Remember Project Ara, Google’s bold plan for a modular smartphone? It’s been about a decade since the project was shelved, but the futuristic phone has resurfaced online — and it still looks wild.
A Look Back at Project Ara
First announced in 2013, Project Ara aimed to change how we think about smartphones. The concept was simple but ambitious: a base frame where users could swap out modules for things like cameras, batteries, or speakers. Instead of upgrading your whole phone, you could just upgrade the parts you wanted.
Google ran early tests and even beta programs in 2014, but delays, cost issues, and design complexity eventually led to the project’s cancellation. Since then, we’ve only seen a few rare prototypes pop up here and there — until now.
New Videos Show Working Prototypes
A TikTok user named @Racoondetectionsquad recently shared multiple videos and photos showing not one but three Project Ara units, complete with extra modules.
These include:
- Two different camera modules
- A speaker module
- What appears to be two battery modules
- Another module with a physical switch
The clips also reveal how modules could be removed — using a SIM ejector tool instead of software, which wasn’t how the original design was intended to work.
A Glimpse at What Could’ve Been
These new videos offer a nostalgic look at what might have been one of the most innovative Android ideas ever. The concept of a customizable, sustainable smartphone was way ahead of its time, but perhaps a bit too early for the technology and market to catch up.
Who knows? With today’s growing focus on repairability and sustainability, maybe it’s time for Project Ara 2.0 to make a comeback.
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