Tecno has a tradition of showing off various interesting concept devices at industry trade shows, and MWC 2026 was no exception.
Its magnetic modular smartphone is arguably its most audacious product yet, but despite its impressive technical nature, I worry it still may not be enough to make modular phones a true reality.
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Introducing the Modular Magnetic concept
Seamless integration
Before we even get too deeply into it, Tecno’s Magnetic Modular concept impressed us so much, we gave it a coveted Android Police Best of MWC 2026 award.
Part of the reason is the slick, effortless and well-thought-out integration of the modules and primary device.
While magnets hold modules on the main device’s body, the connection for data is made with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and even mmWave. Power and other data transfer duties come from reliable pogo pins.
It’s a tried-and-tested method, seen on everything from chargers to tablet keyboard cases, and it means Tecno isn’t trying to reinvent things that actually already exist, and work well.
The magnets mean there’s a pleasing thunk when two components meet, adding to the tactility, and reducing the need for special hardware designs that integrate slots and runners, where modules are attached to the main body.
Using this system gives Tecno’s Modular Magnetic system a modern, yet familiar look and feel, which would be an essential part of introducing the concept to regular people, and very different to many modular systems that have come before it.
Tecno has even made two main phone bodies, the Atom and the Moda, which enable the use of different modules in different configurations.
The specs are basic, such as only having a 3,000mAh battery, but this is fine because the whole point is to add modules suited to your needs.
What modules can you use?
A surprising array
When I tried out Tecno’s Modular Magnetic concept, the telephoto camera took center stage. It’s hard to ignore, as it puts a big lens and physical camera buttons on the back of the 4.9mm thick Atom modular phone body.
It’s not a dummy unit either. With the telephoto lens attached, the phone works just like a regular phone with a camera.
The 230mm telephoto lens itself can be detached from the body, indicating Tecno has thought about making different lens options for the system.
What about the battery? Here’s an extra special bit of magic Tecno has built into the system. Depending on the configuration, you can stack multiple 4.5mm extended battery packs on the back of the phone, if you really want.
Other examples of Tecno’s modules include an audio module, gaming controls, a standalone microphone, and even a separate router and cellular connectivity booster.
Some modules, like the action camera and the microphone, can still be used without being attached to the phone.
When will it be available to buy?
Probably never
I loved that the Atom and Moda modular phones both operated normally, despite being concept phones, and you could play around with the modules at Tecno’s booth at MWC 2026.
While the experience wasn’t always perfectly polished, it didn’t matter. This is a concept, after all, and it’s unfair to judge it much beyond how it looks and feels, and the technology being used to make it all work.
However, it clearly wasn’t ready for sale, and its concept status was obvious.
The Magnetic Modular concept system is highly unlikely to ever make it on sale, in its current guise, but we’d like to hope it will one day be available, in some form or another.
Does anyone want modular phones?
I’m not so sure
While I would like to see an actual, well-designed, properly engineered modular phone make it past concept stage, I’m not convinced the public will care.
Motorola, LG, and Google have all experimented with modular phones, and a company called Blocks even tried to make modular smartwatches a thing.
It’s telling that none of the devices, and even some of the brands, still exist today.
Tecno’s concept phone is probably the most polished, wide-ranging example, even more so than the LG G5 and Friends or HMD’s Smart Outfits, we’ve seen, and the connection system is by far the most friendly.
Modern UI and connection technology should make any final product simple to use too.
Yet it can’t just be hardware and connection issues that stopped previous modular phones from taking off. It has to be a degree of ambivalence from the public.
Perhaps we’re too used to our phones being incredibly capable without extra modules, or from carrying around several devices at once, such as a phone, action camera, and battery pack.
Even selling a modular phone as being conveniently thin and light without modules probably won’t convince people to jump onboard, considering the lukewarm reception to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and the Apple iPhone Air.
It leaves MWC 2026’s most exciting concept phone in a bit of an odd place.
It’s clearly the work of a team that understands what’s required to make such a device compelling and usable, but even if it did eventually become a reality, the potential buyers may simply not be out there.
It’s not Tecno’s fault. I’m not convinced they’ve ever been out there.
