Build Your Own Smartphones

Hey there!

Yesterday, while searching for a new smartphone in Bangladesh, I realized that we could just purchase the individual components from some foreign manufacturer or OEM supplier and then proceed to building our own phones the way people build their own PCs!

For this article, it is being assumed that you are familiar with how to handle basic circuit engineering procedures, since you are expected to already own certain equipment, e.g. soldering iron, for which the capital costs are not being accounted for. Furthermore, it is being taken into consideration that there are no labour costs and you are doing everything by yourself, “DIY”. And ofcourse, you are expected to already be acquainted with a local hardware dealer or a Chinese exporter to keep the costs lower.

Why would you want to build your own phone(s)? Well, it could be any of the following reasons:

  • practice manufacturing electronics as part of an EEE or CSE academic project
  • build and design your own “merch” device with custom logos, colors, etc.
  • start a side hustle selling phones and gaining publicity (and profits)
  • impress your friends with your awesome skills
  • build decoy devices for testing purposes

Alright then, let’s head on with the list of parts we would need to build each type of device:

Budget Phone

This smartphone is meant for those who are not familiar with how to use Android devices yet (toddlers, senior elders, etc.) and are willing to give it a try. The hardware specifications are certainly not sufficient for a modern-day experience of what a smartphone can accomplish! Rather, it is simply a phone for people who are on a tight budget.

ComponentModelSpecificationPrice
⚙️ SoCMediaTek MT6580Quad-core 1.3GHz CPU Cortex-A7USD 4-USD 6
📱 DisplayTianma 4.0”480x800 TFT LCDUSD 3-USD 5
🔋 Battery(Generic)1500mAh 3.7V Li-ionUSD 1.50-USD 2
💾 Internal Mem.(Generic)4GB eMMCUSD 1-USD 2
📀 RAM(Generic)512MB DDR3USD 1-USD 2
📸 Rear CameraGC03282MPUSD 1-USD 2
📷 Front Camera(Generic)0.3MP VGAUSD 1-USD 2
🎛️ OSAndroidGoUSD 0-USD 1
🛜 ConnectivityQuectel EC203G/LTE, Wi-Fi, BluetoothUSD 5-USD 6
🔉 Speaker(Generic)10mm< USD 1
🎙️ Microphone(Generic)MEMS< USD 1
🔌 Ports(Generic)Micro-USB 2.0< USD 1
🪪 SIM(Generic)Standard SIM Slot< USD 1
🌡️ SensorsMPU6050Accelerometer + Gyroscope< USD 1
📲 Housing(Generic)Polycarbonate Case (Injection-molded)USD 1-USD 2
  • Custom PCB Layout [ USD 2-USD 3 ]
  • Misc. Screws etc. [ USD 0.5 ]
  • Packaging [ USD 2-USD 3 ]

Max. Cost = USD 38

Rec. Selling Price = USD 40

The pricing here is shown as the “maximum” cost that would be incurred. If proper economies of scale are applied, you could reduce the costs to far below USD 30 and then sell each device for only USD 30-USD 35!



Decent Phone

This smartphone would be considered the “entry-level” basic for a satisfactory immersion into what the digital world of the 2020s looks and feels like. This phone would be suited for general purpose usage, although resource-intensive activities such as gaming may not work smoothly. If you are just a social media addict or anime streaming fanatic, this “handheld magicbox” is perfect!

ComponentModelSpecificationPrice
⚙️ SoCMediaTek Helio P22Octa-core 2.0GHz CPU Cortex-A53, Mali G52 GPUUSD 10-USD 12
📱 Display6.0”720x1440 IPS LCDUSD 8-USD 10
🔋 Battery(Generic)3000mAh-4000mAh Li-ionUSD 3-USD 5
💾 Internal Mem.(Generic)32GB eMMCUSD 4-USD 5
📀 RAM(Generic)3GB LPDDR3USD 4-USD 5
📸 Rear CameraOmniVision13MPUSD 3-USD 5
📷 Front CameraSony IMX5MPUSD 2-USD 3
🎛️ OSAndroid11/12 (Go Edition)USD 0-USD 1
🛜 ConnectivityQuectel EC214G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPSUSD 6-USD 8
🔉 Speaker(Generic)10mmUSD 1-USD 1.50
🎙️ Microphone(Generic)MEMSUSD 1-USD 1.50
🔌 Ports(Generic)USB Type-C 2.0< USD 1
🪪 SIM(Generic)Dual Nano-SIM Slot< USD 1
🌡️ SensorsMPU6050Accelerometer + Gyroscope< USD 1
📲 Housing(Generic)Aluminium CaseUSD 4-USD 6
  • Custom PCB Layout [ USD 2-USD 3 ]
  • Misc. Screws etc. [ USD 0.5 ]
  • Packaging [ USD 5-USD 8 ]

Max. Cost = USD 78

Rec. Selling Price = USD 90

The pricing here is shown as the “maximum” cost that would be incurred. If proper economies of scale are applied, you could reduce the costs to far below USD 70 and then sell each device for only USD 70-USD 80!



Gaming Phone

Now, this is the smartphone desired by the majority of consumers - solely for the purposes of recording cool montages on PUBG Mobile or Free Fire, catching up on Genshin Impact or even running Zenless Zone Zero on your mobile device while you’re away from your gaming beast PC back home. As such, the components have been picked for providing the best value for your money (or your customers’ money).

ComponentModelSpecificationPrice
⚙️ SoCQualcomm Snapdragon 720GOcta-core 2.3GHz CPU Kryo 465, Adreno 618 GPUUSD 25-USD 35
📱 Display6.5”1080x2400 AMOLED 90HzUSD 30-USD 40
🔋 Battery(Generic)4000mAh-5000mAh Li-ionUSD 5-USD 8
💾 Internal Mem.(Generic)128GB UFS 2.1USD 10-USD 15
📀 RAM(Generic)6GB LPDDR4XUSD 10
📸 Rear CameraSony IMX58648MP + 8MP Ultra-wide + 5MP MacroUSD 20-USD 25
📷 Front CameraSamsung ISOCELL GM116MPUSD 5-USD 10
🎛️ OSAndroid12USD 0-USD 1
🛜 ConnectivityQuectel EC25-AF4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, NFCUSD 8-USD 12
🔉 Speaker(Generic)StereoUSD 3-USD 5
🎙️ Microphone(Generic)High-sensitivity MEMSUSD 2-USD 5
🔌 Ports(Generic)USB Type-C 3.0 Port, 3.5mm Audio JackUSD 1-USD 3
🪪 SIM(Generic)Hybrid Dual SIM SlotUSD 1-USD 3
🌡️ SensorsMPU9250Gyroscope + Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor (In-display)USD 4-USD 6
📲 Housing(Generic)Aluminium CaseUSD 4-USD 6
  • Custom PCB Layout [ USD 2-USD 3 ]
  • Misc. Screws etc. [ USD 0.5 ]
  • Packaging [ USD 5-USD 8 ]

Max. Cost = USD 196

Rec. Selling Price = USD 300

The pricing here is shown as the “maximum” cost that would be incurred. If proper economies of scale are applied, you could reduce the costs to far below USD 190 and then sell each device for USD 190-USD 200!



Premium Phone

Welcome to the beginning of the high-end territory. From here onwards, expect the best of the best components constructing your phone for being criticized and evaluated by top tech reviewers whether your phone meets the “flagship” criterion. The following device described herein is capable of almost anything you can imagine!

ComponentModelSpecificationPrice
⚙️ SoCQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2Octa-core 3.2GHz CPU Kryo 780, Adreno 740 GPUUSD 100-USD 110
📱 Display6.8”1440x3200 LTPO OLED 144HzUSD 70-USD 85
🔋 Battery(Generic)5000mAh Li-ion (65W Fast Charging + 15W Wireless Charging)USD 10-USD 15
💾 Internal Mem.(Generic)512GB UFS 3.1USD 50-USD 55
📀 RAM(Generic)12GB LPDDR5USD 20-USD 35
📸 Rear CameraSamsung HM3108MP Wide + 16MP Ultrawide + 10MP Periscope Telephoto with OIS, 5x Optical ZoomUSD 40-USD 45
📷 Front CameraSamsung HM332MPUSD 35-USD 40
🎛️ OSAndroid12USD 0-USD 1
🛜 ConnectivityQualcomm X605G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS/GLONASSUSD 25-USD 30
🔉 Speaker(Generic)Dual StereoUSD 4-USD 6
🎙️ Microphone(Generic)Triple MEMS Microphones (Noise Cancellation)USD 5-USD 9
🔌 Ports(Generic)USB Type-C 3.1 Port, 3.5mm Audio JackUSD 2-USD 4
🪪 SIM(Generic)Hybrid Dual SIM SlotUSD 1-USD 3
🌡️ SensorsMPU9250Gyroscope + Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor (In-display)USD 4-USD 6
📲 Housing(Generic)Ceramic Back with Aluminum Frame (IP68 Water and Dust Resistant)USD 40-USD 50
⚡ Wireless Charging(Generic)15W Wireless Charging + 10W Reverse Wireless ChargingUSD 5-USD 10
  • Custom PCB Layout [ USD 5-USD 10 ]
  • Misc. Screws etc. [ USD 1 ]
  • Packaging [ USD 15-USD 20 ]

Max. Cost = USD 535

Rec. Selling Price = USD 800

The pricing here is shown as the “maximum” cost that would be incurred. If proper economies of scale are applied, you could reduce the costs to far below USD 500 and then sell each device for USD 500-USD 550!



Flagship Phone 2024

This is the best mobile device to build and sell, capable of competing with the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra top-tier smartphones.

ComponentModelSpecificationPrice
⚙️ SoCQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3Octa-core 3.4GHz CPU Kryo, Adreno GPUUSD 130-USD 150
📱 DisplaySamsung E6 6.8”1440x3200 LTPO AMOLED 144HzUSD 110-USD 120
🔋 Battery(Generic)6000mAh Li-ion (00W Fast Charging + 50W Wireless Charging + 10W Reverse Wireless Charging)USD 20-USD 25
💾 Internal Mem.(Generic)1TB UFS 4.0USD 120-USD 150
📀 RAM(Generic)24GB LPDDR5XUSD 60-USD 100
📸 Rear CameraSamsung ISOCELL HP2200MP Wide + 50MP Ultrawide + 12MP Periscope Telephoto with 10x Optical ZoomUSD 80-100
📷 Front CameraSamsung ISOCELL HP232MPUSD 40-USD 60
🎛️ OSAndroid13USD 0-USD 1
🛜 ConnectivityQualcomm X705G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou, Ultra-Wideband (UWB)USD 40-USD 50
🔉 Speaker(Generic)Quad Stereo Speakers with Dolby AtmosUSD 10-USD 15
🎙️ Microphone(Generic)Triple MEMS Microphones (Noise Cancellation)USD 5-USD 9
🔌 Ports(Generic)USB Type-C 4.0 PortUSD 3-USD 6
🪪 SIM(Generic)Dual Nano-SIM SlotUSD 2-USD 5
🌡️ Sensors(Generic)Under-display 3D Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner, LiDAR Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light, BarometerUSD 20-USD 25
📲 Housing(Generic)Ceramic Back with Titanium Frame (IP68 Water and Dust Resistant)USD 100-USD 120
⚡ Wireless Charging(Generic)50W Wireless Charging + 10W Reverse Wireless ChargingUSD 10-USD 12
❄️ Cooling System(Generic)Vapor Chamber Cooling with Graphene Sheet for Heat DissipationUSD 10-15
  • Custom PCB Layout [ USD 15-USD 20 ]
  • Misc. Screws etc. [ USD 1 ]
  • Packaging [ USD 15-USD 20 ]

Max. Cost = USD 1004

Rec. Selling Price = USD 1200

The pricing here is shown as the “maximum” cost that would be incurred. If proper economies of scale are applied, you could reduce the costs to far below USD 990 and then sell each device for USD 990-USD 1000!

If you do not have access to a local supplier for electronic components, then you could order them online on Alibaba, AliExpress, Mouser, and DigiKey. You can find PCBs on JLPCB, PCBWay, etc.

You may also need additional licenses and/or permits before you can legally sell your phones commercially.