The Tech Pulse

September 1, 20252 min read
Tags
  • Flip Phone
  • Diy Phone
  • Diy Smartphone
  • Homemade Phone
  • Smartphone Disassembly
  • Z Flip 5
  • Samsung Z Flip
  • Samsung Flip 5
  • Samsung Galazy Z Flip 5 Broken Screen
  • Z Flip Screen Replacement
  • Building Your Own Phone
  • No Distractions Smartphone
  • Minimal Phone
  • Smartphone Keyboard
  • Modern Flip Phone
  • Smartphone With A Flip Out Keyboard
  • Phone With A Physical Keyboard
  • How To Build Your Own Smartphone
  • Recycle Broken Phone
  • What To Do With An Old Phone
  • Projects For An Old Phone
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I built my own Phone... because innovation is sad rn

One Sentence Summary

A quirky DIY project transforms a Galaxy Z Flip into a Blackberry‑keyboard hybrid through prototyping, soldering chaos, and unconventional innovation.

Main Points

  • The creator longs for an artful, non-rectangular phone and reimagines the form.
  • Halves the Z Flip, removes hinge, and adds a new, sliding mechanical linkage.
  • Integrates a BlackBerry keyboard via a custom PCB and Arduino workaround.
  • The build is a messy, iterative process full of trial, error, and soldering chaos.
  • PCB Way sponsorship enables PCB fabrication and related prototyping services.
  • The video frames itself as a playful, non-tutorial exploration of hardware hacking.
  • Power debugging: coaxing 5V from USB-C by resistor tuning to behave as a device.
  • Design evolves into a working, tactile handheld despite imperfect execution.
  • The project comments on society’s appetite for unique, non-rectangular devices.
  • The creator encourages starting projects regardless of experience, emphasizing progress over perfection.

Takeaways

  • Embrace nontraditional form factors to rekindle interest in hardware.
  • Treat prototyping as a learning journey where failure aids progress.
  • Reuse existing components (keyboard, microcontrollers) to repurpose devices.
  • Use services like PCB Way to accelerate DIY electronics fabrication.
  • Document failures and milestones to inspire others to start their own builds.

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