Will modular telephones make a comeback?

In latest months, smartphone manufacturers got here out with modular units that may be hooked up to smartphones for enhancements. OPPO and vivo got here out with their respective telephoto lens attachments, Hasselblad Teleconverter and ZEISS Telephoto Extender, serving to their telephones improve their zoom capabilities for clearer close-up images.

Zooming in on MWC traits

On the Cellular World Congress 2026 in Barcelona final week, one other smartphone model TECNO took the problem and revived the Modular Telephone Idea final seen 10 years in the past with the LG G5 and Moto Z. The information could be thrilling, however my skepticism kicked in and requested if it should work this time round.

In 2016, LG launched the LG G5 additionally at Cellular World Congress together with its modular peripherals. The underside of the G5 is detachable and serves as a slot for mods just like the LG CAM Plus with a digital camera grip and bodily shutter button and the LG Hello-Fi Plus. Yup, these are the one two mods obtainable for the telephone.

On that very same yr, Motorola unveiled the Moto Z with its set of modular units referred to as MotoMods. In contrast to the LG G5, the mods might be merely hooked up to the again of the Moto Z by means of a mixture of magnets and pogo pins. They even have extra choices than the LG just like the JBL Soundboost 2, a projector, 360 levels digital camera, gamepad, wi-fi charger (years earlier than Apple’s MagSafe) and a Hassleblad True Zoom digital camera.

I already had doubts that they might get a optimistic market response. Right here’s why:

First, each LG and Motorola’s mods have been fairly expensive. The telephones already price round P30,000-P35,000 and clients should shell out at the very least an extra P5,000 extra for a mod.

Second, LG’s manufacturing of two mods doesn’t absolutely maximize the G5’s modular system. Not relying on the LG Mates’ different units which might be managed by Bluetooth, I believed LG simply wasted the chance, and cash to actually maximize the idea.

Third, if LG wished to proceed this idea for his or her subsequent telephone fashions, they must proceed the G5’s design. This implies the mods that match on the G5 must also match the G6 and G7. Clearly, that didn’t occur when the G6 was launched a yr later as a result of LG had already given up the modular telephone idea.

That is the place Motorola someway succeeded. Their mods can merely connect to the again of the Moto Z, like a telephone case. And since they’ve a variety of mods obtainable with new merchandise popping out yearly, there have been extra choices to select from. Customers who wish to improve to a Moto Z2 or Moto Z3 can nonetheless use their mods from the Moto Z.

Which led to the subsequent downside. Motorola was caught with the telephone’s measurement and design for his or her subsequent Moto Z fashions. Their solely variations are the show, thickness, and telephone internals. The factor is, clients normally need one thing new with the designs of their telephones. Look how individuals complain about the identical designs of the iPhones or the Samsung flagships for years. Additionally, one of many newer Moto Z telephones weren’t actually match with the mods due to its slight adjustments within the design.

Motorola was severe about its modular idea, however after 3 years of being within the smartphone market they cancelled it in 2019.

Again to TECNO, I used to be impressed by their modular idea by utilizing magnets, pogo pins and wi-fi connectivity. In contrast to Motorola which solely makes use of one mod at a time, at the very least two TECNO mods might be hooked up to their idea telephone. Among the mods might be positioned in several areas of the telephone the place there are magnets they usually may even be positioned on prime of one another like battery packs.

It sounds good, and in keeping with guests together with my fellow tech media colleagues who the place in Barcelona to cowl the occasion, the mods truly work. Not good however at the very least everyone can see that it’s a chance.

Modular because the norm?

However let’s return return to the query – will modular telephone ideas like TECNO’s turn into accepted by the mainstream market? Even at this level of technological development, I might say no. It will nonetheless be a distinct segment market, like most techies who bought the LG G5 and the Moto Z collection.

Having stated that, the way it may go with the mass market?

1. A telephone model can not do it by itself. TECNO, which is beneath its mom firm Transsion Holdings can use its different manufacturers like Infinix to make use of its modular tech. The extra person base touched by these manufacturers, the extra potential clients for his or her modular telephones they will promote. BBK Electronics which controls OPPO and vivo can do the identical factor if ever it throws its hat within the sport.
2. Kind an alliance with different telephone manufacturers that believes in modular telephone idea. If extra telephone manufacturers get into the sport, the higher their possibilities of gaining consideration of the mainstream market. It might additionally presumably decrease down the costs of the mods from the suppliers.
3. Open it to 3rd occasion equipment producers. I don’t know the way this may work but when these third occasion corporations additionally get into the image, they could even produce mods that aren’t produced by the telephone producers.

Actually, I’m not holding my breath. Perhaps the buyer market will be capable of have a optimistic reception on Modular Telephone Ideas by the point I turn into a grandfather. By that point, GenZs and Era Alpha who’re extra expertise adept than we’re would be capable of adapt to it shortly.

Till then, the Modular Telephone Concept nonetheless stays… an idea.

Reg Towards the Machine is a month-to-month column by Reggie Ramos, veteran tech commentator and founding father of Digital Reg.

Picture generated utilizing Google Nano Banana.