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Concept
Modular smartphone
Summary
A modular smartphone is a smartphone designed for users to upgrade or replace components and modules without the need for resoldering or repair services. The most important component is the main board, to which others such as cameras and batteries are attached. Components can be obtained from open-source hardware stores.
This design aims to reduce electronic waste, increase the phone's lifespan, and lower repair costs. However, modular smartphones are generally bulkier and slower than their non-modular counterparts which may make them less attractive for most consumers.
Consumers may be motivated to buy modular phones to bypass non-modular phones, which are designed with planned obsolescence. Planned obsolescence, originating from American industrial designer Brooks Stevens, is a strategy of selling phones to be replaced rather than repaired.
Planned obsolescence in smartphones prematurely shortens their life spans, as users replace their smartphones earlier than necessary. This quick consumption cycle, caused by planned obsolescence, can lead to increased electronic waste.(Electronic waste is one of the world's fastest growing sources of waste.)
Modular phones, which are repairable and do not need to be as frequently replaced, are considered as a sustainable consumer electronic. Modular phones have also been proposed as an ethically conscious alternative to annual phone release. However, the degree of benefits are unclear because modular phone companies can not accurately trace the origin of all their materials.
In addition to the impact of disposal, the manufacturing of phones, which includes use of conflict minerals can result in soil degradation and heavy metal pollution. High amounts of energy, ore and processing power are required to obtain small quantities of the minerals used in the circuit board, display and battery of mobile phones.
Consumers often prematurely replace their smartphones due to degradation of certain components that experience the most mechanical stress and are costly to repair (specifically the display, battery, or back cover).
Official source
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