Why Did Modular Smartphone Designs Fail?

Modular smartphone concepts, like Google Project Ara, were all the rage a few years ago. However, Google shut the project down after 2 years, and so did many other companies who were experimenting with these designs. But why?
I believe the answer is manufacturing complexity and lack of demand.
What's your opinion?
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#smartphones #innovation

[@countryside4105]

While we were aware of those projects, and at some point, wished to own one (at least), the major thought most of us were stuck on the probability of losing any of its parts. That was my biggest concern regarding the modular phones. Also, while Moto was there with a bunch of modulars, buying all of those cost a huge sum of money. Rather from a normal user's viewpoint, it's better to compromise on some features rather than spending that much.

[@TheHopelessGeek]

I see your point.

[@shrivigneshk6379]

Woah, didn't knew about this Modular smartphone concept. Thanks for this info!

[@TheHopelessGeek]

It won't be out anytime soon, but a concept that was popular back in 2016

[@shrivigneshk6379]

@@TheHopelessGeek Correct!

[@israfilelahi]

If we could change the components of a 15k budget pc.
Why we couldn't customise a phone as well.
The reason modular phones were never launched is the big business people who want to profit from the word "latest" by fooling their consumer.
I was in the hardware and software development sector for 7 years and it was possible but they didn't !!

[@TheHopelessGeek]

It's how Apple keeps their profits high, by making repairs difficult and raising the walls around their products. Other company saw that and followed.

[@seanhelligso6518]

I’m hopeful that phone repairability like the Fairphone will catch on with the big companies, but I’m afraid it’ll go a similar route as this. We have seen minor improvements, like the s23 having a pull tab for the battery.

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Yeah, that would be very cool, to be able to repair and replace components easily.

[@WASTEOFTIMESTUDIOS]

There still may be modular someday, the best components to swap would be battery, screen and processors.

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Yes. With the new EU laws coming up in 2027, we will hopefully see newer, easily replaceable batteries

[@msu7777]

@@TheHopelessGeek next part that break is gps module. It will be cool if we could replace it.

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Really? How does the GPS module break often?

[@h2oquality2010]

WTH! I didn't know about this style of phone. I agree, they should have allowed more time to develop this modular design.

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Yeah, they pulled the trigger too soon 🫥

[@DJMetalstone]

I feel even if the project had succeeded that only a handful of people are willing to keep a full drawer of backup components in case their phone falls on the ground and they lose something. And I feel occasionally when that happens maybe some pins on the phone itself get damaged or like bend. That being said the phones nowadays keep adding more functions to the phone and here Google's project was reducing the function abilities , yeah you could swap things out but they said it being less powerful cause they have to compromise. And what you see with these kind of phones is they never come cheap as they are a new innovative thing on the market. So you pay more for less power but more flexibility . Doesn't seem like an upgrade to me but more a random direction switch. And the vid where they explained the technology said they aim for the 5 billion non smart phone users , that was a pretty bold claim as well ... as there is also a big amount of nowadays smart phone users that don't have a 1000's buck smartphone either cause.... well other costs in life like rent matter more. And yes maybe Intime it could grow over the years and have this doable with high performance phones as well. Till then I guess we should just keep it in the oven a while longer and let it bake :)

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Good point. 👍🏽

[@EDISON_SCIENCE_CORNER]

New info great 🎉🎉

[@TheHopelessGeek]

🙂👍🏼

[@jacobsyrian8735]

I was so hyped for Ara. RIP

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Same. 2016 was such a cool year 😭

[@osingaaa4545]

im bored of using smart phones. i would like to have old blackberry phones. i have never tried it

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Yeah, me neither. I have briefly used some that my friends' parents had, but never owned one 😕

[@xtremeyy]

Me too! i would love to use a flip phone too with some features of smartphones

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Nokia still makes some of those classic style phones with a few modern features 🙂

[@xtremeyy]

We don't have them in india i think. The only flip phone from nokia we have covers the basic features like calling etc, but there are some keypad phones which support UPI@@TheHopelessGeek

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Oh😅

[@prangondash9673]

Hey bro where are you from? You look familiar.

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Earth C-137B

[@sarwgya3038]

hello

[@TheHopelessGeek]

Modular
Gr ee tin gs

[@intellicadee]

First

[@TheHopelessGeek]

😎✌🏼noice!