July 26, 2026
Screen Alternatives
The Board, Minimal Phone, and more
We're not anti-screen and are generally pro intentional screen use. Before reaching for the phone or iPad though, here are a few alternatives with and without a screen.
Board's tabletop console is a 24-inch touchscreen that lies flat on the table and reads real game pieces by the conductive glyphs printed on their bases, seven games included. The Minimal Phone is a 4.3-inch E Ink Android with a physical keyboard, black and white and slow on purpose, and Paul Gu's five-year-old is learning her letters on one. Physical's The Rotary is a Bluetooth handset that pairs to two phones, so calling grandma is something a kid walks over to and picks up. And Tokidos' PlayCubes are five LED cubes that snap together magnetically and load games off a card you push in, with no camera and no WiFi once it's set up.
Board
The Board
A 24-inch touchscreen that lies flat on the table and reads real game pieces by the conductive glyphs printed on their bases.
Get it here →
Minimal Company
Minimal Phone
A 4.3-inch E Ink Android phone with a physical QWERTY keyboard, black and white and slow on purpose.
Get it here →
Physical
The Rotary
A Bluetooth handset that pairs to two phones at once, so a call happens at a table instead of in someone's pocket.
Get it here →
Tokidos
PlayCubes
Five LED cubes that snap together magnetically and load games off a physical card, with no camera, no microphone, and no WiFi after setup.
Get it here →
This week's picks
One product and one brand from the collection
Toniebox 2. A soft-sided audio player a kid runs entirely on their own by setting a figurine on top, with no screen and no app in the loop. Get it here
Daylight. Daylight makes a grayscale tablet with a reflective, blue-light-free display that stays readable in direct sun and refreshes fast enough to write on. Find it here
Last week's drop
In case you missed it
A Family Home. Egmont's Mushroom Lamp, Cats Day Out by Marcello Velho, and more View the drop
Egmont Toys
Mushroom Lamp (Medium)
Hand-painted mushroom nightlight with a warm 1.5W LED glow, made in Germany.
Get it here →
Aykasa
Midibox Foldable Crate
A foldable stacking crate that collapses flat and locks back into shape, for toys, craft supplies, or whatever needs corralling.
Get it here →
Iris Hantverk
Shaker Peg Rail
Solid birch peg rail from Sweden's Iris Hantverk, made by hand, for coats, bags, and everyday essentials.
Get it here →
Art
Cats Day Out
Bold, playful cat print by illustrator Marcello Velho, made with cutout techniques and digital design.
Get it here →