MAKERphone 2.0 – an educational DIY mobile phone Kickstarter Review

Intro

MAKERphone 2.0 is a DIY mobile phone designed to turn everyday communication technology into something you can physically build, understand, and program yourself. Created by Albert Gajšak and the CircuitMess team, it follows the original MAKERphone with a much more approachable assembly process and significantly updated hardware.

The finished device is a functional 4G LTE phone with WiFi, Bluetooth, USB-C, a microSD slot, physical buttons, and a 1.77-inch color display. It can make calls and send text messages with a nano-SIM, while deliberately leaving out the browser, social media, and conventional app-store experience.

The bigger idea is education. You assemble the phone yourself, explore how its hardware works, and then program it using tools such as MicroPython or Arduino C++. For people interested in electronics, coding, or STEM education, MAKERphone 2.0 turns a familiar object into a hands-on learning platform.

Why should I back this project?

1. You actually build your own working phone. The assembly process takes roughly two hours and requires no soldering. Components click, screw, or plug together, making the project considerably more accessible to beginners than the original MAKERphone.
2. It combines electronics and programming education. The ESP32-S3 platform is Arduino-compatible, and users can program the device, flash custom firmware, and experiment with both software and hardware.
3. The modular system extends the learning experience. Its UMAX expansion port supports optional modules including a camera, speaker, flashlight, environmental sensor, infrared module, and DIY perf board.
4. It can function as a deliberately simple secondary phone. 4G LTE, calls, texts, music, alarms, notes, games, WiFi, and Bluetooth cover basic functions without the distractions of social media or an app store.

What’s the potential drawbacks you should consider when you back it?

1. This is far from a modern smartphone replacement. The 1.77-inch 160 × 128 display, physical keypad, and ESP32-S3 hardware are intentionally simple. There is no touchscreen, web browser, social media, or conventional smartphone app ecosystem.
2. Some of the most interesting hardware requires additional modules. Features such as the camera and environmental sensors depend on optional UMAX accessories rather than being included in the basic phone itself.
3. You must assemble it yourself. There is no pre-assembled option. That is central to the product concept, but buyers who simply want a minimalist phone may find the required assembly unnecessary.
4. Delivery is still well into the future. The estimated delivery is August 2027, so backers should be comfortable waiting and should remember that crowdfunding schedules can change.

The reliability of the project

1. CircuitMess has substantial experience with educational electronics. The team says it has shipped more than 300,000 kits and previously delivered its Kickstarter campaigns.
2. MAKERphone already has a product history. The original version launched in 2018, and the new model incorporates feedback gathered from thousands of MAKERphone users.
3. Development appears relatively mature. According to the campaign information, the hardware design is complete, production hardware exists, and the software is feature-complete and undergoing final testing.
4. The simplified assembly process reduces one important execution risk. Moving from hours of soldering on the original product to a plug-and-screw construction should make successful assembly more realistic for inexperienced users.

Conclusion

MAKERphone 2.0 has a very specific audience, and that is part of its appeal. If your goal is simply to get an inexpensive phone, there are easier choices. Its value comes from building the device, understanding the components inside it, and eventually writing your own software for it.

The move to 4G LTE, USB-C, WiFi, Bluetooth, modular accessories, and solder-free assembly makes this generation considerably more practical than the original concept. At the same time, its tiny display and intentionally limited software experience make its educational purpose very clear.

For students, makers, parents looking for a STEM project, and developers who enjoy experimenting with hardware, MAKERphone 2.0 offers an unusually tangible way to learn how a mobile device works. The experienced team and advanced development stage also give the campaign a stronger foundation than many first-generation hardware crowdfunding projects.