Modular smartphones seemed like the perfect way for users to upgrade their mobile devices without creating too much electronic waste. After all if your screen is working just fine and you only need a new camera, then just swap out the camera module for a newer and better one, instead of buying a brand new phone.

Ultimately this works out to be cheaper as well, and in fact that is something that companies like Google and LG were working towards with Project Ara and the LG G5 respectively, although unfortunately it seems that neither device was the resounding success that either company had hoped for. However could Facebook be trying their hand at a similar device? According to a recent patent, Facebook seems to be exploring the idea of a modular device that could potentially be a smartphone.

According to the patent, it describes a “modular electromechanical device” that can incorporate features like a speaker, a microphone, a touchscreen display, and GPS, which sounds like it could all be components for a phone, although the patent falls short of actually calling it that.

The report from Business Insider also points out how many key members of Google’s Project Ara is now working at Facebook’s Building 8 group, which is the group responsible for the patent application. Facebook has declined to comment, but that shouldn’t be surprising. However we should note that many companies do file patents from time to time and they don’t always materialize as actual products, so maybe we shouldn’t get our hopes up just yet.

Filed in Cellphones >Rumors. Read more about .

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