4 Corporations That Did Modular Telephones Earlier than Fairphone

Fairphone, which is a Netherlands-based smartphone model, is understood for promoting simply repairable Android telephones. Its newest cellphone – the Fairphone (Gen. 6) – options 12 user-replaceable components, such because the battery, display screen, speaker, and cameras, and even helps swappable decrease again plate equipment. Whereas Fairphone stays the one notable model providing this degree of modularity or repairability in 2026, it is hardly the primary firm to work with modular telephones.

A number of cellphone manufacturers, from massive to area of interest gamers, have tried creating modular telephones over time. Whereas some, like Phonebloks, remained largely restricted to viral idea movies, others like Motorola noticed extra success and truly launched a number of “modular” telephones. There have additionally been different smartphone manufacturers, like Google, which spent years attempting to provide a really modular cellphone however by no means actually succeeded. Listed here are some notable manufacturers that did or tried to make modular telephones earlier than Fairphone, and what they achieved.

Google’s modular smartphone undertaking might be the best-known and most formidable. Referred to as Mission Ara, it basically tried to construct a really modular cellphone through which there was a major endoskeleton to which you might merely connect all of the related components, just like the show, battery, CPU, and digital camera. It started as a part of then-Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility’s Superior Know-how and Tasks (ATAP) group. When Google offered Motorola to Lenovo, it stored the ATAP group, which continued engaged on Mission Ara. It was influenced by Phonebloks, a modular smartphone idea, and Phonebloks’s creator and designer, Dave Hakkens, labored as a marketing consultant on Mission Ara.

The Mission Ara smartphone was purported to debut in 2017 after delays; nevertheless, that by no means occurred, after Google unceremoniously killed the undertaking in September 2016. A number of prototypes emerged whereas Google actively labored on it; nevertheless, none achieved the true modularity Google promised on the unveiling. The final prototype and a developer model Google confirmed at I/O in 2016 have been a major departure from the unique concept and included many non-upgradeable components, such because the CPU, GPU, antennas, sensors, battery, and show. It was an fascinating and impressive concept, however the technical challenges have been just too massive to beat.

Whereas it was nonetheless a subsidiary of Google, Motorola provided semi-modular smartphones as a part of its Moto Z lineup. Fairly than go too formidable, Motorola opted for a extra possible strategy. It basically offered common smartphones with all of the necessities you want for a correct smartphone expertise, however let customers develop the telephones’ performance with non-compulsory Moto Mod attachments. These Moto Mods have been related to the again of the cellphone utilizing pogo pin connectors and magnets.

Motorola, together with third-party producers, offered fairly a couple of Moto Mods, together with battery extension packs, audio system, digital camera attachments, projectors, sport controllers, an Alexa-powered good speaker, and extra. You possibly can merely clip any of those Moto Mods to the again of a Moto Z cellphone and luxuriate in the additional options. Apart from the unique Moto Z, which began the Moto Mods idea in 2016, the Moto Z Power, Moto Z Play, Moto Z2 Play, Moto Z2 Power, Moto Z3, Moto Z3 Play, and Moto Z4 smartphones have been suitable with the Moto Mods ecosystem. The Moto Z4, which was launched in 2019, was the final Motorola smartphone to assist Moto Mods. The corporate did not launch a Moto Z5 or some other cellphone with pogo pins and magnets to assist Moto Mods. Whereas Motorola by no means explicitly revealed the explanations for killing Moto Mods, it was seemingly because of the subdued adoption of those costly equipment.

LG not sells smartphones, however the firm has a historical past of attempting bizarre and fascinating ideas. The corporate provided its personal tackle modularity with the LG G5 smartphone, which included a detachable backside section. You possibly can swap out the default backside for one of many quick-install “Pals” modules. Among the provided modules included Cam Plus and Hello-Fi Plus with B&O Play. Whereas the Cam Plus added additional battery, extra digital camera controls, and higher grip, the Hello-Fi Plus with B&O Play module introduced a 32-bit Hello-Fi DAC and Amp.

The foremost draw back of LG’s system was that you simply needed to flip off the cellphone each time you needed to swap out the module. This was as a result of eradicating the underside section eliminated the cellphone’s battery, and also you needed to connect the brand new module earlier than putting in it. Whereas the cellphone itself was well-reviewed, the idea did not take off, and moreover the G5, LG did not launch some other modular smartphones. The follow-up to the G5 was a conventional Android cellphone, the LG G6. The corporate later tried different weird and fascinating ideas, akin to a swiveling dual-screen cellphone just like the LG Wing or dual-screen case equipment for the V-series, earlier than it stopped making smartphones in 2021.

Israel-based Modu was one of many first corporations to construct a modular cellphone in 2008. It launched two modular telephones: Modu 1 and Modu T. The idea was to create a core cellphone you might slide into completely different “jackets” so as to add performance like a digital camera, GPS, or perhaps a larger display screen. The Modu 1 was initially unveiled in 2008 however reached retailer cabinets in 2009. It was a tiny, light-weight cellphone that included the fundamentals: a keyboard, an OLED display screen, 2 GB of storage, and the chip, reminiscence, and mobile {hardware} to run it. For some other options, you wanted to get a jacket. Two jackets shipped with each Modu 1 buy. Among the introduced jackets for Modu 1 included a “street-art” jacket with built-in audio system and an “specific” jacket that principally modified the look of the Modu 1 and its consumer interface to look extra enjoyable and playful.

The Modu T got here in 2010, and it was bodily larger than the Modu 1. Its core unit included a resistive touchscreen and used Qualcomm’s Brew OS. It provided a unique lineup of jackets, together with “Camerafy” so as to add a 5 MP digital camera, “Textify” so as to add a bodily QWERTY keyboard, and “Sportify” so as to add health monitoring and music participant capabilities. Sadly, the corporate did not see a lot success, and mounting money owed pressured it to close down in 2011. Google ended up buying Modu’s patents, which seemingly got here in helpful because it developed Mission Ara.