It was actually a real phone based on ESP32 + a GSM/LTE module. It could make phone calls, SMS, had games, apps, etc. at the level of what early 2000 GSM phones could do. Project is abandoned now.
"Better" depends on what you are after. In my world better means not being tied to using proprietary communication protocols over compromised networks with hardware I don't really own/can't control.
The makerphone was a learning tool and built to that spec. It wouldn't survive being carried around in your pocket, for example, but it was fine for teaching you how to program and how a phone works.
It was actually a real phone based on ESP32 + a GSM/LTE module. It could make phone calls, SMS, had games, apps, etc. at the level of what early 2000 GSM phones could do. Project is abandoned now.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/albertgajsak/makerphone...
https://github.com/CircuitMess/CircuitMess-Ringo