Table of Contents
Highlight
- Modular smartphones return in 2025 with repairable, sustainable designs.
- Features include swappable batteries, detachable camera lenses, and easy DIY fixes.
- Driven by eco-conscious consumers, new tech, and supportive regulations worldwide.
In the world of consumer electronics, ideas rarely die, they just wait for the right time to resurface. Ten years ago, modular smartphones were something for the future, where people could build, customise, and repair like Lego sets. It was a bold vision, which was embodied in Project Ara of Google and Motorola’s Moto Mods. And yet both products were fizzled out due to clunky execution, ecosystem gaps, as well as consumer reluctance to trade the sleekness for flexibility.
Fast forward to July 2025, and modularity has made a quiet but grounded comeback, where it has not arrived as the tech industry’s next big revolution, but has put more thought into it with detachable camera lens, swappable battery, and a phone whose charging port can be changed without sending it away for repair. This time, it is less like a novelty and more like a movement with real staying power.
Why Now?
There have been two major forces which have converged to make modularity a thing again. The first is a growing global emphasis on repairability and sustainability. In Europe, new laws encourage, and in some cases require, manufacturers to make products easier to repair. Consumers are increasingly wary of planned obsolescence, the phenomenon that has left millions of smartphones discarded in landfills after only a few years of use. Brands like Fairphone, which was once a niche experiment in ethical tech, have matured into industry case studies in longevity. Fairphone has proven that a phone does not have to be disposable to be desirable with eight years of software support and easy DIY repairs.
The second driver in this aspect is technology, where advances in compact high-speed connectors, durable magnetic coupling systems and smaller yet more powerful sensors have also made modularity less of a compromise. At Mobile World Congress earlier this year, Xiaomi revealed a modular optical system, a magnetically attachable camera lens designed to eliminate the bulky, permanent camera dump plaguing most modern devices. The idea is simple: carry a slimmer phone day-to-day, then the user can attach a DSLR-style lens to turn it into a camera. This will solve the real-world annoyance rather than delivering a ‘do everything’ fantasy.
Learning from the Past
The failures of the first modular wave has still echoed, with Project Ara’s full swappable architecture was impressive in theory but never overcame the logistical challenges of supporting so many interchangeable components. Motorola had its Moto Z which was commercially released also never built the ecosystem needed for its survival. Consumers learnt that modularity is just a gimmick unless it added daily value.
The new generation of concepts have been rather modest, which will focus on one or two aspects of flexible components that need to be repaired, changed which will offer modular elements that add clear, tangible benefits which will no affect the phone’s size or complexity.
The New Wave of Concepts
Fairphone remains the moral and technical anchor of the movement, staying committed to modular construction as a means of extending device lifespans. Each of its models prioritizes accessibility, a user can replace a battery, camera module, or charging port with just a screwdriver. The company’s branding now openly champions the idea of ownership as stewardship, positioning long-lived, repairable devices as aspirational rather than second-rate.
Meanwhile, companies like Xiaomi are embracing modularity through high-value add-ons. Their detachable camera system, still a concept, offers a glimpse into a future where accessories expand capabilities without committing the device to permanent design compromises. Smaller independent studios are also contributing ideas, from phones with removable backplates for aesthetic customisation to models where the outer shell doubles as a swappable functional accessory. This approach will help with over-promising and reach the target audience without any worries.
The Ecosystem Challenge
A modular phone does not just depend on its design for its survival. Without a robust system of accessories, repair services, and replacement parts, the best modular hardware is also doomed to fail. This is where the lessons from the Framework laptop, a device which has normalised upgradeable, repairable laptops, become invaluable. Framework’s success lies in pairing manufacturer-supported upgrades with an official marketplace and also encourage third-party development. A similar model for smartphones could create an ecosystem where spare parts and modules are not only available but competitively innovated upon.
Some manufacturers are paying attention. Discussions are also emerging about partnerships with established optics breands, collaborations with local repair networks as well as licensing magnetic connector standards to accessory makers. This open, collaborative approach could prevent the isolation that doomed earlier modular attempts.
Balancing Design and Durability
Of course, modularity is not without its trade-offs. Extra seams and connectors can introduce weak points, add thickness, and also complicate waterproofing. Yet 2025’s designers appear willing to accept these compromises in the name of practicality. A slightly thicker frame might allow for easy battery swaps; a detachable camera might also sacrifice some waterproofing but provide professional-grade photos without carrying a second device.
The pitch to consumers is shifting accordingly: instead of selling a modular phone as a cutting-edge gadget, brands are framing it as a durable, versatile tool, something you own and maintain, not something users churn through every two years.
Who will the buyers be?
Early adopters will come from a few distinct groups. In Europe and parts of Asia, environmentally conscious buyers are a natural fit. Professional users such as journalist, field researchers, and content creators may also gravitate towards modular devices that can also be adapted to specific tasks. In developing markets, the repair-first model offers obvious benefits: extending the product’s useful life while also reducing costs and e-wastes.
Governments with e-waste reduction goals will also encourage adoption, whether it is through incentives or regulations. If the repairable devices also gain enough traction in these markets, economies of scale could eventually make them mainstream.
Conclusion
In the end, the revival of modular smartphones in 2025 is less about chasing a futuristic dream and more about meeting practical, real-world needs. By learning from the failures of Project Ara and Moto Mods, today’s innovators are embracing a humbler, more focused approach, one that prioritises repairability, sustainability, and targeted functionality over flashy but impractical gimmicks. Advances in technology, coupled with shifting consumer attitudes and supportive policy environments, have created fertile ground for modularity to thrive.
Whether it’s a detachable camera for professionals, a swappable battery for travellers, or simply the ability to replace a charging port without tossing the whole phone, modular design is finding its footing as a long-term, responsible choice. The challenge now lies in building strong ecosystems and maintaining the delicate balance between design elegance and durability. If the current momentum holds, modular smartphones might not just return, they could finally grow roots.
