Ikko MindOne Pro: The Square Phone That Disappoints
The Ikko MindOne Pro is a compact phone with a near-square screen, flip-up camera, and keyboard case, but poor battery life and camera quality let it down.
Ikko, a Shenzhen-based company known for audio accessories, has released its first smartphone, the MindOne Pro. The device features a small, almost square screen, a flip-up main camera that doubles as a selfie shooter and kickstand, and an optional keyboard case with a magnetic ring and headphone jack. Despite its charming design, the phone falls short in practical use.
During testing, the phone heated up noticeably during initial setup and continued to warm up easily under light usage. Battery life is poor: it dropped from 90% to 60% in just 1.5 hours while scrolling social media and using Google Maps over Wi-Fi. The camera quality is underwhelming—daylight shots are acceptable, but indoor images have a greenish tint.
The square screen struggles with apps designed for vertical rectangles. The phone offers a resolution toggle and an aspect ratio switch that adds black bars or crops content, but this reduces the already small display area. The keyboard case proved more fiddly than the onscreen keyboard, though the headphone jack is a nice addition.
The MindOne Pro includes a dedicated AI launcher with a chatbot that can switch between LLMs. Asked about Hong Kong, it responded in Spanish and declined to answer. The global eSIM is free only for AI features; messaging requires payment. Connection speeds were slow in Seattle.
Ultimately, the Ikko MindOne Pro is an interesting concept but fails to deliver a satisfying user experience. It may appeal to users who prioritize size and design over battery and camera, but most buyers should look elsewhere.
