Just before the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 event in Barcelona, Tecno unveiled a bold new smartphone concept that is built around the new Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology. This is a system designed to rethink how hardware expansion works, so here are all the details.

Tecno Modular Phone Concept: Ultra-Thin Design Meets Modular Flexibilty

The Tecno Modular Phone concept is built around a sleek metal frame and matte glass back, with the rear panel visually divided into eight modular zones that guide accessory attachment. Another standout aspect is its ultra slim 4.9mm body. Tecno allows users to add modules such as a 4.5mm ultra-slim power bank or action camera. This sleek design helps the Module Phone Concept avoid turning into a bulky slab even with the accessories attached to the back.

The concept will be shown in two design styles, namely ATOM Edition and MODA Edition. Instead of the heavy “brick” modules seen in older modular efforts, Tecno’s approach is more about practical attachments that enhance functionality without compromising portability. Some of these new attachments include:

• Power Bank Module: Adds extra battery capacity while preserving a slim profile.
• Action Camera Module: Gives creators alternative angles and workflows for video/shooting.
• Telephoto Lens Module: Uses the phone’s display as a live viewfinder for improved long-range photography.

This modular ecosystem is designed to solve a modern problem: how to expand hardware capabilities like AI computing, imaging, battery life, and others. Tecno’s modular concept uses a hybrid magnetic attachment system with a rectangular magnetic array and pogo-pin connectors for power delivery.

These connectors help keep power transfer efficient and manage heat more effectively than some old modular prototypes. Meanwhile, the modules communicate with the phone using a mix of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mmWave. We can expect more details to be revealed during the major tech event, so stick around for more.

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The post Tecno’s Modular Phone Concept is a Super Slim 4.9 mm Device With Magnetic How-Swap Attachments appeared first on Gizmochina.

Modular smartphones haven’t taken off as intended and foldable phones have become more popular compared to modular phones even though they were launching a couple of years after the introduction of modular phones.

There are only a couple of companies that launched — Motorola under its Moto Z series and Dutch-based Fairphone are among those. Now, it seems that China-based Xiaomi could be working on a modular smartphone as it has been awarded a patent for the same.

Xiaomi had filed a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for an ‘electronic device.’ The documents revealed a few weeks ago, describes a smartphone that is made of different modules with differing functions.

A concept render of the smartphone based on the images in the patent application has been created by Concept Creator for LetsGoDigital. There are basically three modules — the first one contains the motherboard and the camera system, the second module is for the battery while the third module is the one that forms the underside of the telephone.

Two of those three modules feature a screen and when both of them are connected together, it forms a large display panel without a visible seam. The modules can be attached and removed through a rail-like sliding mechanism.

The company has shown and described two different types of camera modules. One of them is a square-shaped camera system with a triple-camera setup and an LED flash, a design we saw on the company’s Redmi 9C smartphone. There’s also a vertical camera configuration with a quad-camera setup. The lens at the bottom has a square-shaped design, indicating a periscope zoom camera.

As for the front-facing camera, the documents don’t reveal much. At this time, it’s likely to be a punch-hole notch on the display for housing the front camera but the company could also use the under-display camera technology for this.

Xiaomi co-founder and CEO Lei Jun had shared several photos of the Xiaomi Magic Cube modular phone on Weibo a few years back. Although the phone was not released in the market, it appears that the Chinese company is still playing with the idea and could launch a smartphone with a similar concept in the future.

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Xiaomi is apparently looking into modular designs that were a popular smartphone concept a couple of years back. A new patent from the Chinese tech giant was published earlier today (4th August 2020) and details a device with a removable display.

The patent was filed with CNIPA (China National Intellectual Property Administration) under the title of “two component phone,” and was reported on by LetsGoDigital. Looking at the images that were found with the patent, a device can be observed along with a removable display that can be taken out and connected to the smartphone at will. When the device is not conencted, a dual camera system can be seen on the front along with an LED flash, meaning it sports an under screen selfie shooter.

Editor’s Pick: Redmi 9 Prime for Rs. 9,999 (~$133) brings 6.53-inch FHD+ display, Helio G80, 13MP quad cameras and 5,020mAh battery

While the display is connected, the smartphone is no different from any regular handset. The display can also be seen separately in the patent, with its rear having twin ports that resemble a speaker grill with small holes that connect to the pins that can be seen in the main body of the device. The patent also hints that the display can be used separately without the main body, but how exactly it achieves this is currently unknown.

While having a removable and functioning display might have some positives, it really doesn’t seem very practical. One might be able to use the screen as a viewfinder or control and have the main body act as a camera. However, this is still a very isolated example. This might just be an attempt to cover all bases from Xiaomi so we might never actually see the device being launched.

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Last year, professional camera maker RED, announced its own modular smartphone – the HYDROGEN One. The phone which is priced between $1200 to $1500 awas available for pre-order last summer with a 2018 release date. New details have now surfaced about the phone.

Founder of the company, Jim Janard said in a forum post that he and the President of the company, Jarred Land, are both using working  prototypes of the HYDROGEN One with serial numbers EVT1-0001 and EVT1-0002 respectively.

One of the unique selling points of the HYDROGEN One apart from its modularity is its display. Apart from being able to run in regular 2D mode like most smartphones, it can also run in a 4View mode (holographic).

According to Jim Janard, it is a “better than 3D” image that doesn’t require glasses. He says in the post that everyone who has seen the screen (in this mode) has been blown away.

For modularity, the HYDROGEN One has a set of pogo pins similar to the Lenovo Moto Z series. These pins will connect to modules that adds an additional battery or cinema-grade camera amongst others to the phone.

The post also listed a few specs of the phone:

1. 5.7” 2560 x 1440 hi-res display
2. Snapdragon 835 mobile platform
3. Dual SIM slot (hybrid)
4. 4500mAh battery
5. USB-C port
6. 3.5mm audio jack
7. Stereo speakers

The good news is that the RED HYDROGEN One will be available to carriers. However, availability will be dependent on how soon a carrier certifies the phone. Due to that, estimated ship date for carrier-versions will likely be in the summer. Nevertheless, those who pre-ordered will get theirs unlocked and shipped to them earlier than that.

RED also revealed that they are planning a HYDROGEN Day at their studios probably in April where the technology behind 4View (4V) will be demonstrated.

RED’s target market for its phone are those involved in content creation, so if you do not fall into this category it may not be justifiable spending over a $1000 purchasing it.

(Source, Via)

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