puzzlephone: an open source modular smartphone that lasts 10 years

puzzlephone: an open source modular smartphone that runs on android
all images courtesy of circular devices

following the footsteps of google’s project ara and dave hakkens’ phonebloks, helsinki-based circular devices has launched into the modular smartphone market with the ‘puzzlephone’, an open source device which runs on an android operating system. the handset is focused on three changeable modules; the spine which houses the LCD display, speakers, buttons and structure, the heart, which contains the battery and other electronics, and the brain, home to processor and camera modules. its easily repairable and upgradeable exterior has been designed for a life-span of 10 years and has been designed with the flexibility to be equipped with a variety of interchangable parts. the mobile phone is slated to be released in 2015, alongside its competitors.

the easily repairable and upgradeable mobile phone has been designed for a life-span of 10 years

‘we are similar to project ara but with different physical approaches, in the sense that three pieces are closer to the device’s actual internal distribution which translates into a cost-effective adoption by the industry,’ said alejandro santacreu, founder of puzzlephone. ‘if you open your smartphone you will find these three vital body parts: the brain (electronics), the spine (display), and the heart (battery). they are already there for a good reason. for many years industry manufacturers have found it is the most efficient way of doing things. by trying to change this by splitting them into further modules, the supply chain would only suffer.’

the concept has been designed with the flexibility to be equipped with a variety of replaceable and upgradeable parts.

the handset will be available in a range of LCD displays – 4.3, 4.7 and 5.0 inches