Modular smartphone

A image of the front and back of a Fairphone 2, showing the screen, camera and speaker at the front, and antennas, battery, card slots, loudspeaker and rear camera at the back, among other components.
Front and back of a Fairphone 2 with a transparent case, showing the modular design. The individual components can be highlighted in the annotated image.

A modular smartphone is a smartphone designed for users to upgrade or replace components and modules without the need for resoldering or repair services.[1] The most important component is the main board, to which others such as cameras and batteries are attached.[1] Components can be obtained from open-source hardware stores.[2]

This design aims to reduce electronic waste, increase the phone's lifespan, and lower repair costs.[1] However, modular smartphones are generally bulkier and slower than their non-modular counterparts which may make them less attractive for most consumers.[3]

  1. ^ a b c McNicoll, Arion (19 September 2013). "Phonebloks: The smartphone for the rest of your life". CNN.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  2. ^ Hakkens, David. "Phonebloks: A Phone Worth Keeping (Idea)". Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  3. ^ Pogue, David (2013). "The Problem with Lego Phones". Scientific American. 309 (6): 32–33. Bibcode:2013SciAm.309f..32P. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1213-32. ISSN 0036-8733. JSTOR 26018227. PMID 24383362.