I took a deep breath as I entered the concert space and presented a ticket barcode on a three-inch, square display.

“If it fails, I can try another option,” I quickly noted, anxious that the barcode might not function. But as promised by Meadow founder Shreyas Narlanka, the code I scanned into the startup’s sleek phone that morning worked perfectly.

“Nice phone,” remarked the bouncer, guiding me in.

I had succeeded. With Meadow’s simple smartphone, I had called an Uber, listened to Apple Music during the journey, and gained entry to the event. Not once did I need to touch my iPhone, which I had only brought along as a fallback if the ticket scan failed.

“With countless basic phones, the Brick, and such, the message is, ‘Take a breather, focus on your tasks’ or something similar,” explains Narlanka, detailing why his firm opted to create a minimalist phone. “But what sets us apart is our emphasis on encouraging outdoor activities, disconnecting, and having an amazing social life.”

Online, there’s an increasing volume of content and feedback from individuals worldwide feeling overwhelmed by their continuous connection through smartphones and social media. This is leading to the emergence of a new category of devices offering a break. Some, like the Light Phone, require users to completely abandon their smartphones for simpler alternatives. Others, like the Wisephone, provide a modern touchscreen interface with a minimal user experience and limited applications. Yet others are adopting more tactile designs, such as the Commodore Callback, a flip phone equipped with a touchscreen.

In contrast, Meadow is choosing a balanced approach, designed to complement your existing device. Operating on Android, it supports applications like Maps, Strava, Uber, Apple Music, and Spotify. It also features built-in applications for utilities like the camera, voice memos, notes, text messaging, calling, location sharing, and ticket scanning. Additionally, it supports Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to use 3.5mm headphones via a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter.

“I was aware there would be instances where I would need my phone,” Narlanka remarked. “I didn’t desire a complete replacement.”

However, you cannot make calls or send texts using your primary phone number — you must establish a new plan through Meadow’s subscription service, which provides a distinct number to use while out.

Narlanka encourages customers to utilize the iPhone’s “driving” focus feature, which automatically informs your most contacted individuals that you are on the road — instead, he suggests customizing the message to indicate you are out with Meadow. This way, while you may miss some updates from your group chats, anyone who needs to get in touch urgently will still be able to do so.

“We’re not Luddites claiming, ‘Streaming’s wrong, and this is bad,’” he stated. “It’s simply that we wish to avoid social media, web browsing, and similar distractions.”

This mindset is becoming more widespread. Individuals often discuss minimizing their screen time as something universally regarded as beneficial, akin to eating healthy or flossing. Even ADÉLA, the artist whose concert I went to, used her manager’s phone to announce a celebratory post after her debut album scaled to No. 4 on the Billboard charts.

“I deleted social media to maintain my sanity!” the 22-year-old pop star expressed on Instagram.

Her supporters hold a different perspective — I noticed multiple attendees capturing the entire show on their iPhones. (There’s nothing amiss with taking a few pictures or a short clip for Instagram, but filming the whole concert?)

Regarding cameras, the one on the Meadow performed adequately during daylight, but the images were not impressive when I attempted to capture pictures at the concert.

The camera application also operates differently than typical smartphone options: You can take as many photos and videos as desired, but your images are only viewable after returning home and accessing them through the Meadow app on your primary smartphone. Instead of a front-facing camera, the Meadow features a small mirror beside the lens to help you ensure you’re positioned correctly for selfies.

The screen brightness and battery life posed no challenges while using the Meadow — in fact, the brightness can occasionally be excessively high in dim environments, but that ensures it remains easily visible outdoors.

In your hand, the compact, square device feels slightly unusual, yet adequately functional. This isn’t a device that Meadow wants you to rely on continuously, so it’s not a concern that it feels less comfortable than an iPhone.

Meadow is still in its early stages; it has only completed its first major shipment to preorder customers thus far. I encountered a few minor issues, such as a glitch that indicated my Uber ride hadn’t concluded for a while after I got out (I briefly feared I had inadvertently booked another Uber). Narlanka, however, informs me that this issue has since been resolved.

In summary, if you’re able to navigate the inconvenience of managing a secondary phone number, Meadow serves effectively as a device that encourages you to disconnect without leaving you entirely off the grid.

Although Narlanka is merely 25 years old, Meadow is not his inaugural startup. He left UC San Diego in 2020 when his previous firm, Scoutapp AI, began to gain traction. This inventory management platform for online commerce was eventually acquired by the fashion resale service StockX.

Meadow marks Narlanka’s first venture into hardware, though his prior achievements have garnered him support from investors. The company secured funding in December 2024, led by Alana Goyal of basecase capital. Angel investors, including Terrence Rohan, Discord’s founding CMO Eros Resmini, Vercel founder Guillermo Rauch, and Diagram founder Jordan Singer, also contributed.