Unihertz Jelly Star Mini Smartphone 3 Inch Smallest Tiny 4G Cell Phone Android 13 Transparent Design LED Light NFC OTG 8GB RAM 256GB ROM (Black) Compatible with T-Mobile and Verizon only

I was looking for a small phone to replace my Jelly Pro/Palm. This phone resolves all the issues with thes older phones in regards to performance. Phone is very responsive and has minimum/no lag for my general use. The screen is clear and usable, though viewing take a slight hit when at more extreme angles. With Android 13 loaded, it allows me to use Android auto (Android 8 and the Jelly Pro/Palm doesn't support this ability). Unihertz has published that the phone will get Android 16 in April, 2026, bringing the OS up-to-date. Touch screen works better than either of the older phones and I have had no issues typing. Battery is much better than the prior phones, lasting about slightly less than my Pixel 9a. Charging is very quick given the small battery size the max charging speed of the phone. The phone is thicker than the other phones, but overall thickness actually makes the phone easier to handle. The phone works fine with T-Mobile. CONS The buttons are not placed well for me as a right-hander. It is awkward to reach the volume buttons. Also, the fingerprint reader is badly placed for such a small phone. I have to awkwardly squinch my finger to reach it. Additionally, it doesn't always read correctly. I do believe the camera is slightly better, but not close to a normal sized phone. It will work in a pinch, but wouldn't use it on vacation for memories I wanted to keep. The phone is missing the ability to support an eSim. The phone is larger and heavier than the older 2 phones, but this allows for the larger battery/longer run times. Also, the case it difficult to take off the first time to put in your SIM because of the shape of the phone. This is a great 2nd phone for use around your normal area of business or when exercising. If you take one phone when you travel, I would get a more flexible standard phone that supports eSim and has a camera that takes high quality pictures/video.

I've been wanting to switch to a "Dumb" phone to cut back on my screen time, but I was nervous about needing navigation and the internet away from home. Well! The Jelly Star is a fantastic solution. Cons: -Obviously, typing can be quite difficult. But the audio transcription features work very well. -The small screen means that every small finger gesture can trigger an unintended action Pros: -No loss of function. This phone can do 98% of anything a full size phone can do. -Cut screen time immediately I read a lot about this phone, but still wasn't sure what it could handle. My main goal was to cut screen time so I took a shot on it. Right out of the box I was surprised at how "normal" it was in every way but the size and shape. I was able to still use all of the apps I used on my old phone, I could set up my home screen with widgets I had before, and download the same custom ringtones. Even the youtube popup viewing window, screen recording, messenger! It feels exactly the same to use as any other android phone, just incredibly small. The camera, audio, fingerprint scanner and microphone are all meh, but completely acceptable for a fully functional smartphone that cost $200. Now, did it help with screen time? YES! Right away I really lost the desire to get "stuck" watching videos. The phone doesn't take up much of your field of vision; its hard to get sucked in and not be immediately distracted by the real world outside your screen. And as it was intended, the small phone screen (while serviceable in every way), just isn't much fun to be on. Typing on this phone is a bit slow and methodic, I make more phone calls and speak to people in my life a bit more regularly. And of course, I still crave entertainment but I have been choosing more audio books, music and podcasts over scrolling on tiktok/instagram/facebook. Having only had this phone a short time, I am blown away by how both effective and usable it is! If you want to cut down on screen time but not give up the convenience of a smart phone, this is the phone for you! For the price it comes with a screen protector (Applied), and extra screen protector, case, cable, brick, and a strap! It comes fully protected out of the box.

This is a great phone, but it's not for everyone. **The Good** * Even though this is a 4G-only phone, it's more than sufficient on T-Mobile's network. * It's so compact and lightweight that you can carry it in your pocket and barely notice it's there. * A great conversation starter due to its unique size. * Fast and capable of handling almost everything a regular smartphone can do, including NFC payments. * Includes a hotspot feature that works very well. * The cameras are tiny, but they do a surprisingly good job. * Full access to the Google Play Store. * Excellent choice for anyone looking for a minimalist phone without sacrificing essential functionality. * Includes a headphone jack. **The Bad** * Older users may struggle with the small size. Reading text and typing can be challenging. * It does not receive the latest Android updates. While it runs Android 13, newer versions are not available. * Security may not be as strong as on devices that receive the latest Android updates and security patches. * Watching videos is possible, but if you have poor eyesight, the small screen can be difficult to use comfortably. **Final Thoughts** For me, this phone is perfect. It delivers excellent value for the money and even exceeds expectations in some areas. As a secondary phone, I think it's fantastic. However, if you're considering replacing a flagship device like a Samsung Galaxy S25 with this phone, you may find it limiting. This is a simple, compact device designed for people who prioritize portability and minimalism over cutting-edge features. For its size and price, though, it's hard to beat.

I've been using the Jelly Star about a week now and have no regrets about my purchase. I have the blue color and it's really pretty. This phone is as good as the reviews I researched said it was. Very fast, has all features of a regular smart phone but easy to hold in one hand and carry in pocket. This phone is 3/4" thick with a screen 2.75" x 1.5" and comes with a protective case. Good connection with T-Mobile cell towers, nice variety of ring tones, decent camera for snapshots. When it first arrived I was hesitant to commit, worried that with the tiny print I would struggle, but now that I got it connected I'm really happy with it. I'm old enough that without reading glasses, I need to squint to see the print in text messages, but it has a zoom feature that works well once you get used to it, and I plan to use other devices for viewing the images I take with it. Bought it mainly to have as a basic communication device that isn't bulky/in the way all the time. Don't have to constantly charge the battery either. Only using the phone for calls, texts, and WhatsApp; so far only need to charge it every 3 days. I took the time to research online how to stop apps from running in the background which should also help conserve the battery. I'm looking forward to loading music on it and maybe even taking it for a run once I get the headphones and armband accessories. I recommend it.

I bought this phone 2 months ago and within a week the screen stopped working. It stopped responding to any touch. I sent it back to Amazon in its original physical condition in its original packaging and ordered a second one. The second one has battery issues where it randomly starts heating up and dies within a couple of hours. Just found out amazon denied my return because they said the phone was damaged. It was not. I love the idea of the phone but the execution is poor and because there's no reliable way to get replacements I definitely would not recommend risking it.

This phone is perfect, but only for it's use case (those who spend too much time on their phones and want to cut back). This phone is small. REALLY SMALL. I knew that going into it, and I was still surprised at just how dang small this thing is! The build quality is fantastic for this price. Also, IT COMES WITH A FREAKING HEADPHONE JACK! And a micro SD card slot! The value is honestly incredible here. Typing is very difficult on this screen, but thankfully you can use swipe to text, which is what I'm using to make this review! It runs full android as well, so you still have access to important apps like maps, internet, signal, etc. The battery life is good as well, as long as you're not on it all day. Also, this phone is definitely fast enough to browse the internet, watch videos, or run a few games (not that you'd really want to run like Call or Duty or something on this screen). I would HIGHLY recommend getting this phone if you are trying to use your current phone less, and are willing to sacrifice a TON of screen space. It will DEFINITELY make you not want to use it all day. (My screen time has been cut in half since switching.) Also, I use T-Mobile, and it works great.

Meets my minimliast goals. I wanted something to limit my phone use and focus on calls, messages and music but still needed things like banking apps, MFA authenticators, maps etc and this meets those requirements! Functions smoothly! When out in public, nearly every male comments on it. lol Also, it works with Android Auto. I came from an iPhone and the transition wasn't bad. Also, the red indicator light really keeps me from opening it up as often as I would my iphone. I tried the Jelly Max but it just felt like my Iphone SE3 and I ended up checking more often but with this little guy, the red indicator light really stops that. It's also fun to hold! It's way less expensive than the Light Phone 3 with apps the Light Phone doesn't have I am not a fan of e-ink screens for a phone It's a great little phone!

I LOVE this phone, but it does not *fully* function with Verizon. I have spent hours troubleshooting (talking with Verizon customer support for hours, searching reddit and facebook Unihertz Technical support posts, and scouring other sites about the same issues). Let me try to explain (i am no expert, but I can share what I learned). When you insert the SIM card from a working Verizon phone, it will connect to the network (only 4G, not 5G). You can make and receive calls and SMS texts. However, you will not be able to use RCS messaging. Verizon confirmed with me that the Jelly Star is not supported to use RCS messaging through Google Messages (I don't trust Verizon, so i tried finding ways to make it work to no avail). Even changing the APN did not work. RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging is important for the functionality of a Smart phone for several reasons. It is the messaging system that is trying to replace SMS & MMS messaging. It enables you to do group chats, provides receipts of messages, translates messages through iPhone and Androids and more. Without this you will likely not get other people's messages. I also lost all of my message history from my old phone--it will not transfer over without RCS as far as I can tell. I tried to see if I could get away without RCS messaging and only using SMS for a few days. I started using Signal with some of my friends. But apparently I never received some important texts outside my friends using Signal. It was frustrating and concerning. From what it sounds like, this is Verizon's fault. Verizon phased out their old default messaging app a couple years ago and will ONLY allow Google Messages be your primary messaging service that uses RCS messaging. The old default app seemed to work, according to past users. Even other free messaging apps only use SMS. You have no choice but to use Google Messages. I'm not entirely sure why RCS messaging isn't supported by Verizon through Google, but it just isn't. It may be Google's fault, too, but something just isn't working. Please, previous (and future) reviewers who claim Verizon works with this phone, comment on the RCS functionality. Does it work for you? If so, how did you get it to work? I am dying to know!! I have a lot to say about why I love this phone that was already said in previous reviews. I like it so much that I'm considering switching carriers to T-mobile just to use it. Though, that feels like a gamble, too, since I can't be sure if RCS is supported there. I hope this helps you'll make a decision about buying this phone.