Let us take a look at another modular smartphone concept, this time it is the ZTE Eco Mobius. The information on this concept was first published on ZTE’s website then a concept model was showed off at CES 2014. Like the Magic Cube by Xiaomi, we are left wondering if the ZTE Eco Mobius will ever see the light of day. Unlike the Xiaomi Cube however, we did actually get to see a prototype model of the ZTE Eco Mobius, this makes us believe that the Eco Mobius could actually be a possibility.

About ZTE

ZTE is one of six Chinese companies among the top ten smartphone companies in terms of smartphone sales. ZTE currently makes smartphones that run Android, Windows and Firefox OS. What is common among these Chinese smartphone manufacturers is that they all tend to stay abreast with global trends and are always ready to adopt new technologies. I mentioned in my previous post that if Xiaomi didn’t make a modular smartphone “I’m pretty sure another Chinese company will do so.” ZTE might just be that other company that surprised us with a new modular smartphone.

“ZTE Corporation is a globally-leading provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions. With operations in 160 countries, the company is a leader in technology innovation, delivering superior products and business solutions to clients all over the world. Founded in 1985, ZTE is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges and is China’s largest listed telecoms equipment company.”

The ZTE Eco Mobius Modular Smartphone

The ZTE Eco Mobius is the concept of a modular smartphone that ZTE imagined. Like Ara, PhoneBloks and the PuzzlePhone, ZTE imagined a modular smartphone that could change the way we use our smartphones today. It is made up of multiple parts (modules) and users can upgrade these individual parts when needed by simply swapping them out with new ones.

“The phone is divided into four independent modules: LCD, core, camera, and battery. The LCD module includes the screen and lens; the core module consists of a removable CPU, GPU, ROM and RAM and other electronic parts. The four modules can be easily disassembled and assembled through a sliding track design. In the ECO-MOBIUS series, main components are designed to be easily accessed and removed to make upgrading smooth, inexpensive and less wasteful. The CPU, GPU, RAM, ROM, camera, battery and display all fit within a modular framework that has a standard design across the whole ECO-MOBIUS series.”

ZTE also envisioned that various screen sizes could be available for the ECO Mobius. For this to be possible, three different frames would be available all capable of utilizing the same modules for the device, with the exception of the LCD module which would depend on the size of the frame. The frame sizes would range from 4.9 to 7.9 inches.

Modular smartphones are awesome, like any other category of devices, quantity drives the prices in favor of the consumer. The PuzzlePhone and Ara are the only two modular smartphones known to be officially in development. History has it that there are almost never only two players in the smartphone race, so we eagerly anticipate the announcement of the next official modular smartphone.