Forget Project Ara, here's your first modular smartphone

Fonkraft
Fonkraft is the world's first modular smartphone

While many people have been waiting patiently for Google to finally release Project Ara, the modular smartphone you can build yourself, it's been beaten to market by the relatively unknown Fonkraft handset.

The basic handset of the crowd-sourced modular smartphone comes with a 5-inch full HD display (with a pixel density of 441ppi), Android Lollipop, and is completely customisable so you can swap out the RAM, battery, camera and even the screen for different specifications.

To help you choose there are a number of ready-made configurations that you can buy via Fonkraft's Indigogo page, depending on what sort of phone you'd like.

Modular models

The basic model, known as the Fonkraft Pilot, is aimed at delivering battery life in spades with an additional 3,100mAh battery alongside a smaller 1,000mAh battery.

Fonkraft

It comes with an 8MP rear camera and a front-facing 2MP snapper, along with a 1.3GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and 8GB onboard storage. This is all for an impressive $99 (£65, around AU$124).

If you're keen on taking photos then the Fonkraft Resolution could be of interest which comes with a 20 megapixel camera module, 64GB of storage, a 2.5GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM and a 2,800mAh battery, and will cost you $199 (£130, around AU$249).

Fonkraft

If you like listening to music on your smartphone, then there's the Fonkraft HiFi which comes with a a 192kHz HiFi module made of wood for high quality audio playback.

Fonkraft

It also features 64GB of storage, a 2.5GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera and a 2,100 mAh battery for $199 (£130, around AU$249).

If you can't make up your mind you can also buy the Fonkraft Elements which comes with all the modules and lets you swap them out to build your own configurations at will for $200 (around £129, AU$250).

All versions support LTE (4G), as well as GMS/EDGE, CDMA (UMTS), WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, and GLONASS.

Although Fonkraft has launched before Project Ara to claim the title of the world's first modular smartphone, Project Ara has a more recognisable name which means we might see wider support for Google's offering.

Even so, Fonkraft plans to bring out more modules in the future, including a second SIM tray, extra antenna and 16-megapixel camera. In a similar move to Google, Fonkraft will allow third parties to build and sell their own modules.

You can buy a Fonkraft now, but it will be shipped in September. It's a bit of a wait, but you'll still get one before Project Ara launches.

Via Pocket Lint

TOPICS
Matt Hanson
Managing Editor, Core Tech

Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he's reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.

Latest in Phones
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on display the January 22, 2025 Galaxy Unpacked event.
All three rumored Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge colors shown off in ‘official’ images
Anker Zolor Power Bank 10,000mah
My favorite portable charger goes everywhere with me, and it's under $13 at Amazon right now
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Hands on
I'm actually glad the new Siri with Apple Intelligence is delayed, and here's why we've got Apple's AI problem backwards
The iPhone 16 Pro on a grey background
iPhone 17 Pro tipped to get 8K video recording – but I want these 3 video features instead
Google Pixel 9 on blue background with big savings text overlay
Forget Amazon, the best Pixel 9 deal is at Mint Mobile today - get $400 off without an annoying trade-in
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on display the January 22, 2025 Galaxy Unpacked event.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge colors seemingly revealed in new video, and there’s another sign of an imminent launch
Latest in News
Shigeru Miyamoto presents Nintendo Today app
Nintendo Today smartphone app is out now on iOS and Android devices – and here's what it does
Nintendo Virtual Game Card
Nintendo reveals the new Virtual Game Card feature, an easier way to manage your digital Switch games
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date has seemingly been confirmed by Best Buy Canada – here's when you'll be able to order yours
Person printing
Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update exorcises possessed printers that spewed out pages of random characters
Pro-Ject A1.2 in black, playing a vinyl record in a hi-fi listening room
Pro-Ject's new fully-automatic turntable could be the buy of Record Store Day 2025
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet reportedly won't release until after 2026, as Neil Druckmann says that staff 'are playing it at the office' right now - but I don't think I can wait that long