CircuitMess Makerphone 2 launches as cheap modular DIY phone with LTE and camera

CircuitMess may already be familiar to readers, and the DIY product maker now has a new product in the works. The so-called Makerphone 2 is a DIY mobile phone, but the manufacturer refers to it both as a mobile phone and as a smartphone. In this case, the distinction is probably not entirely clear-cut. That is partly due to the concept itself, as this is a modular mobile device. Its feature set therefore depends at least partly on which modules are used. Several modules are already included. There is an infrared module that can be used to control older TVs, for example. Other modules include a camera module, a 2-watt speaker, a module with LEDs, a sensor module for measuring temperature and humidity, and a perfboard that allows users to connect their own sensors.

The DIY phone is apparently not based on a Qualcomm or MediaTek SoC, and a traditional smartphone OS like Android cannot be used either. According to the manufacturer, the Makerphone 2.0 can be assembled without any soldering skills and should be easy to put together. 4G LTE cellular support is included, which also allows regular phone calls. The crowdfunding campaign is scheduled to launch in Q2 2026, meaning by the end of June. Supporters can currently reserve a super early bird price of $99 for a symbolic dollar.