Why Have Modular Smartphones Failed?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- What do Project ARA, LG G5, Moto Z and Fairphone have in common? None of them were very successful. Why? - The Story Behind Episode 17
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EVERYONE NEEDS A GIRLFRIEND LIKE YOURS.
regalstreak haha, my first thought:"why isn't there any tech-interested girl in my environment?!":D you're such a lucky guy martin!
Unknown House Why!? Have you read the comments here!? lol
Unknown House Why!? Have you read the comments here!? lol
Rob V what are you trying to tell me? tell me what you mean and don't ask nonsense questions🙉
Unknown House Okay. Pardon me. Women aren't in tech much because of the men in tech. Men in tech are like children in a toy box and are too self-engaged or competitive to be considerate.
You forgot the lack of marketing. I wasn't even aware of these things being on the market.
Wulbulbul Lubbubwublub I wish I was aware of them
id have one right now to be honest.
They have never been on the market. Most were just concepts
they are on the market I have one. Motorola hasn't given up and made a few they just weren't marketed well as said in the video.
in times square they wouldnt stop showing the motorola moto z modules
they did alot of advertising. open your eyes weeb
if you can't change the core components (SoC, display etc.) then this whole concept of modularity was useless...
You could with project ara
Imagine if graphics cards had RAM slots.
True
@@Pseudynom you’d achieve nothing
Henry Ford can summarize easily what happened: "The customer can have the Model T in any color he wants, as long as it's black."
leDuke OfBacon if we ask what people want, they problably said faster horse
.
@@rickvian Or Aspirine
@@ibrahimramadan7297 -
Urban myth. Ford produced the Model T in colours, such as blue, maroon, etc.
Wait they launched already?
Perhaps its failed because there was literally no marketing for it?
yup lego should join in phone marketings lol
ratelslangen I agree. I never heard of modularized phone until this video
Dew Time I heard some advertisements before they released and none of them announced a release date. Since then, I hadn't heard of them. I was still waiting for them to finally get released and now I found out they already failed.
The real only one that i saw heavy advertising (on youtube) was the moto with the projector, camera, and a battery
Yes I agree too....i don't know actually
Google had the best chance. And then they gave it up.
They also had huge problems with latency, which is unsurprising. If the timing between motherboard, cpu, ram, etc isn't perfect the os will be completely unstable (or a programming miracle). The technology to link those components with low latency multi purpose cheap durable connections just doesn't exist.
+Test Account Please Ignore
Not that non-modular smartphones aren't unstable in the first place. I'd say a switch from the ARM architecture to the AMD64 (what PCs use) architecture is going to be necessary in the near future.
huh? i never heard that the arm-isa itself would cause stability problems. can you elaborate?
i'd personally would hope for risc-v, but it still needs quite a bit of work..
+sofias. orange
Process of elimination. I've had two smartphones on different platforms myself - one Android, one Windows Phone which has since been upgraded to Windows 10 Mobile. Neither was very stable. Furthermore, many people I know have mentioned stability issues with Android and iOS devices, from random crashes to sluggish performance and constant lock-ups. These results do not correlate with the ages of the devices. This points to a common factor between all three platforms and all manufacturers - the processor architecture.
The reason why I suggest the AMD64 architecture is that it's a tried and true architecture that's also incredibly common (Intel's x64 architecture is basically the AMD64 architecture with a few additions to allow for supercomputing applications with the Itanium series processors), and with a little work a smaller, albeit relatively low-power version of this architecture can easily be produced. In fact, the newer Microsoft Surface devices already use a miniaturized AMD64 architecture.
+VestedUTuber
you're mixing some things up here. firstly instruction set with processor design. the instruction set is the "language" that the processor speaks, it doesn't nessecarily say that much about how it works internally. AMD and Intel both have a sort of translator that converts the CISC AMD64-instructions into internal RISC ones.
i cannot confirm your experiences. i owned a Galaxy Nexus that ran fine and now i own an old-ish ASUS Zenfone with Atom processor, which runs fine as well.
more importantly ARM processors started to appear in server and supercomputer applications. these require high reliability. it wouldn't make sense if ARM where some kind of always-unstable peasant cpu..
Itanium was a processor running the rather unsuccessful IA64 instruction set. it was uncompatible with IA32 aka x86.
"x64" refers to AMD64, but i've only seen Microsoft using that term. some call it "x86_64". Intel refers to their AMD64-cpus as "EM64T" or "Intel 64".
I don't like the idea of dropping my phone and collecting all the pieces from floor
you prefer bringing it to the repair shop in one broken piece?
What if the parts were properly secured, like on the Fairphone?
I think the phone like that would be a great idea, they should just make it so that you can lock the pieces in place or something like that.
Soulution: A case, for every piece.
Idea: Put a fucking case on it
I hate the shift to sealed batteries inside of the new phones. Just another step towards planned obsolescence that the big companies can shove down our throats and force us to move to the incredibly shitty platform that Apple helped pioneer of pumping out a new model EVERY year.
My main phone was my Samsung Galaxy Note 4... and I LOVED that phone to death. Until it died on me, it wasn't until it finally died on me that I reluctantly upgraded to a Note 8. Its a great phone, absolutely love the screen... but I would give up the "water resistant" sealed exterior for my changeable battery in a heart beat. I hated upgrading to the Note 8 because it was supporting the damn sealed battery platform, but I've gotten used to the stylus and was unable to find another Sealed Note 4 at a decent price. Removable battery is dead, and the yearly cranking out of bleh models to milk their masses of their cash is now the new standard...
The main reason is profit, for each battery only the company will be able to provide the battery.
I'm watching this on an LG G5, and I love that you can replace some important individual parts on it. I actually replaced my camera a few weeks ago with just a screwdriver, some cards and an included guitar pick, and a little tool to pop off the connector for the parts that required being disconnected.
I plan on replacing my battery soon, as it only has about 70-80% capacity left and dies quickly.
So yeah, this phone has some issues, but it has some positives that make it a good choice if you're not too concerned about overheating or battery life. LG also has a great camera on it, with some very good manual settings. Also with how cheap you can get one on eBay it's a good choice if you're looking for something cheap that has decent processing power and such. Just be wary of the battery problems.
the reason they weren't popular is because Apple didn't "innovate" a modular iPhone.
+TheSpector I think that is actually a part of the problem. When Apple makes changes to their iPhone, you can bet that nearly every peripheral maker runs to develop new accessories that fit this new design. If they made a modular phone, we would have hundreds of modules that might prove to be useful. When Motorola or LG makes a modular phone, we get 3 to 5 modules that are so-so
TechAltar And the worst thing is that other manufacturer copy Apple's philosophy because they think that their sales numbers represent the usefulness of their products. *cough* removing headphone jacks *cough* only usb-c ports on laptops *cough*
+TechAltar that reveals another side of the problem. As part of its marketing campaign, Apple could easily afford to hire other companies to develop "Apple" peripherals so the main product and functionality are ready to be used from the start. But they wont for the reasons you listed and others. Any smaller company, with or not some kind of vision, any aspiring competitor wanting to upset the market, would have to do that to having enough staying power to set any sort of foothold on the market and force the bigger ones to adapt or lose ground. Starting off with just a couple of peripherals that can be easily be replaced by other products of similar price and functionality just wont do, which is the best they can afford, wont do it. So you have this catch 22 situation where you need to be big enough to cause an impact, but you won't become that big if you just do what the dominant companies are doing (cause they will just out do you in their own game).
+TheSpector I agree with you but here's a *cough drop*
So much is driven by the big dogs
I love my Fairphone. Sustainability is important to save the world. Thumbs Up for Fairphone, they are here to stay.
Viva la Fairphone! I have a Fairphone 2 and my friend was impressed enough to buy a Fairphone 3 which is better (a better camera for starters). I'm happy to keep supporting this project because of their ethics and each generation improves. I have all that I need from a phone and love that I can fix things myself. Parts are also a lot cheaper to replace than any other smartphone I've owned. I think Fairphone will make it further. They aren't done by a long way - I predict that people who want a phone for looks and fancy features and an iPhone type camera will eventually find what they want in the Fairphone... but not just yet, this is a project which continues to develop and which needs support in order to succeed. My Fairphone 2 is my investment in the belief that tech shouldn't screw other people over... and at the same time fulfills that OCD itch to fix everything myself.
Bottom tier everything for upper mid range prices.... I'm not Sure "fair" is the right word to describe that phone.
And let's be honest...who ever replaces anything on a phone other than a screen or battery?
It's a gimmick
@@_multiverse_ not true, I've replaced the power supply port and audio. Who can easily replace those parts of their phone? The fact is most people don't have the choice. I've had iphones and been resentfully trapped as the battery failed. I've had a different iPhone with a cracked screen for a long time because it wasn't worth even bothering replacing due to the prohibitive cost. In my opinion, the inbuilt battery's slow and fail appears to be how these phones seem to have been designed to fail (it's apparent really). I've had other android based phones which failed in one way or another, (magically always just past the warrantee), and it wasn't always the battery nor the screen. Power supply issues and audio issues have occurred for me before. The most consistent phone I had was an early Samsung Galaxy which never failed and was instead stolen after 5 years of use. I'm hoping with occasional repairs at most my Fairphone 2 can last as long as 5 years. At which point it can be recycled. I'm not a demanding smartphone phone user but by the time I need a new Fairphone it will be a bit smoother and have a better camera (the Fairphone 3 already does). If you think the ethics or/and the modularity are gimmick then fair enough... but what Smartphone doesn't have gimmicks? I like these ones!
No tech reviewers ever consider sustainability. It's really irresponsible.
Yes! thumps up for a phone that only has USB 2.0, lacks camera features that even have 200€ phones and only supports a few frequency bands.
I could list more, but that should be enough.
We Should Mod The New IPhones To Have A Headphone Jack
Awesome Falcon 15! I still have a 5s my upgrade is gonna be a Moto Z Play
Maybe
Awesome Falcon 15! Buy a $20 Bluetooth adapter.
not everything with an Aux port has bluetooth, you know
Awesome Falcon 15! drill a 3.5 mm hole to the left of the charging port
I would love to see more "story behind" where you talk about success stories rather than those who fail :)
+Faldoable good point, I guess I'm getting a little negative here :D
I think it is ok to be negative in these "story behind" series, so that people can learn from the failure experience others had.
Yep. And usually more useful too. Can't weed out winners bias without those, and people are waaaaay too vulnerable to it.
you learn nothing from the success of others, instead you learn everything from their failures
+Mr.Robot
You learn from success, but only when you contrast it with not so successful cases, while for failures you just learn overall. The main point of learning from success is to have similar failures to contrast with and isolate things that trully helped from those that didn't (not just "failure", but what worked and what didn't work that is as similar as possible e.g. MS's early tablet like device vs Apple's iPad).
You could also learn a bunch from success alone if you had access to unbiased and complete data from the project. But unless it is your own project (and even then), you're highly unlikely to get that kind of data.
I think it's mostly because they were hardly marketed. I only ever saw a concept of it a while back.
GamerBoyDevin i didnt even know they existed
Maybe it’s only because all you were exposed to was a concept. Maybe it’s just a bad idea and didn’t work because it was impractical.
Watching this on my Moto Z right now. Pogo pins vs extremely fragile USB or lightning connectors are a huge benefit for longevity, assuming you aren't the typical consumer who carelessly adds to the growing e-waste problem every two years. Also, hot-swapping batteries is a total game-changer and a definite improvement over having to lug around an even bulkier external battery and the associated charging cable that I used to always snag on all sorts of objects whilst walking around playing Ingress/Pokémon GO. And beside preserving the charging port, modularity allows you to preserve the internal battery much longer by maintaining the maximum charge level at around 80% in the so-called "efficiency mode". Keeping it at 100% or below 15% for prolonged periods of time causes accelerated damage to the lithium cell. Finally, jumping on the popularity bandwagon is nothing to be proud about. It's boring and soul-crushing. Why not vote with your wallet to push the state-of-the-art of mobile tech beyond the next SoC or camera spec bump? I'm personally looking forward to seeing an cm-level accuracy RTK GPS module or Project Tango sensor Mod for my Moto Z and future iterations of the device. Lenovo already committed to maintaining backward compatibility with existing Mods, so your investment today will carry on well past the ephemeral lifetime of the base platform.
I remember I was so excited to see this in production when I was in high school. I even did a presentation for one of speech class about this. I'm kinda sad that everyone is not as enthusiastic about tech as me. I hope see this kind of products on the market soon again.
The most important thing for me is sustainability.
I have a fairphone- and I have never felt comfortable buying Apple and Samsung phones new.
I think it is really sad that most people don't give a crap about where their stuff comes from and how many people it impacts...
The market is actually going the other way, evident by the loss of headphone jacks in iPhones and replaceable batteries in Galaxy flagships (the three best selling phones on the planet). And yes, it's all down to consumers, the people who were complaining about Samsung not using premium materials at the back of their phones are the same ones who later moaned the loss of replaceable batteries.
Watching this in my Moto Z. It actually did well in market. Better than other Moto flagships in the last few years. The reason it wasn't a huge success was because Motorolla is not Samsung or Apple. If apple or Samsung had pulled something like Moto Z, it would be a HUGE success. +TechAltar and, all the issues mentioned for the benefits of modularity, don't apply to Moto Z.
The MotoZ play has a monster of a battery , it's been four days since I charged mine and it's still at 15%. Unfortunately it's pretty hard to find since only one store carries it here (ph).
Too much damn work and pieces... hell, people can't even keep up with headphones
i have a Fairphone and its kinda modular you can switch your stuff when it is broken easily
I have the Moto Z force, and find the modularity really cool in concept and would use it, except all of the modules are like 100$ with the camera mod being like 200$. so it is cost prohibitive.
also I only bought the phone because of its specs and since I'm a Motorola fan, the modularity was not a selling point for me.
if Google would have launched aura, instead of the over hyped pixel phones, I would have bought an aura 100%
Very Eloquent with the "History has shown" but we know who you're referring. Ran across the Motorola at a Box Store and stoked that other than repair ability I was able to relay your findings before seeing this clip. Nice Job!
TechAltar fails to realize the convenience factor of a moto mod. For example, a JBL Moto Mod for my Moto Z Play is far more convenient than any portable bluetooth speaker. I can simply attach a JBL Moto Mod right on to my phone and it only adds 5 more ounces. How much does that portable bluetooth speaker weigh? It is lot easier to carry a moto z play with a JBL moto mod than a phone AND A PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER around. How much does that portable bluetooth speaker weigh? My portable bluetooth speaker weighs 1.5 pounds. Sure they make smaller ones but not as small and don't connect. The JBL Moto Mod also has a built in stand too to enjoy music and watch movies on a desk. Lay on the couch and watch netflix? Adding great sounding speakers right on to the phone makes watching movies far more interactive and enjoyable. Laying on the couch and hearing the movie sounds from the other side of the room on the portable bluetooth speaker SUCKS! What about gaming on your phone? Do you want to hear great sound coming from the moto mod attached to your phone or that portable bluetooth speaker on the other side of the room? HAHA. JBL Moto Mod is for music, videos, tv shows/movies and gaming.... Portable bluetooth speaker? Pretty much only just music. This is why techaltar shouldn't review or make assumptions on a Moto Mod that he never even tried. It makes him look as foolish as these other youtube users who never used the moto mod before too. There is a reason why the JBL moto mod has a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on best buy (VERIFIED PURCHASE) and also rated highly on amazon too. I will take the opinion of people who actually TRIED THE PRODUCT than someone who never ever tried it before. Some guy with his Samsung Galaxy S7 telling me that moto mod is a gimmick and that he doesn't care about his shitty S7 speaker and that he wears headphones all the time. It is like someone reviewing a movie that they never seen before and then they think that they are qualified to give their opinion.
Bflo23, you're right. The problem is that the Moto Mods cost $300+ each (here in Canada at least) and I have to buy the Moto Z first, which is $999. For half the price of just the Mod, I can get a better sounding Bluetooth speaker that I can still use when I change my phone. And that's for only 1 Mod. What if you wanted the camera and projector Mod too? That's another $600. Why would anyone spend that type of money to get accessories that can only be used with one generation of a device that itself is expensive, yet has little resale value? A device-specific accessory at that cost is only going to be used by a very small sub-set of users; cost-immune tech enthusiasts like yourself or professionals (who probably already have more capable device-agnostic tools).
I bought my Moto Z Play Unlocked brand new for only $350 with no tax and free shipping from Fry's about a month ago. $65 brand new JBL Moto Mod from Best Buy yesterday. Not even close to a $300 moto mod. I have seen battery mods selling for like $30-40. I have a very nice 1.5 pounds Sony bluetooth portable speaker but is nothing like a JBL soundboost moto mod. Apples and oranges. Far more convenient with the JBL SoundBoost. Yes. I can't use multiple phones with the JBL SoundBoost but I am gonna be using my Moto Z Play 99% of the time as it is my daily driver.
SkillzUnknown I'm in Canada as well, and picked up my JBL mod for $100.
I dunno about you, but whenever I want to watch movies from my couch I fire up my 60 inch tv... come on, watching netflix on the phone? Why the hell would you want to do that??
MasterBata ... Is the living room TV ever being used by others and they want to watch something else? Are you always in your living room? You never watched a TV show or watched a game (football?)/fight on your phone when you weren't in your living room? Have you heard of the Netflix app, WatchESPN app, HBO Go app, AMC app and the billion other channel apps. They are all meaningless to you? Pretty much every channel has an app nowadays. A 5.5" screen phone being a couple feet away is kind of like the perception of 46" tv being 20 feet away. Large screen phones with great sound makes it very enjoyable.... In the past, small screens with bad sound? Nope.
Who remembers Phone Blocks? 😂
Me I remember
The one that started it all.
I do, it was cool
Explore i do
I member
Modular phones would smash the buisness model they currently have, of forcing you to buy a new phone by refusing to update it after a short amount of time.
Its a cool concept and all however, just like cars and pc's, being somewhat modular does not mean people care about it, a few people do but those fit within the niche market.
i think the main problems is that people mostly don't care about the phone being modular itself, they just want something that they use straight out of the box with simplicity, while modular phones would almost look like building a pc, which is very complicated and doing that to smartphones where people expect simplicity and ease of use just doesn't fit quite well
-T-X-M- yep, when the first idiots say something everyone else just jumps into the bandwagon
@-T-X-M- and if you're one of the sheep that just went to the different direction, the flock will not accept you as a flock and get eaten by wolves.
phones have gotten so good that companies wont be making much money on them into the future, my note9 died due to a screen crack so I'm using my friends S8 because they upgraded with a plan, everything I just said there is precisely why the phone market is dying. Modular, open source frameworks to build phones off of begins when a company decides to go open source and entirely focused on creating something similar to custom PC's, but in your hand. We mastered the PC race, we now have a clear idea of what a gaming PC is, we're now focused on durability and reliability of individual components, not entire all in one PC's like phones are.
The issue with "modular" phones, is that they are not modular where it counts. They could easily keep the same exterior designs with a few tiny changes. For example, a move from BGA to PGA for the RAM, flash storage, and possibly even the SOC. Low profile sockets with the pressure of the board mounted to the midfame for heat sinking of the SOC can be enough to hold it in place.
Outside of that, using screws instead of adhesive for structural/ non-cosmetic components, will allow for easy battery replacement for the average user along with easier upgrading.
Outside of that, many other components in smartphones are already modular. For example, just about every smartphone has a camera module that can be easily replaced. The phone maker just needs to release a new module with a better sensor that fits within the space available, and sell it for $20 (Most BOM estimates put the cost of the camera module for the galaxy S8 at about $11), thus they make a good profit and the user gets a camera upgrade without needing a new phone.
On most phones, the speakers can also be replaced.
On some forums, users have posted their success in using a hot air station in order to desolder a memory module, and replace it with a higher capacity one on their smartphone, and actually get more RAM. The phone maker just needs to switch from BGA to PGA. and probably make the phone 0.1mm thicker to support the low profile socket.
Fairphone 4 launched in 2021 , is great 👍.
Agree. we gotta realize a smartphone is a tool and a trend product at the same time, doesn’t matter how useful it can be if it doesn’t go with the trend it doesn’t go.
Modular phone concept like Fairphone with good repairability is great but it takes long time and big effort to change mass user mind in using an not price competitive mobile phone.
I don't get it, some people spend 800 € every 2 years for a new smartphone, but 400 € for a fair Smartphone, which would last you 5+ years, is "too much".
at the very least... atleast screens and batteries should be easily replaceable and available. theyre the ones that gets old and broken easily.
MotoMaker was an EPICALLY badass idea and I wish Samsung or Google would do something like that very soon.
Modularity hardly worked even on PCs. When it was time to upgrade a video card, it was incompatible with the BUS you had. You ended up getting a new motherboard, which needed new CPU and RAM. Old hard drive got too small so you got a new one. Eventually ended up getting pretty much a new computer.
I always thought that modularity would fail simply because the technology in smartphone industrg is progressing at an incredible speed, so much so that it becomes counter productive to have a modular phone. That said, I loved when smartphones had removable batteries and could be repaired rather easily, nowadays every component in a flagship phone is either soildered shut or glued like hell, it's extremely difficult to repair your device without damaging it.
Removable batteries are great stuff in LG G5. When you had charger as power bank, you can only swap batteries. This is extending lifetime of batteries, you dont charge phone when using and had instant full power in phone.
Kudos for mentioning Fairphone.
I'm surprised you never mentioned Essential PH-1 or Flow DIY.
And I'm surprised you didn't go into detail about the biggest reasons why modular = fail.
Smartphones are _disposable_ tech. Planned obsolescence, product has an expected (and designed) life cycle, next version is already underway.
Smartphone makers don't want to make things easy for hardware/brand pirates. Proprietary lock-in, customer loyalty subscribes to exclusive features.
Its a irony, on engineering front the modularity actually accounts to increase points of failure when compare with fully integrated products.
On marketing particularly the masses just want a simple mass trend.
I like modularity i think we should have modular phones in the market but u r right we won't have that soon cause big companys wanna keep selling and making profits each year and even each half of the year like Samsung .
About repairability, both of my past smartphones demised on usb-connectors becoming damaged close to not working at all... I hope with USB-C this gets better... but with modularity it's only more connectors that wear down...
I was surprised to concept worked at all, given the design challenges of modern electronics in high-frequency areas.
LG modularity was such a huge joke. kkkkkkkk LOL.
ARA was the best shot
Alex Pires "Was" But they couldn't pull it off properly like what they had claimed. Motorola is the best modular there is for now.
It's a pain to carry extra power (and keep it charged).
Lol those modulars are expensive like its half the price of your phone id rather save it for the next phone uograde that happens like evey 6th month
Honestly Modular Smartphones will work when you can swap key components with ease
I know it's a while since you posted this video but you are right, and has been proven once again with the failing Essential phone, though no one is admitting it's failed just yet.
The point is cost
The moto zoom module is way costlier than a 30X point and shoots camera
It must be a cost-effective
I barely knew about this modular phone that exists. And I came here after watched davehakkens's video about modular phone. He made the idea in 2013. These phones should be a trend!
3:51 straight up not true. Not only is it possible to swap out the screens and core systems of some of the better modular phones, you can also repair them yourselves in case they are broken, rather than replace them.
one of the best tech-series on yt thanks for that
Tl,Dw: the phones didn't have a good enough processor and there was no way to swap those out
Maybe I am not a typical consumer. I want a smartphone that is good enough to let me access the internet, email, etc., take some snapshots, make rare phone calls and run most apps. I would like a phone running Android with no bloatware. I don't need it to replace my real camera, my computer, nor do i need it for gaming, 360 degree or 3D photography, etc. And I honestly care very little about bezels, design, retina screens or whatnot - I can't tell smartphones apart from each other as it is and wouldn't notice a 0.1mm advantage in thin-ness or a titanium alloy back cover if I had one.
I would like to not buy a new phone every other year. I would like to replace the battery when it decays too far. Being able to replace any other component that fails would be a bonus.
My last few phones were budget smartphones. The current one, made by Wileyfox, is dying due to battery failure (which I cannot replace, or I would keep it for another couple of years). The previous one, a Ulefone, just died on me one day (the display went black and never came back on).
So in the end, I chose a Fairphone 3 as a replacement for the dying one. It's expensive for the features it has (about twice as expensive as other phones with similar features), but I hope to use it for the next 5-6 years, instead of only 2 years, so the price might not work out that much more expensive at all when I take the intended device lifetime into account. I would have loved a modular phone, but the Fairphone is the closest thing I could find.
my thing is this. power users? maybe there are some people out there that wouldn't mind a phone like that. i know i wouldn't mind at all changing out the camera or battery. it would give a whole new perspective of the way some people use there phones.
I would love a modular smartphone
We can't even have decent standard modular designs for _laptops_ ; why should we bother with dreaming about much critically smaller/tighter form factors like phones?
It's only because big companies don't want it. Modular phones will drastically decrease electronic junk. You don't need to buy a new phone when you can change the defective part or you can upgrade your phone by just adding a new camera component or new processor component etc. This what companies don't want, they don't care about the environment they just want money.
I would've absolutely loved the option to replace a battery with one with more mah, as well as upgrade ram.
The Fairphone has evolved
And if the flimsy base breaks, gets dirty, etc, you're done for. It just looks like the more u can add the more the connectors will break, etc. Then ur constantly having to fix things with various components. Just seems like more problems i don't need.
I did buy the Moto with the Speakers and etc so I guess I did fall into these categories.Awesome Video by the way,But I also gave it to someone for them to enjoy.Thanks so much for sharing and I think I am definitely one of those people who just love anything that is different and like many different devices.Thanks again for sharing Deb 😉👌✌
A better idea would be to have components like the CPU, GPU, memory, and battery removable and replaceable, but not on the external case.
Put that stuff on the inside, and just say "hey, you don't have to do this, but you can if you want to."
That means that future models would only have better screens and cameras, but you won't have to spend a ton of cash on them. Just buy the shell or buy the updated processors.
Heck, ALL phones could be given modularity, but too many companies are scared to make their flagship phones that "complex" (thanks Apple).
I think it all comes down to Usability and Price, like always.
They simply CAN'T make it as expensive or even more expensive as a non-modular smartphone, because the average user won't see why he should pay more for a modular "core" that for a whole smartphone that is "good to go". And understandable: While others still sticking parts together the other costumer writes a message "Hey i got a new phone"
Also the Modules have to be also lower priced than the "Replacement Plans" of other companies (if the battery value is compareable) so like on the "Core" which the modules would stick on it it's an advantage to get the modules instead of the "finished phones"
You also need to be a loooong running company that has a lot of costumers, because the whole point of modularity is that you can exchange, add and replace modules over time, over maybe a loong time. That's why a fresh startup won't get the trust in that, one of the global players would need to kick it off, like you said google, samsung or apple. So there are enough costumers that also 3rd Parties want to make modules for it.
What you didn't mentioned and what would be the real nightmare in that: Support. Who supports the Modules? The Core Maker with a proofing process that a module doesn't damage the rest? Or the Module Maker? How would you prevent that the costumer would send back and forth between the companies in case of a damage?
And another valueable point: Privacy and Stealing. Imagine how easy it would be to steal the memory of a modular smartphone! The Thief could steal just the memory with all your data on it and doesn't need to be afraid to get tracked down cause he let's the GPS and Cellular Connection left behind with the core! Pretty scary Scenario if you ask me
Maybe because a modular phone would be difficult to waterproof.
Thanks alot for this information I never thought I would search it up by myself. You earned a subscriber
Oh, also because everyone's like oh, i don't want to look around for little pieces if my phone falls to the floor but if you really want your sexy phone to remain that way then why would you let it fall?
6:19 Triggers me beyond reality as battery slide slightly sideways.
It's 2021 and this is the first time I've heard about modular phones
The one option I do wish EVERY phone offered was a headphone jack.
It's because they would only be able to sell us one phone, and then we would swap out everything else which would really cut the profit off of selling a new phone every year.
i think only RAM and CPU mattress for heavy smartphone user, and these features are hard to change
Because glued together expensive phones are sexy.
Fairphone was never meant to be succesful. It's the idea behind it, the fact that they try to get their resources as fair as possible. A company that sold over 100k phones so far, starting with a budget of 1 mil (from crowdfunding), isn't really a fail
I hope fairphone will let us upgrade its processor anytime we need or we have to.
The main factor probably was economics... Big companies could have re-adapted modular phones to be more durable and have all the core functions. But most of people don't care about having a durable cellphone, most of people think we can still mass-produce them for eternety! Think of the ressources people! Think on the impact this mindless consumption will cause for us and our childre!
the truth is that Modular smartphones mean off from big tech off from big corporate off from control ... But soon they will come back for safe us
OK. This video is a bit older, BUT: Modular smartphones definitely exist and are also absolutely successful. For example, note the german SHIFTPHONE. The question is, by what success is measured? The countless consumers who fall for the annual minimum renewal of their favorite smartphone manufacturer's flagship? Or should success be based more on the fact that a device was manufactured under appreciative conditions? That the modular design concept enables a long durability through inexpensive and simple repairs? That there is significantly less electronic waste and packaging waste and that rare raw materials are used extremely sparingly and purchased under fair conditions? From this point of view, modular smartphones like the SHIFTPHONE are very successful. And yea: I love my SHIFT6m!
I hope that modular phones will have a successful comeback. Although they don't really sound as practical in your video, I really like the sound of customisation and repairable aspects. I also really hope they bring back replaceable batteries as I'd hate to think of not being able to use my perfectly good phone just because the battery's dead. Would be very inconvenient having to send it somewhere to be fixed over such a minor issue. Fairphone's repairable phones also sound really practical - I hope this idea becomes mainstream asap! It's sad that phones are viewed as mostly short term disposable items. Just my two cents.
You don't need heart rate monitors and Viagra managers to make a modular smartphone like Google ara. You just need the potential to swap out your 2000 milliamp battery for a 5000 milliamp hour battery and replace the camera when you don't need it but you have it in your knapsack when you want it.
That's all I ever really cared about plus it was $100 phone. So even my poor ass going to go out and buy it just because I felt like it.
The phone was completed why can't I go buy on eBay. Even if it's only $10,000 out there why aren't they available cuz they were completed or at least in the testing phase where you can actually use it as a regular phone.
Also with today's new Battery Technology you could create a 25000 milliamp hour battery is only 6 mm check in the form factor of a slip case. Another way I think I another way I think I could slick is to slip it on and then it forms to the device when you push a plastic or whatever material switch on the top of the device and it will almost suction-cup and certainly be waterproof. This is also me when it connects to the USB C ports that you obviously paid the extra $6 for.
Modularity is an idea that sounds good, but it terrible in practice. If people wanted modular smartphones, they would have been a big hit. But they didn't, so they died. The very same thing happened with modular cameras (Ricoh GXR) and with "upgrade your own computer" concepts. They always end up being less convenient, costing more, and limiting new design and technology. Essentially, do the opposite of what they were intended to do.
Needs to be an open standard like motherboards.
Modular smartphones exist. They’re simply not mainstream. The Librem 5 and the Fairphone are good examples.
Pressure are from the rest of the big industry manufacturer,i think:-/
Benefits:
Dusty compartments.
Faulty contacts because of build up.
Easy to lose parts.
No case protection.
Extra carrying bag to take all parts with you.
Easy to loose carrying case of extra parts at a family reunion and or at a party.
Sounds like a great idea! - Motorola executives.
They didn't fail, the industry is resisting them. ARA wasn't Google's originally, they were a startup which Google bought and lagged it as much as they could, eventually killing it completely. The technology is just slowed down as much as possible, because every big manufacturer fears the moment small companies have access to the same market and start making modules based on an established standard. Same thing was for power cords years ago.
However modular phones are the future. Red's new phone we're expecting now, Hydrogen One, is indeed modular, similarly to other Red products. They know they need it and they know it's better to manufacture it this way, than to relay on Apple's pads for displays for their cameras. However the trick was, they couldn't use other modular technologies as they are already bought by different companies, so they had to develop and patent their own one.
Battery cases! I use one. They’re awesome. I consider that a modular edition.
what if those manufacturers interested in doing modular phones created common standard and then just competed on modules? That would definitely create hell of an ecosystem.. is this too hard to achieve technically?
Modular phones fail because they ignore the economy of purchasing a brand new phone with all new parts over purchasing a single upgraded part for an aging device. New phones are more than an individual upgrade. They are a collection of new better performing parts - new screen, better battery, camera, signal processsing, cpu, etc. Upgrading a single component at a premium price just doesn't make sense when you think about all that goes into a new design.
The Fairphone 2 is brilliant - I just replaced my smashed screen in 30 seconds
Fairphone was very attractive to me. Modular, expandable, repairable, unlocked, opensource, made for modding and hacking, it embraces DIY and you can even download 3D templates to print/customize your own phone plastics if you like. The ethical business model, full end-user transparency, and sustainable long-term Green hippy stuff is all good, too.
But almost $800 for a phone with low specs and old wares, several generations behind new phones which cost less than half as much. And it's big and clunky. I buy tech, not fashion, so I don't buy the latest-and-greatest Apple or Samsung gadgets, but this thing is just sized too awkwardly and I do need my phone to actually fit in my pocket.
So in the end, like you, I see the Fairphone as a noble and worthy experiment ... but I'm not willing to buy the privilege of being a guinea pig.
the reason why project ara (the phone with modules on the back) probably failed is because despite whatever you said about futureproofing and customization (you said that you can't upgrade cpu gpu and things like that, *_wrong_* that was the point of project ara) and customization (you said that people just all like the same brand, hope you see where i think you're wrong) i still think it got bought off by a bigger company like apple or samsung because it was threatening their profits (all apple knows is remove the modularity of phones, they remove ports and features just so you have to replace the whole thing when it malfunctions).
I told a friend of mine about fairphone 1 or 2 years ago and she liked the idea and bought one. It was terrible, it hardly worked and they didn't reply to any of her messages.
I didn't even know modular phones could be bought! I thought they were still in development. I say the problem was shit advertising.
zerix01 Moto Z
Lawrence Wong Well, it is annoying in India
Lawrence Wong I see tons of motorola ads on tv and I'm in the Midwest US
Ari Feldberg Not in florida
same I only saw the motorolla ads
Bad advertising, considering. Didn't even know the existed.
MonkeyMan249 same
MonkeyMan249
I knew about Project ara. I thought it was a really cool idea...
Same.
Same; I actually saw an LG G5 (or w/e its called) in person a few months ago and I never realized that it was modular. It makes me wonder who exactly the studies on the popular opinion of modular smartphones were asking if the general public probably wasn't aware of them to begin with.
yeah i was aware about this technology but when i hear about it was just an idea, i didn't know there was usable phones like that in the market
If Apple tried it they would change the connectors every year
GARITA Productions :3 That's how to get money
GARITA Productions and the connectors would need a replacement every year too and they would charge the price of the phone to fix
Jason Damm That's why I still have a 5s but the battery is swelling up so I need to get a new phone... Fast!
GARITA Productions apple phone are beginning to low technology than other smartphones
then switch to overpriced wireless only.
Modular Smartphones failed before I even knew they existed,
Dan Blackburn ha ha same
Dan Blackburn same hah:D
Dan Blackburn hasn't quit failed yet I'm using a Motorola Moto Z2 play don't give up hope to early
they failed because manufacturers want you to keep upgrading the whole phone to increase their profits. that's called planned obsolescence
I followed Project Ara literally since it's inception and the day I found out it was abandoned I facepalmed so hard XD
All the hype and it just died lol Your lucky you didn't get your hopes up because it was always going to fail
Girlfriend = camera tripod
Ha you watch to many Unbox Therapy videos son.
next birthday gift for his girlfriend: camera gimbal
fatshady92 I actually thought Jack was the camera man. He doesn't even exist
David FR Lol same
ayy 3 vaginas m8
I think the most important reason why modular smartphones died is that it would stop the trend of buying a new smartphone every other year. Companies like Apple, Samsung, Google are making tons of money by selling you a slightly improved version of their flagship smartphone every year. If they would start selling modular phones, people wouldn’t need to buy a new smartphone every year because they could just buy a new modul for the desired improvement. So the companies make less money after all.
On addition to this users could start buying cheap moduls from third party manufacturers so that the smartphone manufacturers could even lose more money after all.
I mean just think about it, if you were a CEO of a smartphone company right now, would you rather put tons of money to develope a modular phone even if it means losing money or would you just keep selling a new smartphone every year while increasing the price?
Taht could be resolved in a lot of ways... Making the módules compatible with the same Brand only... Making them more expensive... And so on
They sell part not for a few bucks, and of course new parts to properly work would need another new part.
So in the end you pays more.
Digital cameras were delayed for decades because of this same reason
People to this day still buy items from third parties. As long as the merchandise works or functions.
@@naquatre this sort of makes sense.
Its so sad watching this with a LG G5 in your hands :/
MindMadeTV
I had a hard time picking between that phone and the Moto Z. Not for module reasons as the G5 sucks in that department but because these are the only flagship phones without a huge screen that are affordable and have the "Always listening" feature not on most flagships. I like being able to use my voice to control my phone without touching it.
I went with the Moto Z and I like my decision because on top of everything it has now, they are going to release more mods for me to choose from this summer even though the only one I'm current seriously considering is the battery mod which I would've gotten a battery case if I went with the g5
MindMadeTV the reason i got a G5 is becuase of the whole hi fi audio bit , that never was made nor released for the US. And my carrier doesnt support or sell moto phones sadly
ewen h
What carrier?
Lawrence Wong im on US Cellular
ewen h
That works off of Verizon network I believe.
If I'm wrong and it works only on sprit, you'll f*cked.
Why even bother with modular phones when MAJORITY of ppl don't even change their default wallpapers??
when you would not have to upgrade your phone every now and then, because you could just swap out Storage and ram parts when you have little money and not have to buy an entire phone. Then you'd understand.
@@SwastikSwarupDas It would be like pcs.
Many like me changes them every single hour.
iPhone users: Don't even change the ringtone
The majority do