The Realme GT 8 Pro introduces a notable innovation in smartphone design with its user-swappable camera island module. This feature allows users to change the entire rear camera island, including the frame and design, without needing to alter the lenses themselves. The camera island can be switched out easily by removing screws on the sides of the module, and Realme offers different shapes such as a robot face-like square or a round island for customization. However, the lenses and sensors inside remain fixed and cannot be interchanged because camera components require factory calibration and software tuning which would be disrupted by swapping individual lenses or sensors. This modularity focuses primarily on aesthetic and design customization rather than functional hardware upgrades. The GT 8 Pro's swappable module idea is being positioned as a rare, possibly one-time feature for that generation of phone, with Realme yet to confirm if it will continue in future models. Alongside this design, the GT 8 Pro boasts high-end specs including a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a 6.78-inch QHD OLED display with 144Hz refresh rate, a 200MP periscope telephoto camera, a large 7,000mAh battery, and fast 120W charging.
The concept of modular phones has a longer history and comes from a desire to extend the life and versatility of devices by allowing users to replace or upgrade parts inexpensively and easily. This idea was inspired by personal computers, where components like storage drives, graphics cards, and processors are commonly swapped out to keep systems up to date. Early modular mobile devices date back to as early as 1999 with Handspring Visor PDAs, which allowed some modular expansion such as GPS or camera add-ons, though only one module could be used at once.
In 2008, the Israeli startup Modu introduced the first real modular phone, the Modu phone, which was exceptionally light and offered a unique approach where the phone core could be inserted into different enclosures (called jackets) that added various functionalities. Despite a Guinness World Record for being the lightest phone, Modu struggled commercially and ceased operations in 2011, selling some patents to Google. The Modu concept did not catch on largely due to performance issues and the rise of the smartphone era led by Apple's iPhone.
Around 2013, a resurgence of modular phone interest came with projects like Phonebloks, designed by Dave Hakkens, which visualized a phone made of detachable blocks, each serving functions like camera, battery, or speakers. This concept inspired Google's Project Ara, a highly ambitious initiative under the Advanced Technology and Projects team at Motorola Mobility. Project Ara aimed to create a fully modular smartphone where users could swap various components such as processors, cameras, and batteries on a structural frame using a standardized interface. Despite prototypes showcased in 2014, the project faced complex technical challenges with module connectivity, hardware-software integration, and user experience, resulting in its eventual shelving around 2016.
Meanwhile, in 2016, major brands like LG and Lenovo brought more commercially viable, though limited, modular designs to the market. LG's G5 featured a detachable bottom section (chin) that could be replaced with add-ons like a camera grip or DAC for enhanced audio. Lenovo's Moto Z series further pushed modularity with Moto Mods, magnetic snap-on accessories that added speakers, projectors, or extra batteries. However, these modules did not replace core hardware but rather supplemented the phone's existing capabilities. Both companies faced slow consumer adoption and limited developer support, causing modular phones to lose momentum as a practical mainstream trend.
The Realme GT 8 Pro's swappable camera island module is a lighter form of modularity compared to the ambitious full hardware swaps envisioned in projects like Ara. It centers on customization and aesthetics rather than upgrading core hardware components or functionality. Unlike the full modular phones, it does not attempt to let users change processors, batteries, cameras, or lenses for different capabilitiesâonly the exterior camera housing design is user-replaceable. Previous modular phones often aimed at functional upgrades or repairs to extend lifespan and reduce e-waste, while the GT 8 Pro's approach is closer to personalization and design flexibility within a flagship phone's expected lifespan.
In summary, modular phones have evolved through several stages:
- Early modular concepts like Handspring Visor PDAs allowed limited module expansions.
- The Modu phone pioneered swappable enclosures for different functionalities but failed commercially.
- Concept projects like Phonebloks and Project Ara inspired hopes of fully customizable smartphones with interchangeable internal hardware, but faced engineering hurdles.
- LG G5 and Lenovo Moto Z series introduced partial modular add-ons for additional features but did not enable core hardware swaps.
- The Realme GT 8 Pro offers a novel aesthetic modularity by letting users swap camera island designs without changing the actual camera hardware, focusing more on external customization.