Modular Android Phones in 4 Modules
If you’re reading this, chances are you already knew what modular phones are. Like the Phonebloks concept, the canceled Project Ara by Google and the very repairable Fairphone.
All the concepts have been leaning towards the idea of sustainability. But not everyone would buy that idea; it’s like someone trying to sell you healthy food. Could I eat the same healthy food every day? In the Singapore context, a bowl of salad is more expensive than a MacDonald’s meal. S$11~S$13 a bowl from SaladStop!, S$5~S$9 a meal from MacDonald’s, and not forgetting some sinful local food you can get under S$5. To sell sustainability, it needs to have various delicious, cheap, and appealing to the masses.
Maybe we need to try selling this modular phone idea from a different approach.
When I read this article about Oppo exploring phones with removable camera modules, it hits me. Why didn’t modular phones built in such a manner? Splitting the phone into lesser parts rather than breaking it down into smaller and complicated modules. This exploration will break them down into four modules, a core body, and three other sub-modules like the screen, the battery, and the camera.
The Core
The core body should have all the usual suspects — processor, RAM, internal storage, 5G, Wifi, NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, Fingerprint sensor on the power button, etc.
Core — Internal Battery
For this modular phone to work, a relatively small battery (about 250mAh) is required. The internal battery is unlike the removable battery module. It allows the phone to keep running as you swap the battery module out without switching it off.
Core—Expandable Storage
Using the micro SD card as expandable storage.
Screen Module
The screen module allows you to choose from a wide variety of selections, whether you need a front-facing camera, no camera, a high refresh rate for gaming, or a standard 60Hz screen. Maybe an excellent front-firing stereo speaker for watching videos. A secure way to unlock your phone with your face. Or an under-display fingerprint sensor screen.
Camera Module
Camera, camera, camera, or no camera at all. You could either have a bigger camera sensor or a dedicated telephoto camera. In times like 2020 Covid-19, you can put together a temperature-taking phone. Don’t want a camera? Have a module that tells the time.
Battery Module
The size of the removable battery module depends on each and everyone’s needs. Some needed a big battery to game all day; some wanted the wireless charging capability or having two of the same battery module, so you could have one on the phone while the other charging on the power bank. If not, how about wireless earbuds charging case as the phone battery module.
Software
The software plays a vital role when handling the screen and camera modules. Without excellent software, we can drop the idea entirely. I hope Google would take up Project Ara again, probably making it as a Pixel flagship phone.
Various combinations
Endnote
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or send me a message on Twitter @theglimy . Everything wrote here is my individual opinion, not relating to any company whatsoever.
