Project Ara Reveals New Iteration Called Spiral 2 and It Is Looking Better Than Ever

Project Ara Reveals New Iteration Called Spiral 2 and It Is Looking Better Than Ever

The curse of loving electronics is how quickly they become outdated. The flagship top spec smartphone of one year ends up only being top spec for about six months before another company or even, in the case of Sony, the same company comes out with something so much better. It’s not anyone’s fault, that’s just how innovation in electronics works. Unfortunately, that means spending a premium on the latest and greatest every six months which is not cost effective and downright wasteful for certain individuals like myself. But what if there was a way to personalize a smartphone in such a way to keep it relevant year after year by just swapping in new parts? That’s what Google is trying to do with Project Ara with the latest version called Spiral 2. Let’s talk about the improvements!

ara-4

Looks

First of all, Ara is not quite production ready so don’t expect everything to be perfect just yet. The concept pictures show a product that is much thinner than is currently being developed and that’s due to the nature of Ara. However, it is not obscenely thick, just a bit chunky at this point. That being said, Ara looks much better than the versions we saw last year that were extremely chunky and looked a bit outdated.

We are also seeing the implementation of a shell maker concept that Google had been postulating since Ara’s announcement. Google initially toyed with the idea of using 3D printing to customize the modules but have decided to go with a different process called dye sublimation so you can print high res photos right onto the smartphone. That means you can print a different image or pattern on each module for a completely unique expression.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

What It Does

The biggest improvements have been on the hardware and software. The unit shown at the developer’s conference showed great progress from the last update. For example, the hot swappable nature of the modules now include the battery module. Granted, you have only 30 seconds at this point but Google’s goal is to get that number up to 120 or 180. Ara has also been upgraded to include 3G with the intention of bringing 4G LTE as a possibility before Ara gets shipped to consumers.

Otherwise, Ara promises to be a typical pure Android smartphone with the same functionality that people have come to know and understand. The idea of being able to keep the latest updates from Google and add upgraded components around it without springing for an entirely new device is an amazing idea. I for one rarely use the camera on my phone so who knows what I could do with the extra space? The possibilities are mind blowing; keep a look out for Ara in the coming year!

Weston is our professional gadget reviewer. Nothing thrills him more than being able to get his hands on the latest and greatest in electronics.
Join the Discussion

You Might Also Like

How to enhance your online privacy and security
How to enhance your online privacy and security
Let’s go back a few years earlier. Online privacy, then, used to sound like one of those “I’ll worry about it later” things, right? Like flossing or reading terms and conditions.  But with all these data breaches, hackers, and identity..
Apple’s foldable iPhone: Crease-free display coming in 2026?
Apple’s foldable iPhone: Crease-free display coming in 2026?
Every few years, Apple introduces a bold new vision for the future of tech. The last big iPhone redesign came with the iPhone X in 2017. Now, Apple is working on something that could be its next game-changer. Instead of..
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 vs. Huawei Mate X6: Because your slab phone isn’t complicated enough
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 vs. Huawei Mate X6: Because your slab phone isn’t complicated enough
Huawei’s foldable phone shipments climbed 257% in early 2024, snagging 35% of the market and bumping Samsung from the top spot. The South Korean company is back in town—with its lightest, thinnest Fold so far. The Z Fold7 brings a..
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 vs. Motorola razr Ultra 2025: Which fancy clamshell foldable deserves your pocket?
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 vs. Motorola razr Ultra 2025: Which fancy clamshell foldable deserves your pocket?
Gen Zers and clamshell foldables are love birds. While digging into why younger folks can’t get enough of flip phones, I kept seeing one reason pop up more than any other: “It fits in my pocket.” Funny enough, I never..
Meet the world’s first 205W universal travel adapter—A powerhouse in your pocket
Meet the world’s first 205W universal travel adapter—A powerhouse in your pocket
If you’ve ever fought over airport outlets, packed three separate bricks for your laptop, phone, and tablet—or watched your battery die mid-flight—you’ll understand why this new charger is kind of a big deal. Introducing the first universal travel adapter to..
Prime Day headphone deals that made the cut (after way too much scrolling)
Prime Day headphone deals that made the cut (after way too much scrolling)
Shopping for headphones isn’t as easy as it sounds—especially when you’re hunting for Prime Day headphone deals. There are tons of options, some great, some less so. Plus, the best deals are for Prime members only. So, if you’re not..