The Verge's Allison Johnson published a hands-on review of the Ikko MindOne Pro, a smartphone with an unconventional square-ish form factor that diverges from the standard rectangular smartphone design. While the reviewer found the phone charming and appreciated its unique design concept, she concluded that the device falls short in practical execution β describing it as 'a great concept that falls flat.' The review highlights the challenges of differentiating smartphone design in a market dominated by slab-like glass rectangles.
π The Backstory
Ikko is a relatively niche audio and electronics brand that has ventured into the smartphone market. The smartphone industry has seen diminishing design differentiation over the past decade, with most devices converging on similar rectangular shapes, edge-to-edge displays, and camera bump layouts. Some brands have tried unconventional form factors β like the LG Wing's swivelling display, the Microsoft Surface Duo's foldable design, and various square or rounded-square concepts β but these rarely achieve mainstream success due to software compatibility issues, ergonomic compromises, or limited app support. The MindOne Pro appears to be another attempt to break the monotony of smartphone design.
π― Why It Matters
The Ikko MindOne Pro review illustrates the persistent tension between smartphone design innovation and practical usability, highlighting why the industry has largely converged on the rectangular slab form factor despite consumer appetite for something different.
The Verge's Allison Johnson published a hands-on review of the Ikko MindOne Pro, a smartphone with an unconventional square-ish form factor that diverges from the standard rectangular smartphone design. While the reviewer found the phone charming and appreciated its unique design concept, she concluded that the device falls short in practical execution β describing it as 'a great concept that falls flat.' The review highlights the challenges of differentiating smartphone design in a market dominated by slab-like glass rectangles.
Ikko is a relatively niche audio and electronics brand that has ventured into the smartphone market. The smartphone industry has seen diminishing design differentiation over the past decade, with most devices converging on similar rectangular shapes, edge-to-edge displays, and camera bump layouts. Some brands have tried unconventional form factors β like the LG Wing's swivelling display, the Microsoft Surface Duo's foldable design, and various square or rounded-square concepts β but these rarely achieve mainstream success due to software compatibility issues, ergonomic compromises, or limited app support. The MindOne Pro appears to be another attempt to break the monotony of smartphone design.
The Ikko MindOne Pro review illustrates the persistent tension between smartphone design innovation and practical usability, highlighting why the industry has largely converged on the rectangular slab form factor despite consumer appetite for something different.