The CMF Phone 1’s modular approach made tech fun again for me

The pursuit of modularity in smartphones isn’t new. Way back to 2010, I bear in mind being wowed by the Modu T and its jackets that added options like a 5MP digicam or an influence financial institution to the not-quite-smartphone. A couple of years later, Moto Mods had been simply as spectacular with their means so as to add an influence Hasselblad digicam, a mini projector, or a full-fledged JBL speaker to the again of the telephone. Nonetheless, whereas ideas just like the Moto Mods, LG G5 Buddies, Venture Ara, or Phonebloks appealed to tinkerers and fanatics like me, the modular telephone has been, by all measures, a failure.

However like trend, most tech developments are cyclical in nature, and Nothing’s reasonably priced sub-brand CMF has introduced again modularity with its personal spin on it. Can CMF win the tinkerer in me when even the perfect smartphone manufacturers stumbled or failed? I feel so.

What drew me to the CMF Cellphone 1 is that it doesn’t try to implement costly digital add-ons that will be extra impractical to hold and use than in the event that they had been constructed into the telephone. As a substitute, the corporate has adopted a decidedly low-tech method to the issue. There are not any pogo pin connectors right here, nor are there any magnets or bespoke electronics. All of its equipment screw into the telephone utilizing a set of, effectively, screws.

The primary lot of equipment contains fundamentals like replaceable again panels, a kickstand, a pockets, and a lanyard. These are all equipment that may serve me every day and be left hooked up to the telephone with out worrying about always eradicating and safeguarding them. The CMF Cellphone isn’t modular in the identical vein as including a brand new bespoke projector to a telephone. Nonetheless, on a regular basis usability trumps gee-whizz technical showcases, particularly for an reasonably priced smartphone that doesn’t have to fake to do greater than it may well.

It additionally helps that the equipment are extraordinarily simple to put in. I acquired my palms on a alternative again panel and a kickstand for my black CMF Cellphone 1. The corporate thoughtfully ships you all the pieces you can want to put in these, together with a set of screws and a micro screwdriver, and it took me mere minutes to put in a alternative shell. The included set of screws with the teal alternative again was color-matched silver, however I opted to maintain the unique black screws for a extra industrial look. I additionally screwed within the orange kickstand accent to finish the spunky look. CMF affords sufficient right here to make this already distinctive-looking telephone your personal.

I’d be fairly glad if that was all that the CMF telephone provided, however constructing modularity round an old-school screw and plastic bits method has an added benefit. It opens the door for anybody to create their very own equipment. A few days after the launch of the telephone, CMF launched the 3D CAD information for the rear panel of the telephone, permitting group members to 3D print their very own equipment — a boon for a tinkerer like me!

I reached out to a good friend to 3D print a digicam grip for the telephone, and inside hours we had been in a position to create an adjunct that matches like a glove whereas including utility. It’s magical. In reality, I’m already designing a headphone winder accent to securely tuck away a pair of wired earphones behind the CMF Cellphone 1.

To spur adoption, CMF has additionally launched a 3D printing competitors at Maker World. A cursory look on the submissions showcases a sturdy array of progressive initiatives. Members of the group have already launched schematics for a again panel that allows you to connect Lego bricks to the telephone, a set of gamepad-style grips, a holster for the CMF Buds, and even a folding fan. There’s additionally the same old array of aesthetic again panels. For the primary time within the historical past of modular telephones, the chances are really limitless.

Some would possibly lament the shortage of wi-fi charging or Qi2 help, which might open up the CMF Cellphone 1 to the present MagSafe accent ecosystem. Nonetheless, regardless of being an advocate for wi-fi charging in all places, I’m glad that CMF went a bit exterior of the field. Qi2 would’ve inevitably restricted the ecosystem to first-party equipment and, at most, just a few predictable choices from third-party distributors. After all, it goes with out saying that utilizing easy screws helps hold prices down as effectively.

Look, it’s means too early to say that the CMF Cellphone 1 is paving the way in which ahead for modular telephones. It’s not possible to foretell how lengthy CMF will help the screw structure on future iterations of its telephones too. In reality, the corporate has made no dedication in any way to hold ahead with this design. Nonetheless, it’s robust to disclaim that it’s created one thing thrilling right here that appeals to the geeks who’re bored of straightforward slab telephones and predictable equipment, and simply need to suppose exterior the field and construct enjoyable issues.

By open-sourcing the design of the panel, CMF has successfully assured that there will likely be no dearth of equipment for us to tinker round with, even when the corporate opts for a complete new configuration — or no configuration — with its subsequent telephone. That’s ingenious. As an fanatic who liked Moto Mods, I do know CMF’s method isn’t as technically interesting as what Motorola achieved virtually ten years in the past. Nonetheless, credit score is due the place it’s due, and, for as soon as, Carl Pei’s manifesto of creating tech enjoyable once more has actually lived as much as its hype.