Probably only a few people are aware of modular phones, devices that allow you to change the performance and functionality of your cell phone. Thanks to a structure composed of a series of replaceable modules, these devices allow you to change elements such as the screen, cameras, GPU and even the processor. Here is a small guide to understand what modular smartphones are, what they are used for and how much they cost.
What is the modular smartphone
Modular smartphones are a particular type of phone, whose functionality is almost identical to that of a traditional device, however the hardware and structure are completely different. In a classic device, in fact, all elements such as CPU, video card and display are fixed, so it is not possible to replace them by customizing the device, to change its performance. In this case, the only solution is to buy a new smartphone.
Modular phones, on the other hand, are devices composed of a series of modules, according to an architecture that allows you to replace each component according to your needs. This means that you can, for example, add a camera, change the speakers to more up-to-date models, or install a display module that can provide a higher resolution. This technology is not very widespread, although Google has been working for some time on a patent for the development of its modular smartphone (Project Ara).
The origins of this technical solution date back to the ’90s, when they came out on the market some modular handheld phones, expandable using precisely the additional modules. However, the most famous example is the Fairphone 2, a device made by a Dutch company in 2015, which presented to the general public a completely modular smartphone. In the device, in fact, you could change almost all the components, from the screen to the processor.
Modular smartphone: how it works and what it is for
The operation of modular phones is quite complex, as it is necessary to allow the perfect integration of the modules within the main structure, ensuring the connectivity of each new and old element. In the device there is a skeleton, which includes all the main parts of the device. On this skeleton are mounted the various components, which fit into the structure like Lego bricks.
In this way you can install the CPU, camera, video card, RAM memory, speakers and all other elements that go to make up the hardware of the phone. These modules are removable, through user-friendly docking systems, without the need to use specific tools or go to a service center. The usefulness of modular phones is first of all the wide level of customization, so it is possible to buy an inexpensive smartphone and increase the performance, installing for example new modules for graphics or a more powerful RAM. They also let you decrease electronic waste, since the components can be reused or resold to other users. At the same time, you don’t have to buy a new smartphone every three to four years, as you can change individual components, keeping the device up to date.
Of course, these devices also have some disadvantages. First of all, they represent a significant technological challenge, since making a modular smartphone is extremely complicated, even for companies like Google, Samsung and Apple. In addition to this, it is not so simple to modify the structure of a cell phone, because it is necessary to comply with certain technical characteristics, to avoid overloading the device, causing damage and inserting modules incompatible with each other.
Modular smartphones: prices and models
On the market you can not find many devices with mobile layout, however, it is possible to buy phones that offer a certain freedom in customizing the hardware structure. The most famous of all is the Fairphone 3, a fair trade cell phone to which you can change the speakers, camera, screen, battery and many other components. The price of the modular smartphone Fairphone 3 is 450 euros, while the cost of individual modules ranges from 30 euros for the speakers to 90 euros for the display.
Other devices are not completely modular, however some models allow you to replace some elements, ensuring at least partial customization. Among them is the Motorola Moto Z2, on sale at a price of about 160 euros, with the possibility to insert components for speakers, cameras and printing. Although it is still in the design phase, Phoneblock, a modular phone of the latest generation, whose cost, however, has not been disclosed, should also soon arrive on the market.
On average, the prices of modular phones are those of a mid-range smartphone, at the same time we must consider that they can be updated easily, with low costs, using the same device for many years. In this way with a few hundred euros you can install new modules, to have a phone always in line with the latest technologies, without the need to spend a high amount each time. At the moment, however, these are niche devices, so it is not known until when the companies that produce them can ensure assistance, spare parts and the development of new components.