Chinese handset maker Tecno has showcased one of the most ambitious concept devices of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona – a 4.9mm-thin modular smartphone that ditches the traditional charging port entirely.

The unnamed concept allows accessories to snap onto the back of an ultra-slim Android handset via magnets and low-profile pogo-pin connectors.

On its own, the base device is strikingly minimal – essentially a screen, a small internal battery and a basic camera setup.

From there, users can build it out.

Among the modules on display were multiple camera attachments, including ultrawide and periscope options, as well as a sizeable telephoto unit capable of up to 20x zoom.

One version effectively transforms the phone into a compact camera, complete with a larger image sensor, interchangeable lens mount and physical controls, using the handset’s display as a viewfinder.

There’s also an attachable action camera that can operate independently over Wi-Fi, a wireless microphone, clip-on speaker, wallet accessory and even a fold-out antenna module that enables off-grid, walkie-talkie-style communication without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.

Power is similarly modular. Because of its 4.9mm frame, the core device houses only a small battery, but users can stack 3,000mAh battery packs onto the rear – up to roughly 10,000mAh in total.

Notably, there’s no built-in USB-C port. Instead, charging requires a dedicated charging module that attaches magnetically, with other accessories able to stack on top.

Modular smartphones have historically struggled to gain traction. Google abandoned Project Ara more than a decade ago, while Motorola’s Moto Mods and LG’s G5 modules failed to find mainstream success.

Tecno has not announced pricing or a release timeline, and the company is known for bold trade show concepts that don’t always reach market.

But with Chinese manufacturers increasingly expanding beyond their traditional regions, the idea of a truly modular phone may not be entirely out of reach.