Project Ara was Google’s 2014 modular smartphone project using interchangeable hardware components.
The project envisioned a phone built around an endoskeleton frame with removable modules. Users could theoretically replace or upgrade components such as cameras, batteries, speakers, and other hardware without replacing the entire handset.
Google developed Project Ara through its Advanced Technology and Projects group after acquiring Motorola Mobility. The modular concept attracted attention because it promised customization, easier repairs, and longer device lifetimes. Google planned pilot testing, including a proposed market test in Puerto Rico.
Project Ara was never released as a commercial smartphone. Google announced in 2016 that it was suspending development of the project. It is often confused with Project Tango, another Google initiative that used cameras and sensors for spatial computing and augmented-reality applications.