Modular smartphones are more of an interesting experiment than a viable product. Be it Phonebloks or Project Ara, modular smartphones are a very cool idea and I can’t wait to see how things progress, but I’d still never get one, and most people feel the same way. We’re all too comfortable with our Galaxies or iPhones. However, a new product known as Nexpaq has a way to bring us the customization of a modular smartphone while still allowing us to retain our current smartphones: a modular smartphone case. Rather than changing the phone itself, you’re just augmenting it. Brilliant.
Still waiting for Project Ara? The dream of a totally modular smartphone still feels out of reach, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add some modularity to your current handset. We’ve seen a few companies try something similar in the past, but one new case could actually give your smartphone some superpowers. Nexpaq, which bills itself as the “first truly modular smartphone case,” will be available for the iPhone 6, Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S5 initially. There are also 12 different modules ready to go. The current lineup includes an extra battery, a more powerful speaker, an SD card reader, a USB flash drive, an air quality sensor, a laser pointer and more. In the future, the company plans to open up its platform. That means anyone will be able to develop their own add-ons for the case. Each Nexpaq module should work for both Android and iOS, thanks to a cross-platform app where you’ll manage everything the case can do.