Are There Modular Phones for Enhanced Privacy?

There was a time when companies were pursuing modular phones, possibly Google among them, but it never took off in the U.S. Maybe elsewhere, but I've seen a lot of discussions about it with no tangible results.

A removable mic module sounds like a great idea for privacy-conscious users! There have been phones with pop-up cameras before, which is a similar concept. While just muting the mic is an option, physically removing it seems much better for privacy.

Instead of a modular phone, I think using a USB-C camera might be a smarter choice. Just plug it in when you need it! For video calls, the camera could even use a USB-C mic, so you wouldn't need separate modules.

If you’re interested in a solution without modular parts, check out phones with hardware kill switches. They allow you to disable specific components physically. The Librem 5 is an example, though it’s not Android and has older specs. Alternatively, using a phone with a custom ROM like LineageOS or GrapheneOS can also boost your privacy.

Interesting thought, but wouldn't making everything removable kinda defeat the purpose of a phone? You'd have to remove a lot more for true privacy, like the GPS and speaker. Have you checked out the Fairphone? It has a removable battery and allows swapping parts, though not in the instant hot-swap way you're imagining.

For something focused on privacy, you might consider a Pixel 8 running GrapheneOS. It's affordable and designed with security in mind.