4 ms·

I really wish Fairphone 4 had GrapheneOS support, but after almost 4 years of Fairphone 3 I decided to go with a Pixel instead. Too many hardware bugs with the

by miduil 3y ago

I really wish Fairphone 4 had GrapheneOS support, but after almost 4 years of Fairphone 3 I decided to go with a Pixel instead. Too many hardware bugs with the FP3 that were never acknowledged by the vendor and unhappy customers with bricked FP4's that requires sending them back in. Also I would have hoped for them continuing the FP3 architecture, feels such a waste that they've now instead developed a much more expensive hardware again. Building and maintaining an Android device is truly not trivial, kudos for that, but I don't think with their current company size they're truly up for the task. Also buying a Fairphone instead of a wider used phone means you'll be able to repair it - but because all the internal parts are super customized, phone repair shops won't have their usual source of spare parts.

cauch 3y ago
> Too many hardware bugs with the FP3 that were never acknowledged by the vendor I have a FP3, and it has been my first and only Android smartphone. I now wonder if what I've experienced is the "normal Android experience" or if I would have experienced something different from another brand. I'm also avoiding / disabling Google stuffs (I'm using f-droid, ...). I was occasionally surprised to see how a lot of people are flooded with ads / unsolicited messages and seemed not to care. I don't get it, though, it looks such an awful experience. The main thing I've noticed is the long time it sometimes take for the picture-taking app to get on focus. But I thought it was due to the standard Android software. Is there a place to list the FP3 bugs?
- verall 3y ago
  The camera focus problem is not a an android problem it's just a fairphone problem. OEMs typically write their own camera apps.
- miduil 3y ago
  * Easily damaged by moisture (even though they've claimed certain IP ratings), due to the printed conductor inside the plastic layers with pin connectors * Battery swelling after less than two years of operation (no way to source this battery locally since they've built a custom connector / redesigned an standard OEM battery) * Overheating * Touch screen glitches (they've resolved that after a year via software, support was super unhelpful with that problem) * Wi-Fi 5 GHz broken/unreliable for many people * Camera focus (not sure if FP3+ improved on that front) * Broken fingerprint sensor (from the beginning, most common issue) and by broken I mean not functional at all * self-disintegrating plastic parts (back and side covers), likely due to the fact they are using recycled plastic - they've changed the plastic chemistry with FP3+, for me the plastic became more and more brittle - In addition for me with software: * charging LED can't be disabled, which is extremely bright when you're sleeping - community members shrugging this off with "you shouldn't use your phone in your bedroom anyway" * screen brightness too bright / unreliable brightness sensor readings (they had several updates because it was so hard to tweak for them) On the positive end: Phone is quite durable, fell down on many occasions and because of it's plastic/design openness the battery falls out but screen never broke in bunch of occasions. Edit: Formatting
  - justtocomment 3y ago
    I see a lot of people mentioning Fairphones not being on par with phones by multi billion dollar companies. This citicism is valid. But I think it leaves out a lot of the overall picture. I have a Fairphone 3, and so far it survived being dropped into the bathtub (being submerged for a sec), being dropped on hard floors several times and being stepped on (screen got cracked, but it still works). Like with the Fairphone 2 I had before that, I'm able to do repairs (part replacements) on my own with minimal effort. It gets support for years. I have it running /e/ OS (terrible name) without Google Services and while that's not Graphene OS, I vastly prefer it to Google Android. For me having minor frustrations with Wi-Fi is well worth having a less-unfree and more-ethical phone.
  - progval 3y ago
    I bought a FP3+ a year ago and run it with LineageOS (with microG). I don't have any of the issues you list except for LED and brightness. However I do have random troubles with location, but that's probably due to being de-googled. Regarding WiFi, did you try disabling the "battery optimizer"?
- opan 3y ago
  >I'm also avoiding / disabling Google stuffs (I'm using f-droid, ...). I was occasionally surprised to see how a lot of people are flooded with ads / unsolicited messages and seemed not to care. I don't get it, though, it looks such an awful experience. I run into this with family members occasionally. Their music player or file manager has started showing ads, I recommend them the one I use on F-Droid, saying it may or may not be on the Play Store. Usually they go straight to the Play Store anyway and ask if any of their top ten results have the right icon/author. I really do get a better experience with F-Droid stuff. Never have run into ads or malware or whatever, can't imagine people thinking that it's normal to have such a bad experience. I don't know how they live with it.
crossroadsguy 3y ago
I wished there was a Graphene/Lineage OS phone (OEM supported; not “flash it yourself” sorcery needed kinda thing). And something within the size of original iPhone SE or Mini with just even an above average battery. I’d pay a premium for that phone. It’s my wishful thinking about smartphones.
- pmontra 3y ago
  I'm with you for a smaller phone. A Sony Xperia X Compact with no bezel would be great https://gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_x_compact-8292.php https://gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_x_compact-8292.php And the lightness!
  - brnaftr361 3y ago
    I had an XZ1c and, despite the bezels, I still prefer it to the Zenfone 8 that succeeded it. Unfortunately my carrier forced me to "upgrade" otherwise I'd likely still be using it to this day. And my god it was robust. I did unspeakable things to that phone and it never chipped or cracked - and we're talking drops on to gravel, concrete, and steel. Hopefully one day we'll see something similar again.
- mhitza 3y ago
  The Fairphone is going to be sold in the US in partnership with the e.Foundation which develops /e/OS (another deGoogled android fork), and is what's going to come preinstalled on the Fairphone https://murena.com/america/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairphone-4/ https://murena.com/america/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena...
  - palata 3y ago
    I have been a happy user of an /e/OS Fairphone 3+ for two years. I just use it like my Samsung before, nothing special to do (other than choosing non Google apps, obviously).
- philistine 3y ago
  Android has always had bigger phones than Apple. At this point it’s in the DNA of the platform to offer phones above 5.5 inches.
cge 3y ago
To add to that last point, after some time being frustrated with an FP4 and browsing the FP forums: it's not just availability of spare parts to repair shops. There doesn't appear to be a single mention in the forums of a repair shop willing to work on the FP4. There are numerous mentions of repair shops that are unwilling to, and of people being unable to find repair shops. Warranty repair is actually outsourced to a generic warranty support company that appears to operate on standard, replace-everything basis. Apparently, for the FP4 (reportedly in a departure from some previous devices), all software development is also outsourced. Security patches are often months out of date. Known defects with basic functionality (camera hardware should be fine, but is almost unusable for many tasks because of poor firmware/software making, eg, focusing ridiculously slow; microphone noise and echo reduction has serious problems for calls, etc) go unaddressed, or, in worse cases, are acknowledged as something that won't be fixed, especially for the bizarre security flaw that the manufacturer's official OS is signed by test keys, and the device is set to trust test keys, something that apparently can't be changed, and makes the device one minor leak away from having secure boot entirely broken. This is apparently one of the reasons why GrapheneOS developers refuse to consider supporting it. At the same time, other flaws in the security design make it very easy to brick the device, as you point out, and FP charges for unbricking (the test key problem apparently makes it unsafe for them to release a fix): in one case on the forum, a user bricked the device by correctly following FP's own official instructions for updating the OS manually, and FP refused to unbrick it without charge. I was astonishingly disappointed by the FP4, to be honest, and by Fairphone in general.
- miduil 3y ago
  > There doesn't appear to be a single mention in the forums of a repair shop willing to work on the FP4. That's a good point as well, companies like Framework are doing a better job on that front (afair) with releasing detailed repair PDFs for shops that need the circuitry to debug electrical issues/replace parts. Haven't seen something from Fairphone yet. > Apparently, for the FP4 (reportedly in a departure from some previous devices), all software development is also outsourced. Oh, I haven't heard of that yet - till FP3 they had some significant in-house development ongoing. This would explain why FP3 will get an Android 13 upgrade (from 11) soon, while there is no announcement for Android 13 for the FP4 yet.
pSYoniK 3y ago
A thousand tims this. When I moved away from stock Android and on to cuwtom ROMs a few years ago, I didnt find anything that met my needs but then I stumbled on GrapheneOS. I understand why it doesn't run on non Pixels but their approach to handling Google Services and preinstalled software in particulqr should really be copied by other ROM maintainers and developers (something I'll give a shot in a few short months). My only gripe now on my 2nd Pixel with Graphene is exactly what Fairphone is fixing, which is easy hardware maintenance + 3.5mm jack. I guess a modular/repairable smartphone with w non-invasive os is "the dream".
- Kiro 3y ago
  > their approach to handling Google Services and preinstalled software in particulqr should really be copied How does it work on Graphene?
  - miduil 3y ago
    You can find out a high level explanation here: https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play
- yesbabyyes 3y ago
  > My only gripe now on my 2nd Pixel with Graphene is exactly what Fairphone is fixing, which is easy hardware maintenance + 3.5mm jack. The hardware maintenance is true (even though I suspect the repairability of the usb-c port is what made me need to replace it in the first place) but starting with the 4, Fairphone doesn't have a 3.5 mm jack. Source: I have a Fairphone 4 and have so far replaced the screen, battery, usb-c port and back cover.
nilespotter 3y ago
CalyxOS supports it - https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/ https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/

by miduil 3y ago

cauch 3y ago

> Too many hardware bugs with the FP3 that were never acknowledged by the vendor I have a FP3, and it has been my first and only Android smartphone. I now wonder if what I've experienced is the "normal Android experience" or if I would have experienced something different from another brand. I'm also avoiding / disabling Google stuffs (I'm using f-droid, ...). I was occasionally surprised to see how a lot of people are flooded with ads / unsolicited messages and seemed not to care. I don't get it, though, it looks such an awful experience. The main thing I've noticed is the long time it sometimes take for the picture-taking app to get on focus. But I thought it was due to the standard Android software. Is there a place to list the FP3 bugs?

verall 3y ago
The camera focus problem is not a an android problem it's just a fairphone problem. OEMs typically write their own camera apps.
miduil 3y ago
* Easily damaged by moisture (even though they've claimed certain IP ratings), due to the printed conductor inside the plastic layers with pin connectors * Battery swelling after less than two years of operation (no way to source this battery locally since they've built a custom connector / redesigned an standard OEM battery) * Overheating * Touch screen glitches (they've resolved that after a year via software, support was super unhelpful with that problem) * Wi-Fi 5 GHz broken/unreliable for many people * Camera focus (not sure if FP3+ improved on that front) * Broken fingerprint sensor (from the beginning, most common issue) and by broken I mean not functional at all * self-disintegrating plastic parts (back and side covers), likely due to the fact they are using recycled plastic - they've changed the plastic chemistry with FP3+, for me the plastic became more and more brittle - In addition for me with software: * charging LED can't be disabled, which is extremely bright when you're sleeping - community members shrugging this off with "you shouldn't use your phone in your bedroom anyway" * screen brightness too bright / unreliable brightness sensor readings (they had several updates because it was so hard to tweak for them) On the positive end: Phone is quite durable, fell down on many occasions and because of it's plastic/design openness the battery falls out but screen never broke in bunch of occasions. Edit: Formatting
- justtocomment 3y ago
  I see a lot of people mentioning Fairphones not being on par with phones by multi billion dollar companies. This citicism is valid. But I think it leaves out a lot of the overall picture. I have a Fairphone 3, and so far it survived being dropped into the bathtub (being submerged for a sec), being dropped on hard floors several times and being stepped on (screen got cracked, but it still works). Like with the Fairphone 2 I had before that, I'm able to do repairs (part replacements) on my own with minimal effort. It gets support for years. I have it running /e/ OS (terrible name) without Google Services and while that's not Graphene OS, I vastly prefer it to Google Android. For me having minor frustrations with Wi-Fi is well worth having a less-unfree and more-ethical phone.
- progval 3y ago
  I bought a FP3+ a year ago and run it with LineageOS (with microG). I don't have any of the issues you list except for LED and brightness. However I do have random troubles with location, but that's probably due to being de-googled. Regarding WiFi, did you try disabling the "battery optimizer"?
opan 3y ago
>I'm also avoiding / disabling Google stuffs (I'm using f-droid, ...). I was occasionally surprised to see how a lot of people are flooded with ads / unsolicited messages and seemed not to care. I don't get it, though, it looks such an awful experience. I run into this with family members occasionally. Their music player or file manager has started showing ads, I recommend them the one I use on F-Droid, saying it may or may not be on the Play Store. Usually they go straight to the Play Store anyway and ask if any of their top ten results have the right icon/author. I really do get a better experience with F-Droid stuff. Never have run into ads or malware or whatever, can't imagine people thinking that it's normal to have such a bad experience. I don't know how they live with it.

crossroadsguy 3y ago

I wished there was a Graphene/Lineage OS phone (OEM supported; not “flash it yourself” sorcery needed kinda thing). And something within the size of original iPhone SE or Mini with just even an above average battery. I’d pay a premium for that phone. It’s my wishful thinking about smartphones.

pmontra 3y ago
I'm with you for a smaller phone. A Sony Xperia X Compact with no bezel would be great https://gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_x_compact-8292.php https://gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_x_compact-8292.php And the lightness!
- brnaftr361 3y ago
  I had an XZ1c and, despite the bezels, I still prefer it to the Zenfone 8 that succeeded it. Unfortunately my carrier forced me to "upgrade" otherwise I'd likely still be using it to this day. And my god it was robust. I did unspeakable things to that phone and it never chipped or cracked - and we're talking drops on to gravel, concrete, and steel. Hopefully one day we'll see something similar again.
mhitza 3y ago
The Fairphone is going to be sold in the US in partnership with the e.Foundation which develops /e/OS (another deGoogled android fork), and is what's going to come preinstalled on the Fairphone https://murena.com/america/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairphone-4/ https://murena.com/america/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena...
- palata 3y ago
  I have been a happy user of an /e/OS Fairphone 3+ for two years. I just use it like my Samsung before, nothing special to do (other than choosing non Google apps, obviously).
philistine 3y ago
Android has always had bigger phones than Apple. At this point it’s in the DNA of the platform to offer phones above 5.5 inches.

cge 3y ago

To add to that last point, after some time being frustrated with an FP4 and browsing the FP forums: it's not just availability of spare parts to repair shops. There doesn't appear to be a single mention in the forums of a repair shop willing to work on the FP4. There are numerous mentions of repair shops that are unwilling to, and of people being unable to find repair shops. Warranty repair is actually outsourced to a generic warranty support company that appears to operate on standard, replace-everything basis. Apparently, for the FP4 (reportedly in a departure from some previous devices), all software development is also outsourced. Security patches are often months out of date. Known defects with basic functionality (camera hardware should be fine, but is almost unusable for many tasks because of poor firmware/software making, eg, focusing ridiculously slow; microphone noise and echo reduction has serious problems for calls, etc) go unaddressed, or, in worse cases, are acknowledged as something that won't be fixed, especially for the bizarre security flaw that the manufacturer's official OS is signed by test keys, and the device is set to trust test keys, something that apparently can't be changed, and makes the device one minor leak away from having secure boot entirely broken. This is apparently one of the reasons why GrapheneOS developers refuse to consider supporting it. At the same time, other flaws in the security design make it very easy to brick the device, as you point out, and FP charges for unbricking (the test key problem apparently makes it unsafe for them to release a fix): in one case on the forum, a user bricked the device by correctly following FP's own official instructions for updating the OS manually, and FP refused to unbrick it without charge. I was astonishingly disappointed by the FP4, to be honest, and by Fairphone in general.

miduil 3y ago
> There doesn't appear to be a single mention in the forums of a repair shop willing to work on the FP4. That's a good point as well, companies like Framework are doing a better job on that front (afair) with releasing detailed repair PDFs for shops that need the circuitry to debug electrical issues/replace parts. Haven't seen something from Fairphone yet. > Apparently, for the FP4 (reportedly in a departure from some previous devices), all software development is also outsourced. Oh, I haven't heard of that yet - till FP3 they had some significant in-house development ongoing. This would explain why FP3 will get an Android 13 upgrade (from 11) soon, while there is no announcement for Android 13 for the FP4 yet.

pSYoniK 3y ago

A thousand tims this. When I moved away from stock Android and on to cuwtom ROMs a few years ago, I didnt find anything that met my needs but then I stumbled on GrapheneOS. I understand why it doesn't run on non Pixels but their approach to handling Google Services and preinstalled software in particulqr should really be copied by other ROM maintainers and developers (something I'll give a shot in a few short months). My only gripe now on my 2nd Pixel with Graphene is exactly what Fairphone is fixing, which is easy hardware maintenance + 3.5mm jack. I guess a modular/repairable smartphone with w non-invasive os is "the dream".

Kiro 3y ago
> their approach to handling Google Services and preinstalled software in particulqr should really be copied How does it work on Graphene?
- miduil 3y ago
  You can find out a high level explanation here: https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play
yesbabyyes 3y ago
> My only gripe now on my 2nd Pixel with Graphene is exactly what Fairphone is fixing, which is easy hardware maintenance + 3.5mm jack. The hardware maintenance is true (even though I suspect the repairability of the usb-c port is what made me need to replace it in the first place) but starting with the 4, Fairphone doesn't have a 3.5 mm jack. Source: I have a Fairphone 4 and have so far replaced the screen, battery, usb-c port and back cover.

nilespotter 3y ago

CalyxOS supports it - https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/ https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/