Google's Project Ara lets you build your own phone (hands-on pictures)

2 min read Original article ↗

The Spiral 2 is Google's second prototype of a modular phone built under its Project Ara. These phones will let you mix and match hardware parts, such as cameras or screens.

modular-phone-google-spiral

1 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Spiral 2: Google's new Project Ara prototype

google-modula-phone

2 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Up to eight modules

Google's second prototype under Ara, the Spiral 2, can hold up to eight different modules on its rear side.

For its final version, Google promises all modules will be interchangeable, which might allow users to put a camera in the place where it best fits her/his needs.

Read also:Google to test build-it-yourself Ara smartphones in Puerto Rico.

module-project-ara-phone

3 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Different modules

Individual parts -- like cameras, screens or processors -- snap onto the phone's frame.

That means you could theoretically choose a camera from one manufacturer, a display from another, and a processor from yet another hardware maker to build the specific phone want.

Read also: Google to test build-it-yourself Ara smartphones in Puerto Rico.

ara-phone-spiral-2

4 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Inside the hood

skeleton-ara-hpeon

5 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

The 'skeleton head'

modules-ara-phone-google

6 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

It's like playing with Lego

Different modules have different sizes and each one has only one connection. It is necessary that each connection ties in with the skeleton of the phone to work properly. For example, in this picture we can see in the lower end the display module from the back.

Read: Google to test build-it-yourself Ara smartphones in Puerto Rico.

phone-ara-google

7 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Shells

ara-phone-screen

8 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

A 4.5-inch screen

ara-modular-phone-google

9 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Module for phone calls

side-ara-phone-google

10 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

On its side

ara-google-phone

11 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Battery

ara-phone-modular

12 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Photos and more

google-ara-phone

13 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

The camera of the Spiral 2

modular-phone

14 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Do you love zebras?

phones-project-ara

15 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Three phones

modular-phones-projects-ara

16 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Google's first modular phones

packing-ara-phone-google

17 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Packaging concepts

food-truck-google-ara-phone

18 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

Not tacos, but...

food-truck-ara-phone

19 of 19Juan Garzón/CNET

An experience

More Galleries