Way back in 2013, I believed in modular phones. Motorola planted the seed with the stunning Moto X and the Moto Maker where you could choose certain aspects of the phone for something truly unique. Then Google sold Motorola to Lenovo and Moto Maker went the way of the dodo.
Google kept everything it learned from Motorola and stoked the flames with Project Ara. The plan was to give consumers the ability to swap out modules at will, be it batteries, cameras or even processors. Alas, while the first Project Ara phone was slated to launch in 2015, Google unceremoniously suspended the program in 2016. LG, meanwhile, picked up the baton and crossed the finish line with the 2016 LG G5.
You could swap out the battery, add a hi-fi DAC or a camera grip. It was dope. However, it wasn’t cool enough to resonate with consumers, causing the LG G5 to be the first and last of its name. And thus ended the dream of the modular phone, or so the world thought.
According to Android Police, Human Mobile Devices (HMD) Global, one of the former Nokia phones makers, is reigniting the flames with the HMD Fusion. The new phone is slated to feature multiple types of what the company’s calling “interchangeable outfits.” In short, we’re talking about modular components such as a ring light.
What other modular plans does HMD have in store? The company says the only limit is your imagination. A recent press release states:
“Taking personalisation to new levels, people are able to customise their own phone and create new use cases through a software and hardware developer kit. Whether it’s for creativity, gaming or productivity, Human Mobile Devices’ latest smartphone evolves with you – the only limit is your imagination.”
And while that’s all well and good, what’s going to keep the Fusion from crashing and burning like the LG G5? Pricing. Instead of going the premium flagship route, HMD’s taking the mid-range bargain route. When the phone launches in the U.S., it will only cost $300 as it currently costs £199 / 249 € overseas.
However, to reach such a wallet-friendly price, some concessions had to be made. That means instead of the latest Qualcomm chipset, the Fusion will make due with a Qualcomm SM4450 (Snapdragon 4 Gen 2) CPU with 6GB of RAM, and 128MB of onboard storage. Thankfully, you can increase the storage to 1TB via the microSD slot. The Fusion’s screen doesn’t the scintillating beauty of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. But, the Fusion’s 720 x 1612p resolution with its 90Hz refresh rate should get the job done.
Another big selling point is the repairability. Take for instance the display, which if broken, you can just pop it out and replace it yourself. Then there’s the Smart Outfits, snazzy covers that are the secret sauce in the Fusion’s modularity. You’d be forgiven for mistaking the Smart Outfits as fancy phone covers, but this is the vehicle you’ll be attaching all the peripherals. HMD has announced a number of Smart Outfits, none of which are currently available, much to my chagrin.
There’s the Flashy Outfit that gives you the aforementioned Ring Light. Next, you have the Wireless Outfit that allows for wireless charging while the Rugged Outfit brings IP68 (water and dust resistance) rating on top of the phone’s regular IP54 rating which is light water resistance. The Casual Outfits lends some added protection against drops. Finally, you have the Gaming Outfit, which transforms the Fusion into a handheld gaming device. Plus, if you’re handy with a 3D Printer and CAD, you can make your own Outfits. Just make sure you download the HMD Fusion Toolkit.
I’m particularly interested in the camera. HMD provides a 108-megapixel camera Auto Focus with Smart EIS + 2 MP Depth Depth sensor in the back. The front has 50MP fixed focus sensor. I also want to see how long the 5,000mAh battery lasts, especially since the S24 Ultra has the same size battery. That less powerful CPU and lower resolution display could give the Fusion an edge.
Stay tuned for the upcoming review of the phone that could finally put modular phones on the map. At the very least, it could be a big hit with the DIY and Right to Repair crowds.
