'World's thinnest modular phone concept' tries to make add-ons cool again

Modular smartphones never really made it mainstream, but TECNO is taking another swing at the concept with a focus on ultra-thin design.

At MWC 2026, the company will showcase the TECNO Modular Phone powered by what it calls “Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology,” a concept ecosystem that lets users snap lean hardware modules onto an already razor-thin phone, essentially avoiding turning it into a bulky brick.

The base phone itself is superthin at just 4.9mm, and TECNO says that even with modules attached, the overall profile stays competitive with traditional slab phones.

The concept ecosystem includes around ten modular accessories, including a slim 4.5mm Power Bank module that effectively doubles usable battery life, an Action Camera module for new shooting angles, and a Telephoto Lens module that uses the phone’s display as a live viewfinder.

The idea is to carry only the modules you need for specific tasks, rather than permanently living with bulky, built-in hardware you rarely use.

TECNO has two designs to show off for this modular phone concept. The ATOM edition is more minimalistic, with a silver aluminum finish and subtle red accents, while the MODA edition features what the company calls a more “geek-inspired” aesthetic. Both share the same modular features.

It’s highly unlikely this modular phone concept will ever reach consumers, but TECNO says the technology is designed to scale and could show up in future devices in some way.