Imagine a framework smartphone

[Agterra]

Looking at the Fairphone, I asked myself “Why are the components so cheap whilst the main purpose of one of the triple R is Reduce ? Why do they keep changing the chassis ?”

Maybe they can’t keep the same chassis for x reasons, but why build so cheap ?

Imagine having a framework smartphone that you can repair and upgrade yourself, that runs proper components, it would be mindblowing.

I would like to discuss with people of the forum on this topic about the hows and the different technical (or not) aspect of such a device.

• Could it run Android without a Framework ROM?
• Would it be possible to make such a device and switch components?
• What aspect should it have to last?
• How expensive that would be?
• In how much time such a would exists ?

[Shiroudan]

@anon81945988

There are already a few modular phones, the most ‘exciting’ of these is also a Fair trade itteration.

Fairphone | The phone that cares for people and planet

I believe they already dived into why the fairphone was not a good replacement for them in the post over here

@Agterra

Looking at the Fairphone, I asked myself “Why are the components so cheap whilst the main purpose of one of the triple R is Reduce ? Why do they keep changing the chassis ?”

@Agterra

• Could it run Android without a Framework ROM?

Without a Framework Read-only-memory? Could you clarify?

@Agterra

• Would it be possible to make such a device and switch components?

Yes- as amoun mentioned Fairphone already does something similar to this.

@Agterra

• What aspect should it have to last?

Making a modular phone last is quite hard.

@Agterra

• How expensive that would be?

Hard to say- depends on the materials used.

@Agterra

In how much time such a would exists ?

I would say this is not on Framework’s to-do list, but I of course don’t know. The reason I say this is because there are already alternatives for modular phones.

[Agterra]

@Shiroudan

Without a Framework Read-only-memory? Could you clarify?

By that I mean, without a ROM of their own in order to ease up the process of creating the device but a custom ROM like /e/os or Lineage or ROMs with google services

@Shiroudan

Yes- as amoun mentioned Fairphone already does something similar to this.

I just checked the FP4 and yes, it seems pretty easy to replace parts, but not all parts like buttons

@Shiroudan

Hard to say- depends on the materials used.

And the source I guess. Fairphone say the high price is a part explained by the quality and respect of the provisioning source.

@Shiroudan

I would say this is not on Framework’s to-do list, but I of course don’t know. The reason I say this is because there are already alternatives for modular phones.

If they become really stable (if they are not already) and want to diverse, as a company would do, I would love it and I cross my fingers haha

[Agterra]

@anon81945988 you’re right !

I really hope modular would develop more and not be a gimmick

[Iann_C]

I own a fairphone 4 and it s doing the job. But keep in mind that s tiny in there…the problems are suite different. FW as a lot of room in comparison.
A big topic is update of android and closed cpu provider that stop updates zfter few years.
Maybe this will be solved in some years with open Risc V cpus…like in next pinephones from pine64

[JRLarsen]

In 2013 there was the concept for Phonebloks
I didn’t know until now but Motorola had worked with Phonebloks to develop Project Ara which ended up being cancelled
Following, ZTE conceptualized the Eco-Morbius in 2014
Google had apparently took the Project Ara and started development on the Spiral 2 (Where was the Spiral 1?) in 2015 which ended up getting delayed and rebranded as the Developer Edition which ended up being cancelled in 2016.