Among the many new products at CES, there are also concept ideas and designs. One, from ZTE, would allow consumers to build their own smartphone of sorts: Modules with different functions that fit together for a completely customized smartphone.

The pieces for ZTE’s concept all join together like blocks or puzzle pieces and are housed in a shell that includes an LCD display. Theoretically, you could swap out the shell for a higher resolution screen, add higher capacity batteries or improve your photos with a better camera sensor.

Motorola(s goog) recently announced a similar initiative called Project Ara, so this idea isn’t new.

But as far-fetched the concept sounds, with the growing interest in custom 3D printing, Arduino and hardware hacks, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some wanting to actually “build” their own smartphone. A few years ago, this type of product would be much more difficult to…