Tecno debuts 4.9mm modular phone concept, thinner than iPhone Air
Tecno unveiled a modular smartphone concept at Mobile World Congress 2026. The base device measures 4.9mm thick, thinner than a pencil and the iPhone Air. Attaching a power bank module brings the thickness to that of a standard smartphone. The concept uses magnets for attachment and pin connectors for power delivery. Data transmission between the phone and modules is wireless, switching between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mmWave. Tecno developed 10 modules, including camera lenses and a gaming controller. The design is a concept and not a consumer product.
The base smartphone features an ultra-thin profile at 4.9mm. This measurement is thinner than a standard pencil and the iPhone Air. The device serves as the core for hardware expansion. Users can attach various modules to increase functionality. The power bank module restores the device to a thickness comparable to standard modern smartphones. This ensures the form factor remains manageable when expanded.
Tecno developed a new interconnection technology for the ecosystem. The system utilizes a combination of magnets and pin connectors. Magnets handle the physical attachment of modules. Pin connectors assist with power delivery between the phone and accessories. Data transmission is handled wirelessly. The connection protocol switches between Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mmWave depending on the user’s location.
The company has developed 10 modules for the concept design. These include various camera lenses intended for photography expansion. Another module is a dedicated gaming controller. The system is designed to grow with the user through hardware expansion. This approach allows for specific functionality without requiring a permanently bulkier device.
There are two colorways available for the phone and accessories. One option is a silver-aluminum edition. The other is a grey version. The device is a concept design and not a consumer product. However, the company’s magnetic attachment technology may reach actual products in the future.
Tecno has a history of unique device designs. The company previously developed an affordable foldable phone. It also released a model with a pop-out portrait lens. Another release was a foldable phone featuring a circular exterior display.
The modular smartphone concept follows a history of similar attempts. Google’s Project Ara prototype dates back more than a decade. Project Ara never launched as a consumer product. Other concept designs also never saw the light of day.
Some modular phones were released to the market but were less ambitious. LG launched the semi-modular G5 in 2016. The G5 did not sell in high volumes. Moto also released semi-modular smartphones. These devices failed to gain significant traction.