An increasing number of customer complaints about broken modules and phone issues on the LG G5 suggest modular phones may not be as awesome as they sound.
One Reddit user (via Android Authority) says he's on his fourth Cam Plus camera module. Another user said he was on his sixth G5.
Common issues appear to be broken power buttons, blown out speakers, and issues with the small gap where the removable battery "chin" compartment meets the phone's upper body.
I didn't notice any of those issues when I reviewed the G5 in March. I will say sometimes the G5 didn't recognize the Cam Plus module, but that was only because it wasn't clipped in tightly.
The gap, however, is a design decision that affects all G5 phones. That's not a flaw, but just poor polish from LG's designers.
It's possible these issues that some users are experiencing could be because of poor quality control and they merely received "lemons," but looking through the thread, it sounds like replacements (and replacements for replacements) have the same problems.
LG was the first mainstream smartphone manufacturer to launch a consumer modular phone, but other companies are releasing their own.
Lenovo/Motorola's new Moto Z and Moto Z Force are also modular, but unlike the LG G5, which requires removing the battery and swapping in a new module "Friend" the Moto Z's "Moto Mods" smartly connect magnetically to the back of the phone.
The magnetic system on the Moto Z series makes adding and removing modules very easy with no restarting required.
Building a modular phone that is reliable and will last over time may be harder than it sounds.
Google's own modular phone, Project Ara, will be available for developers this fall and launch for consumers in 2017. Project Ara is more ambitious than LG and Lenovo's two modular phones with more swappable pieces, but the general idea is the same: to expand on a phone's features without needing to buy a brand new phone.
The G5 issues suggest that building a modular phone that's reliable and will last over time may be harder than it sounds. Quality control and durability were reasons why Project Ara was delayed from its original 2015 launch and then the kinds of swappable modules were simplified.
One of the benefits of a modular phone is that by swapping modules, you can extend its life and get more use out of it. In turn, buying fewer new phones will also be good for the environment since there will be fewer devices in landfills.
In reality, the modular perks, however, may not be worth it if your phone has a greater chance of breaking down at any moment because of exposed circuitry.
Bonus: LG G5 review
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