STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO BUILD YOUR OWN REPAIRABLE SMARTPHONE FROM SCRATCH
A phone you can actually open with a screwdriver, built around a Raspberry Pi and a real SIM card.
by Evan Mann
Open-hardwareAutomation
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE893 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · GPL-3.0 · 893 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
The OURS project is a working Linux phone you assemble from off-the-shelf parts: a Raspberry Pi, a 4G modem HAT, two 18650 batteries and a touchscreen. It makes real calls and sends real texts through a Python app, and because the Pi is a full computer, you can plug in HDMI and USB and use it as a desktop. The appeal is not that it matches a commercial phone — it does not, and the author says so — but that every part is documented, replaceable and yours. The instructions are photographs with short captions, not a step-by-step assembly guide, so you will be inferring some connections. The single biggest trap is buying the wrong 4G module: the original Waveshare HAT is discontinued, and the current SIM7600-based alternatives have different pinouts. If you want a phone you can open with a screwdriver and understand completely, this is exactly that. If you want something you can hand to a non-technical friend, it is not.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —38 build photographs in the repository, one bill of materials, and a Python app for calls and SMS.
- —No 3D models or case files — version 1 uses a modified acrylic enclosure from AliExpress.
- —The Waveshare 4G HAT is discontinued; the project notes this and lists current alternatives.
- —GPL-3.0 licensed, permits commercial use.
- —Author calls out audio whine and resistive touch as known limitations — not a daily-driver replacement.
- —Version 2 is in progress but not yet documented.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
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Videos
Build video
No official video walkthrough exists. The Instagram reel is a Comparee edit, not a build guide.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the bill of materials and check if the 4G module is still available (The original Waveshare HAT is discontinued; the author lists current alternatives in the README.)
- 2.Order the Pi, screen, batteries and a SIM7600-based 4G HAT(Do not buy a SIM800 module — it is 2G only and many networks have shut down 2G.)
- 3.Start with the modem HAT connected to the Pi and test AT commands before final assembly(If the modem does not register on the network now, it will not work in the enclosure either.)
- 4.Follow the 38 photographs for wiring and case mounting(These are build snapshots, not step-by-step instructions — pause and trace each connection.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The Waveshare 4G HAT in the original build is discontinued. Current SIM7600 HATs have different GPIO mappings and you will need to edit the Python code.
- 18650 batteries in series with no protection board are a fire risk if shorted. Use cells with built-in protection and a proper holder, not loose cells and tape.
- The resistive touchscreen requires calibration and does not support gestures or multi-touch — if you expect swipe-to-unlock, you will be disappointed.
- Network registration can take 60 seconds on a cold boot, and some carriers block data on unrecognised devices. Voice and SMS are more reliable than mobile data.
- The acrylic case in version 1 is from AliExpress and modified by hand — no DXF or cutting template is provided.
- If you have never sent an AT command to a modem, budget an extra afternoon for that learning curve before blaming the hardware.
Can this replace my daily phone?
The author says no, and lists audio whine and resistive touch as known limitations. It is a working phone for calls and texts, not a smartphone replacement.
What networks does it work on?
Any network with 2G, 3G or 4G and a nano-SIM, depending on your modem module. The SIM7600 supports LTE; the older SIM800 is 2G only and many carriers have shut down 2G.
Can I run Android apps?
No. It runs Linux and a custom Python app for calls and SMS. You can install desktop Linux software, but not Android APKs.
How long does the battery last?
Not stated in the repository. Two 18650 cells in series give around 7.4V and 5–6Ah total, but runtime depends on screen-on time and modem use.
Is there a PCB or do I solder everything point-to-point?
The Pi and modem HAT connect via GPIO headers; a handful of other connections are soldered. The author says 'less soldering, more connecting.'
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Version 1 uses a resistive touchscreen with no gestures, and the author calls out audio whine as a known limitation — but it makes real calls on a real network and you can open it with a screwdriver. Would you daily-carry it, or is this a weekend project that lives on the shelf?
Evan Mann
Evan built the OURS project because he wanted a phone he could open and repair without a heat gun and proprietary tools. Version 1 was finished in 2024 and the full build is documented in 38 photographs. Version 2 is in progress.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM14d agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is 38 build photographs with short captions, not a step-by-step guide, so you will be reverse-engineering some of the wiring. The Waveshare 4G HAT in the original build is discontinued — current SIM7600 HATs work but need code changes for GPIO mapping. The author is honest about the limitations (audio whine, resistive touch, no app ecosystem) and never claims this replaces a commercial phone. If you want to understand every part of your phone and fix it with a screwdriver, this is exactly that. If you want something polished, it is not.