You Can Build This Smartphone
**The Fairphone 2: A Modular Smartphone That Lets You Swap Parts Like a Pro**
Hey guys, this is Austin. Today, I'm going to talk about something pretty exciting—a smartphone that’s completely modular. Meet the **Fairphone 2**, a device that takes phone repair and upgrades to an entirely new level.
### What Makes the Fairphone 2 Different?
If you’ve ever used a phone like the Essential or the Moto Z, you know they’re all about adding functionality through external modules. But the Fairphone is different. Instead of just adding features, it’s designed so that if something breaks—like the screen or the camera—you can literally pop those parts out and replace them without tossing your whole phone away.
### Opening Up the Fairphone 2
Let me show you what I mean. Open this guy up, and you’ll see a sleek design inside. The Fairphone is built to be as user-friendly as possible when it comes to swapping parts. Not only can you remove the battery, but there are tabs on the bottom that let you pop off the screen in just **eight seconds**! It’s pretty wild—I’ve never taken apart a phone this easily during an unboxing.
### Inside the Fairphone 2
With the screen gone, you’ll have access to several other modules:
- The headphone jack and front-facing camera.
- The main camera module.
- The speaker and micro USB cable on the back.
This phone is basically built like a Swiss Army knife of smartphone parts. There are **seven different modules** that you can buy if something breaks or if you want to upgrade it. Check out the Fairphone website to see all your options!
### Breaking It Down
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. With just a couple of screws, I managed to remove the camera module. What makes this possible is the little pins on each module that connect everything together. These are the same pins you’ll find on other modules, which means swapping parts is seamless.
Inside what they call the **core module**, you’ll find all the essential components like the CPU and radios. It’s a cool setup that makes the phone both functional and customizable. Once everything is put back together, you’ll notice it supports dual SIM cards and microSD cards up to 64GB.
### Specs and Performance
Now, let’s talk about the specs. The Fairphone isn’t exactly a flagship device, but it holds its own. It’s got a **quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor**, **2GB of RAM**, and **32GB of storage**—all specs straight out of 2014. While this might sound outdated, it still performs well enough to keep up with budget phones today.
The screen is a decent **5-inch HD display** with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. It’s not the most cutting-edge, but it gets the job done. The battery, however, is on the smaller side at **2420 mAh**, which might not hold up well compared to modern phones.
### Camera and Features
The Fairphone comes with an **8-megapixel rear camera** and a **2-megapixel front-facing camera** for selfies. While the images aren’t top-tier, it’s on par with other 2014-era smartphones like the HTC One M8. Video recording is also limited to 1080p.
### The Real Selling Point: Modularity
The real star of the show here is the **modular design**. If a part breaks or you want to upgrade, you can just swap it out. For example, replacing a screen costs about $100, and even the camera module is only around $40. This approach not only extends the life of your phone but also reduces waste—a big win for sustainability.
### Downsides
But before you get too excited, there are a few drawbacks to consider:
- **Availability**: The Fairphone 2 is currently only available in Europe.
- **Price**: At **530 Euros** (around $600), it’s not exactly cheap. It’s right up there with full flagship phones.
- **Dependence on Fairphone**: The success of this phone relies heavily on Fairphone continuing to produce modules and supporting the device long-term.
### Final Thoughts
While the Fairphone 2 isn’t perfect, its modular design is a game-changer. Imagine being able to upgrade your phone with better components as new tech becomes available—no need to toss it out after a year or two. It’s a bold concept that could change how we think about smartphone ownership.
### What Do You Think?
Would you consider buying a modular smartphone like the Fairphone 2? Let me know in the comments below, and I’ll catch you in the next video!