting outside and unplugging and having a sick social life ## A growing market for minimal devices People worldwide feel suffocated by constant smartphone and social media connection. New devices like the Light Phone and Wisephone promise relief, each taking different approaches. ## Meadow supplements, not replaces Meadow runs Android and supports apps like Maps, Strava, Uber, Apple Music, and Spotify. It also has native apps for camera, voice memos, notes, text, calling, location sharing, and ticket scanning. ## A separate phone number required Users cannot make calls or send texts with their usual phone number. Instead, they set up a new subscription plan with Meadow that provides a separate number for use on the go. ## Staying reachable without the noise Narlanka recommends using iPhone's driving focus feature, customized to tell contacts you are out with Meadow. This way you miss group chat chatter but urgent contacts can still reach you. ## No social media, but apps work Meadow supports streaming and useful apps but excludes social media and web browsing. Narlanka says they are not Luddites rejecting technology, just avoiding the addictive parts. > We're not Luddites that are going to be like, 'Streaming's bad, and this is bad' ## Even pop stars are ditching social media Artist ADÉLA, whose concert the author attended, deleted social media to stay sane. She used her manager's phone to post about her debut album hitting number four on the Billboard charts. > I have deleted social media because i want to stay sane! ## Camera works but has quirks Meadow's camera performed well during daytime but struggled at the concert. Photos only appear in the Meadow app on your main smartphone. A tiny mirror replaces the front-facing camera for selfies. ## Screen and battery hold up well The display brightness and battery lasted through the author's day out. The screen was sometimes too bright in low-lit areas but remained very visible outdoors. ## Early bugs being fixed Meadow has only shipped its first bulk batch to preorder customers. The author encountered a glitch showing her Uber ride had not ended after leaving the car, but Narlanka says this bug has been fixed. ## Narlanka's track record with startups Shreyas Narlanka is twenty five years old and dropped out of UC San Diego in two thousand twenty when his previous company, Scoutapp AI, gained traction. StockX acquired the inventory management platform. ## Meadow raises funding from notable investors Meadow raised funding in December two thousand twenty four, led by Alana Goyal of basecase capital. Angel investors include Terrence Rohan, Discord's founding CMO Eros Resmini, Vercel founder Guillermo Rauch, and Diagram founder Jordan Singer. ## Key takeaway Meadow, a minimalist Android phone, lets users leave their smartphones behind for outings while keeping essential apps and a separate phone number.