Criticize me what you want, but I have to say it. These are not modular mobile phonesNo matter how much they try to sell it to us as such. And I'm not just talking about Lenovo, I'm also talking about LG and all the others that will try it later. Really, this doesn't go much further than phones with accessories. They include a special port, but even that's not new.
Nothing new
Nothing we've seen is truly new. In the market, it's nothing more than similar things to what we've seen so far, albeit with a new perspective, and in some cases, a not entirely successful one. A speaker that attaches to the smartphone and makes it louder. A projector that attaches to the smartphone, and even a case—we could also call this a module. A case that I'd rather do without so my phone would be thinner, by the way. External speakers, not very useful projectors, and even the future camera that would be added to the catalog of Moto ModsThere's little new here. We've already seen Sony's external cameras, which have a similar function and whose finish isn't much different.
In this area, some manufacturers have been somewhat smarter with user experience: magnetic solutions that don't require disassembling any parts of the phone and that work in plug-and-play mode. However, they all run into the same problem: High price for each accessory and questionable usefulness depending on the person. Adding a speaker, a battery, or a projector can be convenient, but it's rarely a decisive factor compared to buying a cheaper, universal external accessory. In practice, There never was a "golden age" Regarding commercial modularity: the initial catalogs generated excitement, but They did not reach critical mass nor continuity.
Modular mobiles
When we really started talking about modular phones, it was with Project AraThis project, by the way, was from Motorola after the acquisition of Phone Bloks, and when it was still part of Google. The user had, or will have, if the project truly comes to fruition, the choice The screen, the camera, the memory, the processor, the battery—and even replacing these modules with others that have more battery life, more memory, a better camera, or doing away with some of them to compensate with others. For example, less memory, or even doing away with the camera, to have a battery with double the capacity. That was the idea behind a modular phone. But I don't know if we can accept a battery that attaches to a smartphone as modular, since after all, there are cases that have precisely that same function, and we've never called them modules.
To avoid any doubt, it is advisable to establish clear definitions, because A modular smartphone is not the same as one with modular accessories.:
- Modular SmartphoneThe phone itself is built from user-interchangeable modules (screen, camera, processor, battery, storage, etc.) that require no special tools. Changing a module substitute system components and alters their basic capabilities.
- Smartphone with modular accessoriesThe telephone is conventional and it is couple specific external modules from the manufacturer (speaker, additional battery, camera grip, projector…) that add functions, but do not replace internal components such as the camera or the processor.
- Repairable smartphone: devices that prioritize the repairability They allow for easy replacement of wear parts such as the battery, screen, charging port, or cameras, generally using standard screws and guides. It is modular in the practical sense of repair, not in the sense of free expansion like Lego.
Project Ara was conceived as the ultimate example of the first case, with a basic skeleton and modules connected by standardized high-speed interfaces (such as UniPro and magnetic pins). In contrast, solutions like Moto Mods or LG's so-called "friends" belong to the second group: certified accessories for a model of telephone that expand specific uses.
Real-life examples and lessons learned
The most well-known cases of integrated modular accessories These have been the Moto Mods and the LG Friends. The former attached magnetically to the back of the phone and activated its controllers automatically (JBL speaker, projector, extra battery, photo module with optical zoom, designer cases…). The latter proposed a removable base to add a camera gripHi-Fi audio or an additional battery. The experience was convenient and truly plug and play in many scenarios, but the catalog He didn't finish climbing and prices limited its adoption.
More recently, proposals have emerged that seek a middle term and they move away from the idea of ​​replacing internal parts. One example is the approach with magnetic connectors and outfits which adds smart cases with functions (camera fill light, wireless charging, more durable covers) without disassembling the phone. Another interesting line is CMF by Nothing with a phone that integrates a interchangeable back shell or with a rotary dial to attach accessories such as a strap or stand: real customization, but not modularity of components.
In the field of research, some patents from major manufacturers have described mobile phones divided into three blocks (upper section with cameras and motherboard, central section with battery, and lower module with ports and speakers). They have even been seen prototypes like the first Motorola prototype and designs with removable screens that can function independentlyThese are suggestive ideas, but they remain just theoretical concepts if they don't reach production.
The other side of the coin is the movement of the repairable mobilesFairphone has demonstrated that it is possible to prioritize user repairs, offering improved camera modules time after launch and maintain long update cyclesIn return, there are design compromises: greater thickness, more complex sealing, and sometimes, lower water resistance to the one with sealed phones.
In addition, the industry giants have launched programs for self-repair with original parts and official manuals. This advance, also driven by regulation, reduces the pressure for total modularity to be the only path to sustainability, while also facilitating repairs such as battery or screen replacement without having to change the mobile phone.
Maybe the future will take away my reason
Market experience shows that the ecosystem and the price They are almost everything. If the modules are expensive and their usefulness is unclear, users use them little and developers lose interest. Even in the best-integrated accessory designs, the initial catalog is exciting, but continuity and backward compatibility They ultimately determine their survival. Furthermore, intergenerational compatibility This is key: if the modules stop working when the phone is renewed, the incentive collapses.
However, more pragmatic approaches have emerged that seek a middle ground: phones with magnetic connectors and smart "outfits" or cases to easily add functions (from camera fill lights to wireless charging or more durable cases), and options with screw-on or dial-mounted accessories to personalize the phone and its usability. They don't offer the full modularity of Ara, but they do provide real customization and some uncomplicated functional expansion.
Meanwhile, the movement for the right to repair And manufacturers are betting on phones that are easier to open and repair, with accessible parts and documentation. This approach doesn't make those phones "Ara" phones, but it does extends its useful life Reducing waste and maintenance costs. For many users, being able to replace a battery, port, or even a camera module with a better, certified one is already a significant advantage.
An Open-Source project
Modular phones should be like Android. It can't be that each manufacturer has its own modular system, its own connectors… otherwise, we'll never have truly useful modules. Nobody will want to design and manufacture modules for different phones. Especially when next year's phone, the LG G6 or the Moto Z2, might not be compatible with these modules. However, let's imagine that everything is managed by one system. GoogleThis establishes a modular mobile project that manufacturers can integrate into their smartphones. Module developers would release modules that could be used in smartphones of all brands, and Google would be responsible for establishing generations, as there will always be times when some modules will no longer be compatible. This will be known in the same way that we know when a mobile phone fails to update to a new version.
Regardless of who leads it, the reasonable path involves a open standardPublic specifications for the ports (magnetic pins, power supply, UniPro or similar communication), dimensions, and control protocols, with a generational management Clear (minimum compatibility guaranteed over several cycles). This would make cross-platform catalogs viable and encourage third parties to invest in modules (cameras, audio, networks, specialized sensors, etc.) knowing that their market covers multiple brands and models.
The open approach also unlocks systemic advantages:
- SustainabilityExtending the life of hardware with modular upgrades and facilitating repair reduces electronic waste.
- Competition and varietyMore players building modules drives innovation in niches (health, gaming, photography, fieldwork…).
- Contained costs: economies of scale by manufacturing modules compatible with various phones, with more reasonable prices than proprietary accessories.
The risks exist. A poorly governed standard can lead to fragmentation and confusion for the user; extreme miniaturization and sealing complicate the engineering of interchangeable modules; and seal the phone It often helps with water resistance and thinning the chassis. That's why many brands have preferred "modular accessories" or the improved repairability versus total modularity.
I think it's the only way forward for modular phones. The idea is good, yes. But I also think that the Smart watches They are already very close to replacing smartphones, and will become established before these modular phones succeed. If I had to make a prediction, I would say that modular phones will be the last great innovation in the mobile world that will never become a reality. Perhaps I'm wrong.
Looking at the big picture, the pieces fit together like this: modular accessories They offer convenience and immediate customization at the cost of price and dependence on the manufacturer; the repairability It is establishing itself as a real response to planned obsolescence by increasing lifespan; and total modularity It remains that inspiring horizon that will only take off if an open, well-governed, and economically attractive standard for users and developers is born. Until that happens, the most honest thing to do is call things by their proper names.
