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The smartphone market is full of units that have different processors, apps, cameras, and even smart assistants, but they all share rectangular features. “Monohm” aims to change the way users think of smartphones by offering a $399 gadget called the “Runcible.”
The “Runcible” was actually introduced to the wider mobile audience back in 2015, during the Mobile World Congress. At the time, the device was described as having little functionality, which is entirely the point. The creator, Aubrey Anderson, wanted to provide people with a mobile device that didn’t come with as many connective features for those who want quieter lives.
Engadget pointed out that Anderson went quiet after the conference, but now his company “Monohm” has announced that the phone is up for pre-order for $399. Those who want the premium version will need to pay $499.
In terms of specifications, the “Runcible” runs on BuniOS, which the company created. The display is 2.5 inches in diameter and provides a resolution of 640 x 640. Its process is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 and it has a Qualcomm Adreno 306 GPU. The RAM is only at 1GB, while storage is only at 8GB.
Comparatively speaking, these specifications are not exactly all that impressive, particularly when something like the “OnePlus Three” is on the market. However, specs are not the biggest selling point to the “Runcible.” As it happens, it also has an analog clock, which gives it the appearance of a pocket watch, a compass, and even a photo viewer
As is the case with many startup companies, “Monohm” encountered their own obstacles in trying to create their unique device. Speaking to The Verge, Anderson recounted how the cancellation of the “FirefoxOS” and the processor that they were originally going to use almost killed the project.
"I think we hit probably every possible obstacle that you can hit," he said. "Indie hardware is really damn hard, but I think we’ve had it pretty rough even in that context."
Since the “Runcible” is now up for pre-order, the company clearly overcame said obstacles.
