If you really have no clue about anything, then I might be able to help a tiny bit.
Get basic hardware knowledge by doing nand2tetris [1]. It's about building a computer from the transistor up, all the way until you create your own tetris game.
The Hardware Hacker: Adventures in Making and Breaking Hardware (manufacturing hardware in Shenzen) [2]
This guy shows a cool couple of YouTube videos on hacking iPhones in Shenzen [3]. Hacking as in exploring and tweaking, not as in breaking in.
Thanks, I have ordered the book and plan to start the nand2tetris. I really loved the way the guy explained the HDL. Very clear, I look forward to learning it and doing a lot with it.
* understand the hardware components required in a phone?
* understand the software components required? postmarketos and plasma mobile maybe?
* How do I even start to build a prototype? What components would I use? Maybe start with using a raspberry pi to make a DIY phone?
I know this is an open ended question, so any pointers would be appreciated.