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Does iMessage work on the Minimal Phone 2?

Through OpenBubbles (reported). With the free setup, iMessage uses your Apple Account email, not your number.

Ways to keep iMessage with this phone

Cheapest first. Checked October 2026.

Check in when you're homeFree

Your texts wait on your iPhone until you're back.

Needs: Nothing. Catch: Nothing reaches you while you're out.

Move your number, keep iMessage on a Mac or iPadFree

Turn iMessage off, then keep it on a Mac or iPad with your Apple Account email.

Needs: A Mac or iPad. Catch: People have to message your email, not your number, and group chats need to add you again.

Light's steps

BlueBubblesFree

Real iMessage on an Android-based phone, through your own Mac.

Needs: A Mac that stays on. Catch: It doesn't handle regular texts, and some features need changes to your Mac's security settings.

BlueBubbles

OpenBubblesFree to set up yourself, or $16.99 a month hosted (currently full)

Real iMessage on an Android-based phone.

Needs: A Mac once to set up; an old iPhone left online to use your phone number. Catch: It signs in to Apple as a Mac, so it can stop working if Apple changes things.

OpenBubbles

A forwarding app on your iPhoneFwrd: free for 15 texts a month, then $4.99 a month. PhoneLeash: from $8.99 a month.

Forwards your texts from the iPhone at home to your second phone, one way.

Needs: Your iPhone at home and on, and a second line. Catch: You can't reply from the other phone.

Fwrd · PhoneLeash

Decaf · Made by us$20 once

A Mac app that relays important texts from your Mac at home to your second phone. Your replies go out from your own number.

Needs: A Mac that stays awake and online, your iPhone at home with Text Message Forwarding on, and a second line for the other phone.. Catch: Only the texts it judges important are sent, and they all arrive in one thread.

Decaf

Sunbird$2.99 a month

iMessage on an Android phone with Google Play, with no Apple hardware.

Needs: Google Play. Catch: Your messages pass through its servers.

Sunbird

Minimal Phone 2

Keyboard · Android-based, 4-inch color screen

A physical keyboard and Android apps, for people who still need a few.

Cost: $599 (256 GB) or $699 (512 GB) on pre-order, no subscription
Availability: Ships Dec 2026
Group chats: Not stated by the maker.
Maps: Through Play Store apps (maker's claim).
WhatsApp & Signal: Through the Play Store (maker's claim); not yet on Google's certified list.
Typing: A physical, backlit keyboard.
Camera & photos: 50 MP rear camera.
Banking & payments: Depends on the app; the maker says to ask before buying.
Music & podcasts: Through the apps you install.
Tickets & QR codes: Depends on the app.
Uber / rideshare: Through the Play Store (maker's claim).
Sign-in codes (2FA): Codes by text; authenticator apps through the Play Store (maker's claim).
Voice notes: Through the apps you install.
Video calls: Through the apps you install.
Work apps & email: Through the Play Store (maker's claim).
Hotspot: Not documented.
Battery: 3,400 mAh.
Carriers: No list yet; check with the maker first.
Returns: 14 days from shipping, like new, 20% restocking fee.

Checked October 2026 · Maker's page