Programming your own smartwatch might be a little too far, but what about building your own smartphone? The Makerphone 2 from CircuitMess — the folks who also sell self-assembled NASA wristwear — could be just what you need to feel more in control of your tech.
It’s supposed to be more-or-less idiot-proof, too. CircuitMess reckons that its product doesn’t require anything like soldering. It just clips together, a bit like a model aeroplane but without the glue. We suppose you could use glue if you’re very confident.
Makerphone for me
But you’ll have to wait for a while to get one. CircuitMess will launch the Makerphone 2 via Kickstarter a little later this year, where it’ll cost early backers around R1,650. That’s pretty far off from its final retail price of R2,700 or so. For your money, you’ll be getting something a little bit different.
Different in that you’re not assembling an Android phone like you’re a factory worker in Shenzhen. The modular device (yeah, don’t use glue on it) will feature a lower-end processor — likely an upgrade on the very popular ESP32 — and more RAM than its immediate predecessor. The format looks very similar to the older Nokia candybars from days gone by, with a small display atop a physical numerical keypad.
Full specs aren’t known, but buyers will have the option to install infrared, camera, or speaker modules, depending on what they want to use the Makerphone 2 for. LED lights, temperature and humidity sensors, and a Perf board are also among the options. There will likely be other add-ons when the company’s campaign launches.
And lest you think you’re too ham-fisted to put a working smartphone together, CircuitMess reckons its Makerphone 2 is suitable for STEM education. In other words, the company expects kids to be able to do this. If you’re a functional human adult, you’ll probably be fine.
