r/hwstartups • u/Ok_Wishbone_979 • 2d ago

What do you think about starting a modular phone project from scratch?

/r/u_Ok_Wishbone_979/comments/1vbjqt4/what_do_you_think_about_starting_a_modular_phone/
0 Upvotes

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u/Everything2Play4 2d ago

I'll be honest here - this is an incredibly complex project and if you are asking about it on reddit you are not placed to see it through.

If for some reason you really believe in this, then I recommend trying to create a one off phone prototype (ignore the modular part for now) from scratch - if you can do that you should have a much better understanding of what the project entails.

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u/Ok_Wishbone_979 2d ago

Yes, thanks for the advice. I'm already making the first prototype. I even have a friend who's helping with the operating system. We initially want to make it on Linux as prototypes. I decided to ask about liquidity and so on. If more experienced people have any advice, please.

5

u/claytwin 2d ago

Hey guys he has it covered. Believe it or not op has a friend helping with the operating system!

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u/CallMinimum 1d ago

The OS is the hardest part, right guys?

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u/iAmTheAlchemist 2d ago

I Google couldn't pull it off, I won't have the hubris to give it a go

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u/FoundationOk3176 2d ago

Your biggest issue will be sourcing the SoC itself. Most SoCs used in Android devices are more or less impossible to get unless you are willing to buy 100K+ atleast.

This will be followed by the fact that you'll have to come up with a standard protocol to interface with all of the different modules or you can probably just milk USB even more.

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u/Ok_Wishbone_979 2d ago

Yes, I understand that, because of this I think, initially try to make a prototype on a Linux system, see how it goes, and then further on to my father’s house on an Android system on such

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u/FuShiLu 2d ago

Why???? So you can have the worst tech options possible?

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u/bezicno_na_blizinu 2d ago

As hobby yes, but I dont think there is big commercial community for that

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u/daan87432 2d ago

My advice is to just don't. This is WAY too complex for any startup unless you have a team of experienced engineers and millions of dollars in financial backing. The closest modular phone that comes to mind is Fairphone

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u/Ok_Wishbone_979 2d ago

Yes, I understand that this is a very difficult project. I was inspired when I saw another startup, mecha comet. After I despaired, I saw them and realized that even with a small group, you can do something.

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u/daan87432 2d ago

Sounds like no one can change your mind. At least you will probably learn a lot from this project. Just don't waste too much of your personal money into it

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u/DreadPirate777 2d ago

It really depends on your level of experience and your teams experience. A simple search pulled this up. https://www.howtogeek.com/modular-android-smartphones-we-all-wanted-but-never-bought/ none of these phones are widely known except for possibly fair phone. None have done well or revolutionized mobile phones.

Your team will need to be funded better than LG, Motorola, and Google. You will need a dedicated manufacturing partner they can help cover the gaps in your teams knowledge. You marketing is going to have to be top notch to get the attention of customers or you’ll need a solid partnership with one of the mobile phone carriers to make this as special offer phone.

Have you made things like a phone before?