Modular smartphones: to be or not to be?
Devices / / December 19, 2019
At the moment, there are several concepts of modular gadgets, are at different stages of development and production. Smartphones are no exception. What is interesting, current projects do not duplicate each other and are based on different ideas, occupy different niches. In order to see if they can win the market, it is necessary to consider each, to understand the principles of modularity and evaluate how useful and competitive in each of the projects.
Project Ara
Project Ara - the first concept of the modular smartphone (from Google and Motorola), designed to help users assemble custom device according to your needs and abilities. Allegedly inflated costs to compensate for the possibility of modifying the device in the future and acquire a completely new gadget - only the necessary modules.
At this point contains the working concept. Current prototype phone called a Spiral 2. This penultimate before the final version of the prototype, consisting of a display unit (720p), and eight additional modules on the back side (including the battery, the camera and adapter microUSB). There are about 30 modules available information, which include even
dosimeter from Russian developers.Release date: 2016.
cost: unknown.
Fairphone 2
The developers plan to create Fairphone as the first "ethical" smartphone: production in Europe (fair wages, health and safety), the possibility of long-term use without having to buy a new device, disposal of old devices manufacturer. The modularity of the design allows the duration of use: If necessary, the user can update smartphone, replacing parts of it, from a stronger body and module with the "basis" - the processor, memory, and modem.
Oddly enough, the project "took off", not only on paper - is already preparing to send the first batch of customers. Specifications Fairphone 2 are: 5-inch Full HD-display, protected by Gorilla Glass 3, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2 GB and 32 GB internal flash memory, 8 megapixel main camera, the battery on 2420 mAh, microSD slots and two SIM-cards. The list of supported interfaces - 4G LTE / 3G / 2G, Wi-Fi (802.11b / g / n / ac), Bluetooth 4.0 LE and GPS. Estimated OS - Android 5.1 Lollipop.
Release date: December 2015.
Price: 529 dollars.
PuzzlePhone
Project PuzzlePhone It was announced even in the year before the Finnish company Circular Devices. Unlike Project Ara, which is planned to replace any components in PuzzlePhone display, speakers, and some electronics are built into the main board. To replace will be available for only two modules: one combines secondary battery and electronics, the second - the processor and camera. On December 14 kraudfandingovoy platform Indiegogo completed fundraising. Developers are not able to collect the amount claimed, but, according to them, the device will be released regardless of the success of the action.
PuzzlePhone offers some very interesting features: a 5-inch Full HD-screen unknown 8-core processor 3 GB RAM 16/32/64 GB internal storage chamber 12 Mn 5 and Mn and the battery 2 800 mAh. As the operating system you plan to use Android 6.0 Marshmallow or Sailfish OS.
Release date: September 2016.
Price: from 333 dollars (pre-order) to 661 dollars.
RePhone
Project RePhone Kit It is a set of modular telephone and software to it an open-source. In fact, the device is a set of components to be joined and placed in a home-made body (which can be cut out of the paper).
Device directly "out of the box" is able to synchronize with devices based on Arduino or Pebble Time. can be used by developers, RePhone to give voice commands to the dog distance control robots via text messages or track using the gadget Of GPS-module. RePhone can be used as a normal phone: for calls, messages and listening to music.
Release date: fundraising is finished, sending in the near future.
Price: from $ 12 (basic package) to $ 39 (the screen).
Shift5 +
Shift5 + - smart-riddle. It is known only to the price, the fact that modularity and that will have a choice of two options - Android or Windows 10. Write that, in addition to the battery, it will be possible to replace the screen, and other "critical components", with no information about how it will be implemented, no. Moreover, the smartphone is still not even obzavolsya certain specifications, and the beginning of deliveries scheduled for the third quarter of 2016.
Now it is only known that the smart phone will be powered or quad eight-processor from Qualcomm, at least 2GB of RAM and at least 32 GB internal. Main camera 13 megapixel, front - 5 megapixels. Battery capacity - from 2 500 to 3, 000 mAh. All this makes you wonder if not fake in front of us like Vsenn.
Release date:Autumn 2016.
Price: $ 400.
And what will happen?
As you can see, the overall market shows quite cut the running situation. Yes, production is in full swing, developing all the time improving - but what is available to the buyer? Conceptually, modular platform without the possibility of purchasing additional modules? By the time will come when the need for the acquisition of the other modules, it is possible two unpleasant situation: or manufacturer will be ruined, and there will be problems with the installation of more modern and relevant modules.
Why so pessimistic? Now a single crystal platforms that are based smartphones, released twice a year. Two generations per year - that's a lot. Circuitry is changing, and the costs of adapting the new processor under the old architecture can come close to the costs of the development of a completely new device. The same applies to the interfaces, which are used in smartphones to communicate with the outside world. Not to mention the fact that progress is forcing manufacturers every six months to a year to make a qualitative leap (though not always necessary), which leads to the complete isolation of old iron.
Concept remains Fairphone, uses modular for easy maintenance. But with such a filling its cost is comparable to the cost of the Chinese leader from Meizu, Oppo and Xiaomi (parts of which accrue without any problems AliExpressAnd repair is not difficult in most cases). It turns out this is not the best choice for the buyer. Easier to buy two devices, than one with a high value and the problem of purchase.
So while the modular smart phones remain the lot of geeks. Perhaps the situation will change after the appearance of the mass device from Google, but it can expect the fate of Google Glass - oblivion after some time.