Project Ara Close to reality - Get A look at First Prototype

Project Ara by Google was focused on bringing modular phones in our hands. By modular, we means that if you don’t like the camera, no problem. Just swap it with a better one as easily as you added LEGO bricks in your model. It got a lot of attention and recently Phoneblocks published a video showing the prototype of the first Ara phone. 

The prototype you see in the video is Spiral 1, which is about as bare bones as you can get; modules include a USB charger, LED module, application processor and speakers. The video demonstrates the device booting up, running what looks like a fairly old version of Android (Ice Cream Sandwich?). It doesn’t appear to be the smoothest experience at the moment, though this is an early prototype. 

One Ara developer said about 50-percent of the module is used for modularity, though the Spiral 2 prototype will contain custom chips made by Toshiba, leaving much more room for developers. We don’t get to see that in the video, unfortunately, but we might get a glimpse at it in action at Project Ara’s developer’s conference in January. 

Phonebloks has said entry-level Ara devices could come in the $50-$100 range, making them incredibly affordable. Of course, as Phonebloks notes, modules made by developers will vary in price. Once a marketplace is setup for Project Ara devices, these developers will be able to set their own prices, so what you end up paying could vary wildly when all is said and done. A 20-megapixel sensor will no doubt be more expensive than an 8-megapixel module.