Light Phone is launching a developer program in May 2026 that will allow anyone to create third-party applications — called “Tools” — for its Light Phone III. The Brooklyn-based company is releasing an official software developer kit (SDK) for LightOS, the operating system powering its latest handset.
The move comes in response to persistent demand from users who want their minimalist devices to handle specific tasks the company hasn’t built natively. “I cannot tell you how many people come back to us saying that, ‘Hey, if only you had this thing for QR code scanning; if only you had this localized app,’ that they’d be able to use the Light Phone more often,” said Kaiwei Tang, CEO and cofounder of Light Phone.
Light Phone currently offers a limited set of first-party Tools, including a Calculator, Alarm, Calendar, and Podcasts app. Community members have already been building unofficial workarounds, including a Spotify client, a pass-storage app for items like gym membership cards, and a public transit schedule checker. The new SDK is intended to make that kind of development significantly more accessible.
Developers do not need to own a Light Phone III to build a Tool, though third-party Tools will only run on that model and are not compatible with older Light Phone devices.
Light Phone has been producing utility-focused handsets since 2014. The original device was limited to calls only; the second model added features like turn-by-turn navigation. The Light Phone III modernized the hardware while maintaining the company’s minimal approach. The minimal phone market expanded in 2025 with new entrants including the Minimal Phone and the Mudita Kompakt.
For users who have avoided smartphones to limit screen time and reduce engagement with the attention economy, the developer program could expand what their devices can do without requiring a return to a full-featured smartphone.
Source: WIRED