Modular smartphones seem to become a growing pattern with the upcoming PuzzlePhone, but Google’s Project Ara has opened the door for it and the technology is not advanced enough to support the release of complete modular devices. Luckily, the main search engine is not the only organization that is truly analyzing the modular smart phone idea.
Since last year, the PuzzlePhone presented itself as a popular competitor to Project Ara. Right now, the Finnish organization behind this type of phone tries a more practical approach by crowd funding all the money needed for production and delivering the device.
While Google is trying to create a gadget that is designed with individual exchangeable elements, the PuzzlePhone looks for a different and easier strategy. Each of its phones comprises a series of three modules, which combine all these elements by classification.
The core is built from the main digital components: CPU, RAM and GPU, along the inner storage space. The group behind the new idea says it is a module that many customers will surely want to update later on. The backbone includes the display, the sound system and the mic. The phone’s heart is represented by the gadget’s battery power.
In comparison to Project Ara, the new modular phone is not able to completely eliminate the thickness problem, as the customer will have to replace several elements, some of them being still essential, when setting up a new phone. However, it seems like this bargain is what gets the PuzzlePhone almost identical to a real smart phone, as opposed to the rather utopian idea and characteristics of Project Ara.
When we are talking about hardware, all PuzzlePhones have a style that the maker says to be fashionable for many years. It is definitely an exclusive and great-looking appearance that places the phone above the others in a multitude of generic dark pieces. Furthermore, the device is developed from eco-friendly components.
The PuzzlePhone arrives with decent specifications such as the 5” screen having a resolution of 1920×1080, an octa-core chip (undisclosed version), 3GB of RAM, 12MP main digicam and the 5MP frontal sensor. Regarding the software, the phone is created based on the Android Marshmallow 6.0 platform.
The entry-level model arrives with 16GB of storage and black details on the plastic case. For users who want to spend an extra $100 they can buy a model with 32GB and metal. For almost $800 people can buy the 64GB edition with copper elements.
Image source: Modularmania