Modular Phones Never Really Took Off, but Tecno Aims to Remind Us Why They’re Impressive
MWC 2026 is currently buzzing with activity, and Tecno is displaying its latest phones and devices. Nonetheless, the standout device at Tecno’s exhibit is reminiscent of a nostalgic era.
The Tecno Modular Phone evokes memories of a period when modular phones were quite trendy. Brands like Motorola and LG attempted it, but it never gained traction. Google also experimented with the notion of a modular phone, yet it never materialized.
Now, Tecno is demonstrating what’s achievable in a landscape saturated with MagSafe, without depending on it to function.
The Tecno Modular Phone design is remarkably slim; so slim, in fact, that it would make the iPhone Air and Galaxy S25 Edge feel inadequate. It measures 4.9mm thick and has eight distinct “zones” where accessories attach magnetically to the back of the device. Tecno presented an entire collection of accessories that can be attached to the phone for various uses.
For instance, a telephoto extender enhances the phone’s zoom capabilities beyond the built-in sensor, offering a zoom range from 3.5x to 10x. And if you wish to push it even further, you can utilize the Tecno Telephoto Lens, a camera-like handle that provides 10-20x zoom, featuring a sensor that includes optical image stabilization.
Curiously, you must connect wirelessly to the Telephoto Lens since it employs the phone’s screen as a viewfinder. In my experience, the viewfinder appeared to be somewhat sluggish, but this might have been due to external factors (my Bluetooth earbuds were misbehaving).
As per Tecno, the device utilizes a blend of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mmWave to link up with the modules, which should guarantee a low-latency/high-bandwidth connection. Nevertheless, it’s vital to remember that this is still a concept, yet it was fascinating to observe the camera software adapt to the newly integrated hardware.
Other modules encompassed a microphone, a speaker, an item that resembled a selfie mirror and light, and even a stylish antenna attachment claimed to enhance your phone’s connectivity, even when signals are weak (which sounds almost too good to be true).
My favorite was likely the power bank, a 3,000mAh battery pack that is only 4.5mm thick. The highlight is that Tecno’s Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology enables multiple modules to be linked, allowing for several slim battery packs for additional battery life or transforming the phone into a premium media device.
Tecno also introduced the devices and modules in two unique styles and colors, making it seem as if they were two entirely different phones.
What surprised me was the fact that this concept device actually worked. The screen lit up, I could navigate through apps, test the camera modules, and more. I’m uncertain about the chipset powering the Modular Phone Concept, but considering the “concept” label, it’s irrelevant since the likelihood of this reaching the market seems slim.
It appears impractical to expect users to carry an array of modules. For instance, the telephoto lens module is fairly heavy and almost toppled off onto a hard surface when I attempted to hand the phone to someone.
Modular phones have also struggled historically, with Google terminating Project Ara, LG abandoning its “friends” initiative with the modular G5, and Motorola’s commendable Moto Mods soon fading into obscurity as the company did. The investment seems to overshadow the practicality, with companies needing to consistently support the modular accessories and consumers facing justification challenges in spending on a new smartphone and its add-ons.
In the end, modular phones simply don’t align with consumer desires, regardless of their impressive design.
Nonetheless, it’s encouraging to see Tecno pursuing “new” innovations, even if the modular phone idea feels a bit “been there, done that.” I only wish some of Tecno’s other ideas, like the remarkable Phantom Ultimate G trifold phone, would come to fruition.