The sequel to HMD Fusion 2 is here, yet users don't need modular phones.

In September 2024, the independent HMD released its first modular - designed smartphone, the HMD Fusion. Different from traditional modular phones, the "modularity" of the HMD Fusion is reflected in its back cover. This phone allows users to easily replace back covers with different designs and functions according to their preferences, including thin and light models, those with wireless charging capabilities, and outdoor - protective ones. However, due to the extremely poor performance of the phone, the sales of the HMD Fusion were not outstanding.

Surprisingly, a sequel to this phone is going to be released.

Image source: HMD Meme

According to the information exposed by HMD Meme, the Fusion 2 will continue the modular design concept of its predecessor, allowing users to freely replace camera modules, batteries, back covers, and some interface modules. According to HMD, the brand hopes that through this design, users don't have to replace the whole device because of a bad battery or an aging lens, thus extending the device's lifespan and reducing electronic waste.

But the question is, in 2025, when the smartphone industry chain is highly closed and the cost pressure is huge, can HMD's attempt really bring modular phones "back to life"?

The Past and Present of Modular Phones

Although the concept of modular phones has not been mentioned much in recent years, those who have some understanding of the development of smartphones should have an impression of the concept of "modular phones" that has existed for more than 20 years. Counting from the beginning of the current smartphone era, the concept of modular phones first emerged in 2013.

At that time, the smartphone industry was still in a period of rapid growth, and Google proposed "Project Ara" - to create a DIY - enabled mobile phone hardware ecosystem, allowing smartphones to have freely replaceable components like PCs. Processors, cameras, batteries, and screens could be combined through module slots. Just like building blocks, anyone could create a phone suitable for themselves with extremely low "learning costs".

Image source: Project Ara

Although Project Ara was just a "concept product", this new mobile phone module concept inspired international giants such as Moto and LG. The LG G5 and Moto Z phones, which allowed users to freely replace battery function modules and back - cover modules, were launched one after another.

However, the dismal sales soon poured cold water on the brands and the entire modular concept. The "replaceable chin" of the LG G5 was abandoned the following year, the module ecosystem of the Moto Z lost updates within just two years, and Project Ara ended without a result. The ideal of modular phones was finally abandoned by the market.

Actually, from a market perspective, the reason why the highly customizable modular phones like Project Ara were cold - shouldered in the market is not complicated:

First of all, modular phones did not enable users to build "low - cost phones" according to their needs as expected. The modular design means more interfaces, more structural complexity, and also higher production and maintenance costs. High - end flagship phones have the premium space for modularity, but these phones follow the "all - inclusive" hardware route and don't need the module design of Project Ara. Mid - range and entry - level phones may have user needs for "customization", but their selling prices cannot support the premium brought by modularity.

Image source: Moto

In a nutshell, phones that can afford modularity don't need it, and phones that need modularity can't afford it.

Even if the brands manage to solve the problem of the selling price, they still need to spend a lot of effort to solve problems such as the durability of modular phones and the accessory ecosystem. In an era when Android manufacturers are competing in terms of configuration and price, the ideal of modularity seems too far - fetched.

So why has the concept of modular phones "revived" 20 years later? In the view of Lei Technology, the "limited - time comeback" of modular phones is actually related to the unique concepts of "environmental protection" and "repairability" in the European and American markets in recent years.

Repairability Can't Attract Many People

Since 2020, concepts such as "repairability", "sustainability", and "ESG" have become the new favorites in the global technology industry. After the EU promoted the repairability bill for electronic devices, more and more brands have begun to attach importance to the maintainability of devices - from Apple's self - repair program to Samsung's easy - to - replace battery design, the entire consumer electronics industry is competing in the field of "repairability".

Image source: HMD

The protagonist today, the HMD Fusion, is a special product of the era born in this context. Different from the modular phones back then, the Fusion series has never aimed its modularity at "DIY performance upgrades" or "personalized assembly", but has returned to a more practical goal - lowering the threshold for phone repair and extending the device's lifespan.

In HMD's plan, the core selling point of the Fusion series (including the future Fusion 2) is the "replaceable modules". Is the battery aging after long - term use? Just open the back cover and replace the new battery module. Is the camera damaged by the laser at a concert? Has the screen been accidentally cracked? Just buy the accessories from the after - sales channel and replace them yourself.

I know that for domestic users, the idea of repairing a phone by themselves may not be very attractive. But for markets in Europe and North America with high labor costs and low work efficiency, being able to repair a phone at home is better in terms of both time and efficiency than sending it to after - sales for repair.

From the perspective of European market users, Lei Technology believes that the modular direction of the Fusion 2 with "repairability" as its selling point is not wrong. But from the general trend of "integration" and "miniaturization" in the development of mobile phones, making "repairability" a real selling point is not as simple as just making the disassembly convenient.

Image source: Apple

After more than a decade of evolution, the internal structure of smartphones has become extremely complex. Phones like the iPhone Air have even canceled the physical SIM card slot to ensure integration. How to allow non - professional users to safely replace modules without sacrificing waterproofing, dust - proofing, thickness, and stability is also the biggest technical challenge faced by the Fusion 2.

For mainstream manufacturers, the problems of thickness, heat dissipation, and stability brought by module interfaces are the unavoidable realities behind the change to modularity. It is still almost impossible to achieve modular replacement on a flagship phone that is 8mm thick, has IP68 waterproofing, and supports wireless charging.

Moreover, the smartphone field has never successfully cultivated users' "modular" usage habits. Even for the sake of repair, for mainstream mobile phone brands and most people, "replacing instead of repairing" has long become part of an excellent after - sales service experience. Even if HMD really realizes the ideal of modular repair, it's hard to guarantee that the market will pay for it.

Image source: Fairphone

For this reason, Lei Technology doesn't think that the concept of "modular phones" can really open up the market. Even a brand like Fairphone, which is from Europe and focuses on environmental protection, has an annual sales volume that is difficult to exceed 200,000 units, not to mention the Asian market.

The Market Doesn't Need Modular Phones

From this perspective, the fundamental reason why modular phones can't be widely promoted is not "technical" limitations, but market recognition.

If Europe hadn't actively promoted the "repairability" of mobile phones, users' enthusiasm for "repairing phones by themselves" would not have been enough to support the emergence of a niche market. For most people, a mobile phone is a "plug - and - play" living tool, not an electronic device that needs maintenance. Even if phone repair becomes easier, it won't change people's consumption habit of "repairing when it's broken". After all, it's not difficult to find a phone repair shop in most markets.

Not to mention that the development direction of smartphones in recent years has been running counter to the concept of modularity: thinner bodies, more compact spaces, and stronger waterproof performance all conflict with the idea of "removable and replaceable". Modularity theoretically represents freedom, but in reality, it represents a worse overall experience.

Image source: Lei Technology

It's undeniable that the emergence of the HMD Fusion 2 has proposed a "new direction" for the mobile phone industry, but ideals are one thing and reality is another. It's certain that modular phones won't return to the main stage. Brands such as vivo, Xiaomi, and OPPO have already developed a new set of "modular solutions". In the form of detachable accessories, they have enriched the imaging functions of mobile phones with accessories such as telephoto lenses, magnetic lenses, and fill lights without affecting the basic usage experience of the phones.

Or more straightforwardly, HMD Fusion may still need the concept of "modular phones" to create topics. But whether it's HMD or modular phones, users don't care anymore.

This article is from "Lei Technology" and is published by 36Kr with authorization.