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Fairphone 5 review: The most uncompromising repairable phone yet

165 points by raybb 3y ago

mynewacct1 3y ago
Does the Fairphone support de-Googling? I'm currently on iOS, but something like this is appealing to me if it can be can potentially be more privacy friendly than iOS and other Android distributions.
- boudin 3y ago
  Fairphone phones have a good history of supporting alternative operating systems, like lineageos: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/ https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/ or /e/ https://doc.e.foundation/devices/FP4 https://doc.e.foundation/devices/FP4 (which also sells fairphones with their os pre-installed. They document how to unlock the bootloader here: https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/10492476238865-Manage-the-bootloader https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/104924762388...
  - Moldoteck 3y ago
    They also support Ubuntu touch
- lucideer 3y ago
  The Fairphone company's primary focus is on fair hardware: supply-chain ethical materials sourcing & fair factory wages. Software "fairness" is very much a secondary focus, so while they're open to de-Googling it's not something they actively support or commit resources to. e.g. The warranty is temporarily invalidated by installing a de-Googled OS but can be "restored" by re-installing Android. They do however partner witht another company - Murena - to offer deGoogled phones[0]. They have a full breakdown of it here[1] [0] https://murena.com/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairphone-5-fr/ https://murena.com/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairpho... [1] https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/9979154556817 https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/997915455681...
  - NewJazz 3y ago
    while they're open to de-Googling it's not something they actively support or commit resources to I am not sure if this is entirely accurate. I agree that degoogled software is not their primary focus, but one Fairphone employee, Luca Weiss, has been pretty active in the postmarketOS community. For example, he submitted the initial port of pmOS to the FP5: https://gitlab.com/postmarketOS/pmaports/-/merge_requests/4359 https://gitlab.com/postmarketOS/pmaports/-/merge_requests/43... Perhaps that was in his "off time", but just as likely is that Fairphone the company is carving out some resources to porting efforts like that.
    - lucideer 3y ago
      > one Fairphone employee > Perhaps that was in his "off time" I was more talking about the company's primary focus - they may well have (limited) resources working to it (whether it's off time or dedicated), but it's certainly not one of their top priorities. That said: even the facts that they have (a) multiple pages on their website documenting deGoogling & maintained a list of working alternative OS versions & (b) an active partnership with a 3rd-party offering this service - these indicate that this is at least a priority for the company, just not a top priority.
- NewJazz 3y ago
  CalyxOS supports at least the FP4. https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/ https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/ PostmarketOS is supposedly booting on the FP5. https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Fairphone_5_(fairphone-fp5) https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Fairphone_5_(fairphone-fp... E foundation sells a version of the FP4 that has their degoogled /e/OS preinstalled. https://e.foundation/fairphone-and-e-expand-the-availability-of-e-os-to-fairphone-3-plus-users/ https://e.foundation/fairphone-and-e-expand-the-availability... I'd say the pieces are there to load aftermarket software that is degoogled.
- SahAssar 3y ago
  Yes, but I don't know if there are ready made ROMs for the 5 yet. I ran CalyxOS on my 4, and it officially supports running alternate OS:es.
deleted 3y ago
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BradDavis67 3y ago
[flagged]
ctenb 3y ago
Not going to buy, because I anticipate remaining happy with my FP 4 for several years :)
- jlkuester7 3y ago
  This, to me, feels like the most important comment on the page! It is great to develop a sweet new offering, but if one of the main selling points of your product is longevity, repair-ability, and long-term support, then I don't want to hear about all the Fairphone fans jumping up to by the next gen. I want a phone that folks are happy to stick with for years! As a side note, for years I used a Nexus 6. Great phone (the battery was getting sketchy, but the rest of the hardware held up well for 7 years of use)! With LineageOS, I was getting a steady stream of software updates. I was finally forced off of the phone when they killed the 3G networks here in the USA (and apparently the Nexus 6 did not support VoLTE....).
al2o3cr 3y ago
The whole review is "well, it kinda sucks, but..." - like if Stockholm syndrome became a tech writer.
- nsxwolf 3y ago
  It's not a good name. It's a Dutch company - did they not understand that "fair" can mean "mediocre" as well as "just"?
  - cbozeman 3y ago
    It's a great name. It means "fair" as in fair trade. As in not buying, or minimizing as much as you can, buying conflict minerals. First off, the people buying this or even considering it, already know what Fair Trade is, to some degree, even if all they know is that, "It's trendy!" Second, the name isn't bad just because someone is ignorant of what it means. Oracle is called Oracle because the Oracle of Delphi was supposed to have exceptional insight to the point of being all-knowing. Just because someone doesn't know what the Oracle of Delphi is/was, or is aware of the broad usage of the term "oracle" doesn't mean it's a bad name. How many people know Nike is the Greek goddess of victory? Doesn't mean it's a bad name just because we refuse to educate people properly.
  - ctenb 3y ago
    I think the name is fine. I don't often see it used the way you describe it, and when it does I'd say it means something like adequate, average or acceptable. Mediocre has a more negative connotation to it.
    - nsxwolf 3y ago
      You're right, "mediocre" is too negative a connotation. "Acceptable" is better. That's the feeling the name gives me. A phone that will be just fine.
  - tomwheeler 3y ago
    In my experience, most Dutch people—especially those involved with tech—have English proficiency similar to that of a native speaker.
RomanPushkin 3y ago
$750? No offense, but I wouldn't pay for it more than $200 > What truly makes the Fairphone special is the fact that you can fully disassemble it yourself in a matter of minutes, using a standard screwdriver you likely have at home already I disassembled my cheap Xiaomi Poco twice, replaced screen and broken camera. I had no issues with that. The phone itself was damn cheap, and good enough so I don't have to worry about breaking it, or thinking about it too much. I wish Fairphone all the best, I am just wondering what the market is. Who is going to buy it for that heck of a price?
- Levitating 3y ago
  My thoughts exactly. Chinese phones have great repairability and come a lot cheaper than this. And advancements have kind of stagnated so it's starting to make sense to buy older models. For 700 I don't care if it's repairable because I could've bought 3 separate phones for that price.
- NoboruWataya 3y ago
  The point is their materials are more ethically sourced and workers are treated better than with those other phones (hence the name). It costs money to do that, because you are internalising social costs that other manufacturers are externalising. That explains the price difference and to answer your question the target market is people who care enough about such things to pay it.
  - Vinnl 3y ago
    Slight nuance is that that partially explains the price difference, but I'm fairly sure that it's also largely due to just lacking economics of scale, unfortunately. But they are paving the way, showing how things can be done, setting up the required tooling and documentation, and hopefully thereby influencing (legislation for) the big players to improve. In fact, that's my main justification for spending the money.
- treme 3y ago
  tech hipsters with 100k+ income?
pc_edwin 3y ago
This is why I'm very excited at the prospect of an OpenAI phone. Without billions in funding, its impossible to build a viable alternative to the android/ios duopoly. Heck, its near impossible even with the billion (RIP windows phone) but that where OpenAI software side comes in.
- ceejayoz 3y ago
  Why would OpenAI want to make a phone?
  - Levitating 3y ago
    AI is really becoming the new meta or crypto. Suddenly everybody is thinking it will change the world and be integrated with every existing technology we have. People have to stop buying into these fabricated tech hypes.
    - WillPostForFood 3y ago
      Suddenly everybody is thinking it will change the world and be integrated with every existing technology we have. That's an argument against all technological progress. You had a crowd 20 years ago asking why you'd want a smart phone - a phone should just be great at making phone calls. Sometimes integrating new tech will be a huge leap, and sometimes a flop, but its hard to predict so you have to try it to find out. There is a reasonable chance an always available AI assistant in a portable device will be a big deal.
      - Levitating 3y ago
        I should clarify, I believe language models will have an enormous technological impact. But the media and companies with a stake in it are blowing it way out of proportion. Like nvidia saying that they will create AI games. And it has caused people to extremely overestimate what a language model can do. There is no reason to believe OpenAI will magically change the phone industry by making "OpenAI phones" whatever that is supposed to mean. AI assistants in phones were a flop, and though their quality could change much with the use of language models this doesn't mean that people are going to use them this time. Currently it's not even possible to use language models in that sense, they are useful for generating text but it's near impossible to have them communicate to some external interface. I've once talked to someone who gave a talk on an absolutely enormous call support framework for a bank, and he told me that they had no plans to ever integrate actual AI with their chatbot. Because those models can't be controlled/consored strictly enough. What I am saying is that the actual technological advancement of language models has completely disassociated with the buzzword "AI" that is being thrown around a lot right now. And it's not dissimilar to how Meta or Web3 were discussed.
sigmoid10 3y ago
This kind of release schedule totally ruins the entire premise of their products. The Fairphone 3 is barely four years old and you already can't get replacement parts for it anymore. And for what? Only because they slightly changed the chassis, instead of offering a new base version with more modern components. On top of that, the 3 will also lose security updates in 12 months. So you will be forced to trash your phone after 5 years tops. Compare that to Apple, who still support their seven year old iPhone 7 with parts and security updates. The problem is that a "real" Fairphone, that actually stands up to its values, is a terrible business idea. So no profit oriented company will ever be able to fulfill that promise.
- OJFord 3y ago
  I'd love to see Framework make a phone. I'm not sure I agree with your conclusion, it doesn't mean not selling anyone anything for years, it just means selling upgraded/alternative/replacement parts instead? But the desire for it is pretty niche.
  - Tade0 3y ago
    Same. But I suspect that if it happened today it would have been detrimental to their ability to remain on the market.
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 3y ago
  I have an inherent distrust of for profit business that uses virtuous adjectives: For example, Jessica Alba's "The Honest Company". In the same way, I am suspicious of "Fairphone" as a for profit company.
  - NateEag 3y ago
    I have a similar gut reaction to companies using virtuous adjectives in their names. That said, if a company really does value doing things differently, what are they supposed to do? Not say so? Try not to make a profit, guaranteeing they won't be able to make a positive impact? I think it's important to not let the deceitful marketing in the world poison the well for any possibility of honest marketing. From what I can tell, Fairphone is working pretty hard to earn the name.
Scandiravian 3y ago
I understand why some people don't want to pay this amount of money upfront based on the specs alone. From a "per year" cost I still think it's competitive If they really manage to support this device for 10 years, that's $75 per year, which I think is relatively cheap My use-case for a phone does not need a lot of processing power. I use it for messaging, checking emails, watch a bit of YouTube, and catch up on the news. I feel reasonably confident that it will be able to perform those tasks 8-10 years down the line On top of that I also appreciate that I can buy a device that is sourced with consideration for workers and the environment. It's never good for the environment to produce new devices, but the option to limit the impact is important to me
- queuebert 3y ago
  It would be even cheaper comparatively if we were properly taxed for the downstream effects of our waste.
  - Scandiravian 3y ago
    Agreed. Though I'm personally more in favour of adding the cost at the other end. I think companies should be taxed for the cost of restoring the damage their products cause to the environment, as this would encourage competition towards more sustainable practices
    - freedomben 3y ago
      Philosophically, I agree with you completely. But practically, how would we measure that let alone enforce it?
      - Scandiravian 3y ago
        I think it's still hard to say which policies would be effective. I think CO2-equivalent emission taxes are a good starting point It might also be possible to put a recycling fee on each produced device based on the retail price and the amount of damage it would cause to the environment if the device was dumped in the environment When a device is then handed in for recycling the company is refunded the fee minus the cost of to handle it at the recycling facility On the downside that could also encourage companies to create products that are replaced before they are no longer usable, though honestly we already have that problem. It could maybe be prevented by lowering the fee based on how long the company commit to supporting the model with software and replacement parts
GuB-42 3y ago
Uncompromising? There is no such thing as uncompromising. Its most defining feature, for me, is its removable battery. It that, I would compare it to the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro. Over the Fairphone 5, the Samsung Xcover has a headphone jack, dual sim and a IP68 rating, it is a rugged phone. Both can use a microSD card. The Fairphone has a better camera, better specs in general (but not best in class), and is more expensive. The Fairphone is generally more repairable, but because it is not rugged, probably more likely to break. The rest is about build quality, which is not easy to judge by the specs. The form factor is similar. Software-wise, the Fairphone is, I think, much better. Longer support, and a more active and better supported community. The XCover 6 Pro doesn't even have a subforum on xda-developers.com. It has an unlockable bootloader, so in theory, one could run anything, but if no one cares... All in all, I think both are worthwhile options, they just made different... compromises.
- The_Colonel 3y ago
  The most uncompromising != uncompromising. Just like e. g. the cheapest jet airliner isn't necessarily cheap...
Foobar8568 3y ago
I've a FP4, I won't buy another Fairphone. Repairability is a dubious concept at best, and no hardware upgrade path despite larger design. Also see the current drama with the fingerprint and android update for FP3. Only good thing, non android os look functional.
- MegaThorx 3y ago
  I must say this is the biggest issue for me too. A upgrade path for the device (like framework provides for its laptops) is the biggest missing feature for me.
ReptileMan 3y ago
The only people that care about that kind of phone usually use flagships. So having sub-flagship specs on flagship price is not a winning offer. One plus had the right idea once. although they also didn't manage to get the camera thing going.
spike_protein 3y ago
This phone is so sneaky, it has one fake camera just for show!
tannhaeuser 3y ago
I considered buying a Fairphone last year or the year before, but man was it a brick, it calls into question the whole concept of a mobile device! Why is it that only Apple can produce a reasonably-sized phone, with all Android phones (last I checked) being phablet-sized and not fitting comfortably into a back pocket? Is it in memory of SJ's iconic gesture of letting it slide into the pocket, or because Android phones are basically ad consumption devices needing as much screen real estate to even see any content at all between the ads?
- NewJazz 3y ago
  I have no idea, but this is the only group I hear talking about the issue with serious intentions to address it: https://smallandroidphone.com/ https://smallandroidphone.com/ In case you don't read to the end of that page... Extrapolating from past models, the Pixel 10 will be roughly the size of California
- NoraCodes 3y ago
  > all Android phones (last I checked) being phablet-sized Major manufacturers, Apple included, keep making phones bigger; it's frustrating. However, I think it's a bit unfair to say that, for instance, the Pixel A-series (which I've used for years) is "phablet sized". The current flagship iPhones are 6.7" (iPhone 15 Pro Max, $1199) and 6.1" (iPhone 15 Pro, $999). The current flagship Pixel phones are 6.3" (Pixel 7, $599) and 6.1" (Pixel 7a, $499). > Android phones are basically ad consumption devices It's possible that this is a fair criticism of some Android devices, but with YouTube Vanced/ReVanced and Firefox with AdBlock Plus, I haven't seen an obtrusive ad on my phone in years. There are many things iPhones do better than Android devices, but these two criticisms are basically nonsense. Edit: Apple also has a very small phone in the iPhone SE, but they're not continuing to produce those (per latest reports, anyway) so it doesn't strike me as a fair comparison. If we include older generations of products, there are tons of small Android phones.
  - TylerE 3y ago
    I don't think diagonal screensize is the most fair metric here... bezels have gotten much, much, much smaller. Compared to an iPhone 4, which I think is a lot of people's idea of a "normal" sized phone, a Pixel 6A 32% longer, and 22% wider. It's also 30% heavier.
sanitycheck 3y ago
Apart from everything else, having to remove the battery to access the microSD card is a weird choice. Android has always been able to handle SD swapping without a restart, and an Android cold start takes quite a long time (unlike the old phones which this design harks back to). Who's it for? Those very few Guardian readers that can be lured away from their iPhones by the promise of being eco-friendly.
- SiempreViernes 3y ago
  Wait, are you saying you don't want this phone because you can't hotswap the sim card untethered?
- Scandiravian 3y ago
  I'm getting one. I'm currently on a galaxy note 9, which hasn't received updates for a year. The hardware is still plenty fast for what I use my phone for, but since I have my banking app on the phone, I don't feel comfortable continuing to use it without security patches The microphone also broke around a year ago and though it's possible to replace it, it's not a simple fix, so I've accepted I need to have a headset nearby at all times The FP5 wouldn't have the same issues. I wouldn't have to spend any money on a new phone for almost a decade and if something breaks I can fix it pretty cheaply myself To me those are the most important considerations when picking a new phone and there's not really any other product that I think is competitive on those parameters
- sneeze-slayer 3y ago
  It's true, removing the battery is mildly annoying. But I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have added or removed a microSD card from my phone. It's just not something I do regularly--Get a new phone, plug it in, and forget. Maybe remove it every few months to back it up to my computer.
  - sanitycheck 3y ago
    I pop mine in and out all the time, it's been the quickest way to move large files on/off the phone ever since Android lost USB mass storage support. MTP & PTP are horrible.
pcurve 3y ago
Can't they charge $2-300 more and put in better chip and camera?
- iopq 3y ago
  Actually no, because they had to use a Qualcomm QCM6490 industrial SoC to get that long support contract https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/fairphone-5-sets-a-new-standard-with-8-10-years-of-android-support/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/fairphone-5-sets-a-n...
xorcist 3y ago
No 3.5mm plug? Not for me then. I never want to charge an extra device again. I also never want to find a pair of plugs that fit me, again. It is a mystery to me why this use case is apparently so unique that there is no market for me.
- cooperadymas 3y ago
  There is a market for you, but it's not a very big one. Sony in particular plays to this market, but you can see from their dwindling sales, that it's rather niche.
  - bigstrat2003 3y ago
    Sony would probably have better luck if their phones weren't so incredibly expensive. As a fellow headphone jack requirer, I would love to buy a Sony phone. But I can't afford one.
    - Kirby64 3y ago
      If you can afford a Fairphone 5, it seems a Sony is within your budget. Sure, they make a $1600 phone, but they also make multiple phones that are much cheaper or similarly priced. Xperia 5 III (what a horrible name): $600 Xperia 10 V (again, terrible name): $400 Xperia 1 IV: $755 (same price as Fairphone) All 3 have headphone jacks.
      - bigstrat2003 3y ago
        I honestly have never seen a Sony phone which was less than $1000. Perhaps I just looked in the wrong places, but that's what my comment was based on. I agree that a phone costing $400-700 is not an unreasonably high price, but I just wasn't aware of the existence of the models you mentioned.
- wilsonnb3 3y ago
  Because you can use a USB c adapter if you still want to use wired headphones
bullen 3y ago
We need vanilla linux, Android is poisoning the well. Pinetab-V is the only portable device that seems to work in the right direction. The GPU driver is still broken though so until then don't get your hope up. And I know that phone != tablet... but really soon I will not need my phone.
- teva 3y ago
  They sell the F4 with /e/OS
  - dustyharddrive 3y ago
    That’s an Android ROM and can’t provide the longevity of mainline Linux.
- _5ygc 3y ago
  I agree, but first we’d need vanilla Linux working very well on laptops. If we can’t fix that, I don’t see how phones will fare better, what with their crazy amount of components and non-OSS compatible vendors.
  - fsflover 3y ago
    Using Linux on laptops for 10+ years without any problem. Just buy it preinstalled.
  - bullen 3y ago
    I think specific devices will have more likely positive outcome over time as chips don't become more performant = the design wont be obsolete and still sell many years later. Modular devices (laptops are a mix of many modems, displays, sound, disk etc.) have had more edge case bugs because the volume is too low per generation to warrant fixes.
  - megous 3y ago
    Compared to laptops, smartphones have more sensors, and more complicated camera setup. That's about it. They're not significantly more complicated than laptops.
Audiophilip 3y ago
Lack of headphone jack is a deal breaker for me, unfortunately.
- tomwheeler 3y ago
  Same. I'd absolutely buy one if they had this basic feature.
garyrob 3y ago
I must admit I'm having trouble relating to the strong desire to have a phone that's more repairable than an iPhone. There have been a couple times I've had a problem with my iPhone under AppleCare. I've gone to my nearest Apple Store, and pretty quickly walked out with a new iPhone that works perfectly and contains all my data and, for all practical purposes, is exactly as if my old one never broke. That seems pretty repairable to me, on the axes I care about. It does mean I have to pay for AppleCare, but my guess is that on average you're not going to get away much more cheaply with years of use of a more "repairable" phone. I'd be interested in seeing counterarguments. I'm not trying to dispute anyone's claims about repairability. I just honestly don't get it. [Update: the main thing I'm getting from responses is that people care about their being low-cost, easily repairable phones for people who can't afford iPhones and Apple Care; the enthusiasm is empathy-based. That makes a lot of sense to me. I don't know of a source for actually comparing long-term costs, though. Are you sure the repairable phones are actually cheaper to own, long-term? Arguments about the environment make less sense to me since the broken phone is refurbished and used again. I asked, and I got useful answers. Thanks, HN! I've gotten a lot of downvotes for this question, though, which mystifies me... why downvote an honest question? It seems unfriendly and uncharitable.]
- schnuri 3y ago
  It’s more about sustainability.
  - Klonoar 3y ago
    I mean... no. Apple publishes breakdowns/reports of their recycling efforts and it's pretty damn good for what it is, and these devices now last a very long time if you don't feel like chasing the yearly upgrade train. The selling point of the Fairphone is moreso that it's: - Attempting to pay fair wages to workers - Not Apple, for those who just don't want an Apple device - More (user) repair-able These are all very valid reasons to want to use something like the Fairphone and I am glad it exists, and it might even be my next phone - but to imply that it wins out over the iPhone trade-in-and-get-it-recycled flow is just bonkers.
sysadm1n 3y ago
Anyone using a FP as a daily driver?
- lawn 3y ago
  I use a FP4 and it's been great so far. I love the replaceable battery, the close to stock Android and it seems to be built very well (having dropped it many, many times). Mot being Apple, Samsung or Google is a great plus.
  - wolverine876 3y ago
    How have you benefitted from the replaceable battery? I like the idea, but when does it come in handy?
    - jlkuester7 3y ago
      On almost every phone I have owned, battery degradation is the primary complaint that I have after the first few years of use. Unfortunately, when the battery is just glued to the back of the screen, what should be a cheep and easy fix, has become impossibly risky. Instead, I am left nursing a dying battery to the point where, for one phone, I would carry an external battery pack everywhere since my phone battery could not last the day...
    - lawn 3y ago
      When I travel I bring a spare battery. Then I don't have to keep charging the phone all the time, and sometimes it might not be possible. With a spare that's one thing less to worry about. The second thing is battery degradation. After a while the amount of charge will drop, and replacing it with a new and fresh battery feels like giving the phone new life.
- funcrush 3y ago
  I've been using a FP4 for the last year it is fine as a basic phone however: - I've needed to have it repaired under warranty as some of the mics didn't work. - I've needed to get their long life usb cable replaced under warranty. The connectors on the ends seem pretty flimsy and will break over time. - For software updates they tend to be every 1-2 months with bug fixes and security patches, major Android versions take more than a year so when they talk about 5 years of software support it is more like 3 year stretched out to 5.
poulpy123 3y ago
the lack of jack and the not great camera is unfortunately a deal breaker, although I'm not sure I would afford it anyway. but the idea is great and i hope if will find its success
rajeshmr 3y ago
Fairphone would easily be a big hit in the Indian Market, i figure. If there are any fairphone folks here, please do consider to bring this phone in the Indian market. I would love to own a Fairphone. At the bare minimum, all smartphones should allow for easy battery replacement like they do in Fairphone. (This was the norm, before the iphones and the androids took over)
- xctr94 3y ago
  It’s 699€ in Europe; not sure about the price in India. But that feels prohibitive for my budget, so I imagine it’s expensive for the average Indian consumer?
  - FirmwareBurner 3y ago
    Even in Europe that's a lot of cheese. People with 700 Eruos to blow on a phone will most lively get a iPhone or Samsung flagship. The only people I know who own an Fairphone are other tech workers who browse HN a lot but that's a very small demographic.
    - sambazi 3y ago
      the only ppl i know who own an fairphone are semi tech-literate and not interested in the specs or the price. they are all disappointed with the camera and build quality in general but cherish the fairness.
      - rajeshmr 3y ago
        well am in the tech industry, and i would like to own a fairphone purely for the repairability and replaceability and the extended life span. Agreed, the camera might be sub-par, but with this level of repairability, if fairphone can enable certified third-party parts, then we could replace the camera ourselves with certified better quality cameras in the future right ? Also, the phone industry, especially the biggies are into planned obsolescence of their products in pursuit of more and more profits. I personally do not prefer replacing my phone every few years, and going through the hassle of backing up the files and setting up the new phone etc. I want a device that just works and isn't a botheration to maintain and upkeep for long. The lifespan of products were much longer not too long ago, before the corporate interests figured out planned obsolescence. I remember as a kid, the products we purchased at our home, lasted much through my adolescence and into my adult life. For example, the radio which we bought worked for years without wasting much time of fixing it up every now and then, just a couple of batteries would last a really long time. All it needed was large batteries. I would prefer products that have a longer lifespan than being at the cutting edge, and wasting precious time chasing the latest and greatest. I have better interests to attend to :)
sufficer 3y ago
I got iphone 15 ads on an android site on an article about this phone lol
roshin 3y ago
Yikes, the screen is 6.46 inch . I guess this phone is not meant for people who want one handed phones. Oh well, my search for an open phone that can be used with one hand continues.
daft_pink 3y ago
It's nice and maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I find that my iPhone never breaks and this is not a big issue as the phone is really well made. Unlike my Apple laptop with a butterfly keyboard.....
rldjbpin 3y ago
from all the discussions on fp5 here, i can definitely say that they are catering to a very tough crowd. it is a shame that they still don't seem to have found a rythmn in long-term hardware support after all these years. given how fast the rest of industry moves between the infrequent releases, each new model ends up being so different from the previous one. so it is hard to see a future where they can reuse older parts and hence be more likely to sell them for longer. i had a laptop that was easy to repair, but i could not find its replacement battery within two years of its release, which defeated the purpose of having that ability. if existing userbase are having trust issues with fairphone's parts supply long-term, it will be a hard sell for many who can put up with the phone's tradeoffs in the name of repairability. i do hope for their success so that at least third parties can support the phone for the near future. maybe it will be there for my next-to-next upgrade.

165 points by raybb 3y ago

Does the Fairphone support de-Googling? I'm currently on iOS, but something like this is appealing to me if it can be can potentially be more privacy friendly than iOS and other Android distributions.

boudin 3y ago
Fairphone phones have a good history of supporting alternative operating systems, like lineageos: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/ https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/ or /e/ https://doc.e.foundation/devices/FP4 https://doc.e.foundation/devices/FP4 (which also sells fairphones with their os pre-installed. They document how to unlock the bootloader here: https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/10492476238865-Manage-the-bootloader https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/104924762388...
- Moldoteck 3y ago
  They also support Ubuntu touch
lucideer 3y ago
The Fairphone company's primary focus is on fair hardware: supply-chain ethical materials sourcing & fair factory wages. Software "fairness" is very much a secondary focus, so while they're open to de-Googling it's not something they actively support or commit resources to. e.g. The warranty is temporarily invalidated by installing a de-Googled OS but can be "restored" by re-installing Android. They do however partner witht another company - Murena - to offer deGoogled phones[0]. They have a full breakdown of it here[1] [0] https://murena.com/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairphone-5-fr/ https://murena.com/shop/smartphones/brand-new/murena-fairpho... [1] https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/9979154556817 https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/997915455681...
- NewJazz 3y ago
  while they're open to de-Googling it's not something they actively support or commit resources to I am not sure if this is entirely accurate. I agree that degoogled software is not their primary focus, but one Fairphone employee, Luca Weiss, has been pretty active in the postmarketOS community. For example, he submitted the initial port of pmOS to the FP5: https://gitlab.com/postmarketOS/pmaports/-/merge_requests/4359 https://gitlab.com/postmarketOS/pmaports/-/merge_requests/43... Perhaps that was in his "off time", but just as likely is that Fairphone the company is carving out some resources to porting efforts like that.
  - lucideer 3y ago
    > one Fairphone employee > Perhaps that was in his "off time" I was more talking about the company's primary focus - they may well have (limited) resources working to it (whether it's off time or dedicated), but it's certainly not one of their top priorities. That said: even the facts that they have (a) multiple pages on their website documenting deGoogling & maintained a list of working alternative OS versions & (b) an active partnership with a 3rd-party offering this service - these indicate that this is at least a priority for the company, just not a top priority.
NewJazz 3y ago
CalyxOS supports at least the FP4. https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/ https://calyxos.org/docs/guide/device-support/ PostmarketOS is supposedly booting on the FP5. https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Fairphone_5_(fairphone-fp5) https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Fairphone_5_(fairphone-fp... E foundation sells a version of the FP4 that has their degoogled /e/OS preinstalled. https://e.foundation/fairphone-and-e-expand-the-availability-of-e-os-to-fairphone-3-plus-users/ https://e.foundation/fairphone-and-e-expand-the-availability... I'd say the pieces are there to load aftermarket software that is degoogled.
SahAssar 3y ago
Yes, but I don't know if there are ready made ROMs for the 5 yet. I ran CalyxOS on my 4, and it officially supports running alternate OS:es.

deleted 3y ago

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BradDavis67 3y ago

[flagged]

ctenb 3y ago

Not going to buy, because I anticipate remaining happy with my FP 4 for several years :)

jlkuester7 3y ago
This, to me, feels like the most important comment on the page! It is great to develop a sweet new offering, but if one of the main selling points of your product is longevity, repair-ability, and long-term support, then I don't want to hear about all the Fairphone fans jumping up to by the next gen. I want a phone that folks are happy to stick with for years! As a side note, for years I used a Nexus 6. Great phone (the battery was getting sketchy, but the rest of the hardware held up well for 7 years of use)! With LineageOS, I was getting a steady stream of software updates. I was finally forced off of the phone when they killed the 3G networks here in the USA (and apparently the Nexus 6 did not support VoLTE....).

al2o3cr 3y ago

The whole review is "well, it kinda sucks, but..." - like if Stockholm syndrome became a tech writer.

nsxwolf 3y ago
It's not a good name. It's a Dutch company - did they not understand that "fair" can mean "mediocre" as well as "just"?
- cbozeman 3y ago
  It's a great name. It means "fair" as in fair trade. As in not buying, or minimizing as much as you can, buying conflict minerals. First off, the people buying this or even considering it, already know what Fair Trade is, to some degree, even if all they know is that, "It's trendy!" Second, the name isn't bad just because someone is ignorant of what it means. Oracle is called Oracle because the Oracle of Delphi was supposed to have exceptional insight to the point of being all-knowing. Just because someone doesn't know what the Oracle of Delphi is/was, or is aware of the broad usage of the term "oracle" doesn't mean it's a bad name. How many people know Nike is the Greek goddess of victory? Doesn't mean it's a bad name just because we refuse to educate people properly.
- ctenb 3y ago
  I think the name is fine. I don't often see it used the way you describe it, and when it does I'd say it means something like adequate, average or acceptable. Mediocre has a more negative connotation to it.
  - nsxwolf 3y ago
    You're right, "mediocre" is too negative a connotation. "Acceptable" is better. That's the feeling the name gives me. A phone that will be just fine.
- tomwheeler 3y ago
  In my experience, most Dutch people—especially those involved with tech—have English proficiency similar to that of a native speaker.

RomanPushkin 3y ago

$750? No offense, but I wouldn't pay for it more than $200 > What truly makes the Fairphone special is the fact that you can fully disassemble it yourself in a matter of minutes, using a standard screwdriver you likely have at home already I disassembled my cheap Xiaomi Poco twice, replaced screen and broken camera. I had no issues with that. The phone itself was damn cheap, and good enough so I don't have to worry about breaking it, or thinking about it too much. I wish Fairphone all the best, I am just wondering what the market is. Who is going to buy it for that heck of a price?

Levitating 3y ago
My thoughts exactly. Chinese phones have great repairability and come a lot cheaper than this. And advancements have kind of stagnated so it's starting to make sense to buy older models. For 700 I don't care if it's repairable because I could've bought 3 separate phones for that price.
NoboruWataya 3y ago
The point is their materials are more ethically sourced and workers are treated better than with those other phones (hence the name). It costs money to do that, because you are internalising social costs that other manufacturers are externalising. That explains the price difference and to answer your question the target market is people who care enough about such things to pay it.
- Vinnl 3y ago
  Slight nuance is that that partially explains the price difference, but I'm fairly sure that it's also largely due to just lacking economics of scale, unfortunately. But they are paving the way, showing how things can be done, setting up the required tooling and documentation, and hopefully thereby influencing (legislation for) the big players to improve. In fact, that's my main justification for spending the money.
treme 3y ago
tech hipsters with 100k+ income?

pc_edwin 3y ago

This is why I'm very excited at the prospect of an OpenAI phone. Without billions in funding, its impossible to build a viable alternative to the android/ios duopoly. Heck, its near impossible even with the billion (RIP windows phone) but that where OpenAI software side comes in.

ceejayoz 3y ago
Why would OpenAI want to make a phone?
- Levitating 3y ago
  AI is really becoming the new meta or crypto. Suddenly everybody is thinking it will change the world and be integrated with every existing technology we have. People have to stop buying into these fabricated tech hypes.
  - WillPostForFood 3y ago
    Suddenly everybody is thinking it will change the world and be integrated with every existing technology we have. That's an argument against all technological progress. You had a crowd 20 years ago asking why you'd want a smart phone - a phone should just be great at making phone calls. Sometimes integrating new tech will be a huge leap, and sometimes a flop, but its hard to predict so you have to try it to find out. There is a reasonable chance an always available AI assistant in a portable device will be a big deal.
    - Levitating 3y ago
      I should clarify, I believe language models will have an enormous technological impact. But the media and companies with a stake in it are blowing it way out of proportion. Like nvidia saying that they will create AI games. And it has caused people to extremely overestimate what a language model can do. There is no reason to believe OpenAI will magically change the phone industry by making "OpenAI phones" whatever that is supposed to mean. AI assistants in phones were a flop, and though their quality could change much with the use of language models this doesn't mean that people are going to use them this time. Currently it's not even possible to use language models in that sense, they are useful for generating text but it's near impossible to have them communicate to some external interface. I've once talked to someone who gave a talk on an absolutely enormous call support framework for a bank, and he told me that they had no plans to ever integrate actual AI with their chatbot. Because those models can't be controlled/consored strictly enough. What I am saying is that the actual technological advancement of language models has completely disassociated with the buzzword "AI" that is being thrown around a lot right now. And it's not dissimilar to how Meta or Web3 were discussed.

sigmoid10 3y ago

This kind of release schedule totally ruins the entire premise of their products. The Fairphone 3 is barely four years old and you already can't get replacement parts for it anymore. And for what? Only because they slightly changed the chassis, instead of offering a new base version with more modern components. On top of that, the 3 will also lose security updates in 12 months. So you will be forced to trash your phone after 5 years tops. Compare that to Apple, who still support their seven year old iPhone 7 with parts and security updates. The problem is that a "real" Fairphone, that actually stands up to its values, is a terrible business idea. So no profit oriented company will ever be able to fulfill that promise.

OJFord 3y ago
I'd love to see Framework make a phone. I'm not sure I agree with your conclusion, it doesn't mean not selling anyone anything for years, it just means selling upgraded/alternative/replacement parts instead? But the desire for it is pretty niche.
- Tade0 3y ago
  Same. But I suspect that if it happened today it would have been detrimental to their ability to remain on the market.
RcouF1uZ4gsC 3y ago
I have an inherent distrust of for profit business that uses virtuous adjectives: For example, Jessica Alba's "The Honest Company". In the same way, I am suspicious of "Fairphone" as a for profit company.
- NateEag 3y ago
  I have a similar gut reaction to companies using virtuous adjectives in their names. That said, if a company really does value doing things differently, what are they supposed to do? Not say so? Try not to make a profit, guaranteeing they won't be able to make a positive impact? I think it's important to not let the deceitful marketing in the world poison the well for any possibility of honest marketing. From what I can tell, Fairphone is working pretty hard to earn the name.

Scandiravian 3y ago

I understand why some people don't want to pay this amount of money upfront based on the specs alone. From a "per year" cost I still think it's competitive If they really manage to support this device for 10 years, that's $75 per year, which I think is relatively cheap My use-case for a phone does not need a lot of processing power. I use it for messaging, checking emails, watch a bit of YouTube, and catch up on the news. I feel reasonably confident that it will be able to perform those tasks 8-10 years down the line On top of that I also appreciate that I can buy a device that is sourced with consideration for workers and the environment. It's never good for the environment to produce new devices, but the option to limit the impact is important to me

queuebert 3y ago
It would be even cheaper comparatively if we were properly taxed for the downstream effects of our waste.
- Scandiravian 3y ago
  Agreed. Though I'm personally more in favour of adding the cost at the other end. I think companies should be taxed for the cost of restoring the damage their products cause to the environment, as this would encourage competition towards more sustainable practices
  - freedomben 3y ago
    Philosophically, I agree with you completely. But practically, how would we measure that let alone enforce it?
    - Scandiravian 3y ago
      I think it's still hard to say which policies would be effective. I think CO2-equivalent emission taxes are a good starting point It might also be possible to put a recycling fee on each produced device based on the retail price and the amount of damage it would cause to the environment if the device was dumped in the environment When a device is then handed in for recycling the company is refunded the fee minus the cost of to handle it at the recycling facility On the downside that could also encourage companies to create products that are replaced before they are no longer usable, though honestly we already have that problem. It could maybe be prevented by lowering the fee based on how long the company commit to supporting the model with software and replacement parts

GuB-42 3y ago

Uncompromising? There is no such thing as uncompromising. Its most defining feature, for me, is its removable battery. It that, I would compare it to the Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro. Over the Fairphone 5, the Samsung Xcover has a headphone jack, dual sim and a IP68 rating, it is a rugged phone. Both can use a microSD card. The Fairphone has a better camera, better specs in general (but not best in class), and is more expensive. The Fairphone is generally more repairable, but because it is not rugged, probably more likely to break. The rest is about build quality, which is not easy to judge by the specs. The form factor is similar. Software-wise, the Fairphone is, I think, much better. Longer support, and a more active and better supported community. The XCover 6 Pro doesn't even have a subforum on xda-developers.com. It has an unlockable bootloader, so in theory, one could run anything, but if no one cares... All in all, I think both are worthwhile options, they just made different... compromises.

The_Colonel 3y ago
The most uncompromising != uncompromising. Just like e. g. the cheapest jet airliner isn't necessarily cheap...

Foobar8568 3y ago

I've a FP4, I won't buy another Fairphone. Repairability is a dubious concept at best, and no hardware upgrade path despite larger design. Also see the current drama with the fingerprint and android update for FP3. Only good thing, non android os look functional.

MegaThorx 3y ago
I must say this is the biggest issue for me too. A upgrade path for the device (like framework provides for its laptops) is the biggest missing feature for me.

ReptileMan 3y ago

The only people that care about that kind of phone usually use flagships. So having sub-flagship specs on flagship price is not a winning offer. One plus had the right idea once. although they also didn't manage to get the camera thing going.

spike_protein 3y ago

This phone is so sneaky, it has one fake camera just for show!

tannhaeuser 3y ago

I considered buying a Fairphone last year or the year before, but man was it a brick, it calls into question the whole concept of a mobile device! Why is it that only Apple can produce a reasonably-sized phone, with all Android phones (last I checked) being phablet-sized and not fitting comfortably into a back pocket? Is it in memory of SJ's iconic gesture of letting it slide into the pocket, or because Android phones are basically ad consumption devices needing as much screen real estate to even see any content at all between the ads?

NewJazz 3y ago
I have no idea, but this is the only group I hear talking about the issue with serious intentions to address it: https://smallandroidphone.com/ https://smallandroidphone.com/ In case you don't read to the end of that page... Extrapolating from past models, the Pixel 10 will be roughly the size of California
NoraCodes 3y ago
> all Android phones (last I checked) being phablet-sized Major manufacturers, Apple included, keep making phones bigger; it's frustrating. However, I think it's a bit unfair to say that, for instance, the Pixel A-series (which I've used for years) is "phablet sized". The current flagship iPhones are 6.7" (iPhone 15 Pro Max, $1199) and 6.1" (iPhone 15 Pro, $999). The current flagship Pixel phones are 6.3" (Pixel 7, $599) and 6.1" (Pixel 7a, $499). > Android phones are basically ad consumption devices It's possible that this is a fair criticism of some Android devices, but with YouTube Vanced/ReVanced and Firefox with AdBlock Plus, I haven't seen an obtrusive ad on my phone in years. There are many things iPhones do better than Android devices, but these two criticisms are basically nonsense. Edit: Apple also has a very small phone in the iPhone SE, but they're not continuing to produce those (per latest reports, anyway) so it doesn't strike me as a fair comparison. If we include older generations of products, there are tons of small Android phones.
- TylerE 3y ago
  I don't think diagonal screensize is the most fair metric here... bezels have gotten much, much, much smaller. Compared to an iPhone 4, which I think is a lot of people's idea of a "normal" sized phone, a Pixel 6A 32% longer, and 22% wider. It's also 30% heavier.

sanitycheck 3y ago

Apart from everything else, having to remove the battery to access the microSD card is a weird choice. Android has always been able to handle SD swapping without a restart, and an Android cold start takes quite a long time (unlike the old phones which this design harks back to). Who's it for? Those very few Guardian readers that can be lured away from their iPhones by the promise of being eco-friendly.

SiempreViernes 3y ago
Wait, are you saying you don't want this phone because you can't hotswap the sim card untethered?
Scandiravian 3y ago
I'm getting one. I'm currently on a galaxy note 9, which hasn't received updates for a year. The hardware is still plenty fast for what I use my phone for, but since I have my banking app on the phone, I don't feel comfortable continuing to use it without security patches The microphone also broke around a year ago and though it's possible to replace it, it's not a simple fix, so I've accepted I need to have a headset nearby at all times The FP5 wouldn't have the same issues. I wouldn't have to spend any money on a new phone for almost a decade and if something breaks I can fix it pretty cheaply myself To me those are the most important considerations when picking a new phone and there's not really any other product that I think is competitive on those parameters
sneeze-slayer 3y ago
It's true, removing the battery is mildly annoying. But I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have added or removed a microSD card from my phone. It's just not something I do regularly--Get a new phone, plug it in, and forget. Maybe remove it every few months to back it up to my computer.
- sanitycheck 3y ago
  I pop mine in and out all the time, it's been the quickest way to move large files on/off the phone ever since Android lost USB mass storage support. MTP & PTP are horrible.

pcurve 3y ago

Can't they charge $2-300 more and put in better chip and camera?

iopq 3y ago
Actually no, because they had to use a Qualcomm QCM6490 industrial SoC to get that long support contract https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/fairphone-5-sets-a-new-standard-with-8-10-years-of-android-support/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/fairphone-5-sets-a-n...

xorcist 3y ago

No 3.5mm plug? Not for me then. I never want to charge an extra device again. I also never want to find a pair of plugs that fit me, again. It is a mystery to me why this use case is apparently so unique that there is no market for me.

cooperadymas 3y ago
There is a market for you, but it's not a very big one. Sony in particular plays to this market, but you can see from their dwindling sales, that it's rather niche.
- bigstrat2003 3y ago
  Sony would probably have better luck if their phones weren't so incredibly expensive. As a fellow headphone jack requirer, I would love to buy a Sony phone. But I can't afford one.
  - Kirby64 3y ago
    If you can afford a Fairphone 5, it seems a Sony is within your budget. Sure, they make a $1600 phone, but they also make multiple phones that are much cheaper or similarly priced. Xperia 5 III (what a horrible name): $600 Xperia 10 V (again, terrible name): $400 Xperia 1 IV: $755 (same price as Fairphone) All 3 have headphone jacks.
    - bigstrat2003 3y ago
      I honestly have never seen a Sony phone which was less than $1000. Perhaps I just looked in the wrong places, but that's what my comment was based on. I agree that a phone costing $400-700 is not an unreasonably high price, but I just wasn't aware of the existence of the models you mentioned.
wilsonnb3 3y ago
Because you can use a USB c adapter if you still want to use wired headphones

bullen 3y ago

We need vanilla linux, Android is poisoning the well. Pinetab-V is the only portable device that seems to work in the right direction. The GPU driver is still broken though so until then don't get your hope up. And I know that phone != tablet... but really soon I will not need my phone.

teva 3y ago
They sell the F4 with /e/OS
- dustyharddrive 3y ago
  That’s an Android ROM and can’t provide the longevity of mainline Linux.
_5ygc 3y ago
I agree, but first we’d need vanilla Linux working very well on laptops. If we can’t fix that, I don’t see how phones will fare better, what with their crazy amount of components and non-OSS compatible vendors.
- fsflover 3y ago
  Using Linux on laptops for 10+ years without any problem. Just buy it preinstalled.
- bullen 3y ago
  I think specific devices will have more likely positive outcome over time as chips don't become more performant = the design wont be obsolete and still sell many years later. Modular devices (laptops are a mix of many modems, displays, sound, disk etc.) have had more edge case bugs because the volume is too low per generation to warrant fixes.
- megous 3y ago
  Compared to laptops, smartphones have more sensors, and more complicated camera setup. That's about it. They're not significantly more complicated than laptops.

Audiophilip 3y ago

Lack of headphone jack is a deal breaker for me, unfortunately.

tomwheeler 3y ago
Same. I'd absolutely buy one if they had this basic feature.

garyrob 3y ago

I must admit I'm having trouble relating to the strong desire to have a phone that's more repairable than an iPhone. There have been a couple times I've had a problem with my iPhone under AppleCare. I've gone to my nearest Apple Store, and pretty quickly walked out with a new iPhone that works perfectly and contains all my data and, for all practical purposes, is exactly as if my old one never broke. That seems pretty repairable to me, on the axes I care about. It does mean I have to pay for AppleCare, but my guess is that on average you're not going to get away much more cheaply with years of use of a more "repairable" phone. I'd be interested in seeing counterarguments. I'm not trying to dispute anyone's claims about repairability. I just honestly don't get it. [Update: the main thing I'm getting from responses is that people care about their being low-cost, easily repairable phones for people who can't afford iPhones and Apple Care; the enthusiasm is empathy-based. That makes a lot of sense to me. I don't know of a source for actually comparing long-term costs, though. Are you sure the repairable phones are actually cheaper to own, long-term? Arguments about the environment make less sense to me since the broken phone is refurbished and used again. I asked, and I got useful answers. Thanks, HN! I've gotten a lot of downvotes for this question, though, which mystifies me... why downvote an honest question? It seems unfriendly and uncharitable.]

schnuri 3y ago
It’s more about sustainability.
- Klonoar 3y ago
  I mean... no. Apple publishes breakdowns/reports of their recycling efforts and it's pretty damn good for what it is, and these devices now last a very long time if you don't feel like chasing the yearly upgrade train. The selling point of the Fairphone is moreso that it's: - Attempting to pay fair wages to workers - Not Apple, for those who just don't want an Apple device - More (user) repair-able These are all very valid reasons to want to use something like the Fairphone and I am glad it exists, and it might even be my next phone - but to imply that it wins out over the iPhone trade-in-and-get-it-recycled flow is just bonkers.

sysadm1n 3y ago

Anyone using a FP as a daily driver?

lawn 3y ago
I use a FP4 and it's been great so far. I love the replaceable battery, the close to stock Android and it seems to be built very well (having dropped it many, many times). Mot being Apple, Samsung or Google is a great plus.
- wolverine876 3y ago
  How have you benefitted from the replaceable battery? I like the idea, but when does it come in handy?
  - jlkuester7 3y ago
    On almost every phone I have owned, battery degradation is the primary complaint that I have after the first few years of use. Unfortunately, when the battery is just glued to the back of the screen, what should be a cheep and easy fix, has become impossibly risky. Instead, I am left nursing a dying battery to the point where, for one phone, I would carry an external battery pack everywhere since my phone battery could not last the day...
  - lawn 3y ago
    When I travel I bring a spare battery. Then I don't have to keep charging the phone all the time, and sometimes it might not be possible. With a spare that's one thing less to worry about. The second thing is battery degradation. After a while the amount of charge will drop, and replacing it with a new and fresh battery feels like giving the phone new life.
funcrush 3y ago
I've been using a FP4 for the last year it is fine as a basic phone however: - I've needed to have it repaired under warranty as some of the mics didn't work. - I've needed to get their long life usb cable replaced under warranty. The connectors on the ends seem pretty flimsy and will break over time. - For software updates they tend to be every 1-2 months with bug fixes and security patches, major Android versions take more than a year so when they talk about 5 years of software support it is more like 3 year stretched out to 5.

poulpy123 3y ago

the lack of jack and the not great camera is unfortunately a deal breaker, although I'm not sure I would afford it anyway. but the idea is great and i hope if will find its success

rajeshmr 3y ago

Fairphone would easily be a big hit in the Indian Market, i figure. If there are any fairphone folks here, please do consider to bring this phone in the Indian market. I would love to own a Fairphone. At the bare minimum, all smartphones should allow for easy battery replacement like they do in Fairphone. (This was the norm, before the iphones and the androids took over)

xctr94 3y ago
It’s 699€ in Europe; not sure about the price in India. But that feels prohibitive for my budget, so I imagine it’s expensive for the average Indian consumer?
- FirmwareBurner 3y ago
  Even in Europe that's a lot of cheese. People with 700 Eruos to blow on a phone will most lively get a iPhone or Samsung flagship. The only people I know who own an Fairphone are other tech workers who browse HN a lot but that's a very small demographic.
  - sambazi 3y ago
    the only ppl i know who own an fairphone are semi tech-literate and not interested in the specs or the price. they are all disappointed with the camera and build quality in general but cherish the fairness.
    - rajeshmr 3y ago
      well am in the tech industry, and i would like to own a fairphone purely for the repairability and replaceability and the extended life span. Agreed, the camera might be sub-par, but with this level of repairability, if fairphone can enable certified third-party parts, then we could replace the camera ourselves with certified better quality cameras in the future right ? Also, the phone industry, especially the biggies are into planned obsolescence of their products in pursuit of more and more profits. I personally do not prefer replacing my phone every few years, and going through the hassle of backing up the files and setting up the new phone etc. I want a device that just works and isn't a botheration to maintain and upkeep for long. The lifespan of products were much longer not too long ago, before the corporate interests figured out planned obsolescence. I remember as a kid, the products we purchased at our home, lasted much through my adolescence and into my adult life. For example, the radio which we bought worked for years without wasting much time of fixing it up every now and then, just a couple of batteries would last a really long time. All it needed was large batteries. I would prefer products that have a longer lifespan than being at the cutting edge, and wasting precious time chasing the latest and greatest. I have better interests to attend to :)

sufficer 3y ago

I got iphone 15 ads on an android site on an article about this phone lol

roshin 3y ago

Yikes, the screen is 6.46 inch . I guess this phone is not meant for people who want one handed phones. Oh well, my search for an open phone that can be used with one hand continues.

daft_pink 3y ago

It's nice and maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I find that my iPhone never breaks and this is not a big issue as the phone is really well made. Unlike my Apple laptop with a butterfly keyboard.....

rldjbpin 3y ago

from all the discussions on fp5 here, i can definitely say that they are catering to a very tough crowd. it is a shame that they still don't seem to have found a rythmn in long-term hardware support after all these years. given how fast the rest of industry moves between the infrequent releases, each new model ends up being so different from the previous one. so it is hard to see a future where they can reuse older parts and hence be more likely to sell them for longer. i had a laptop that was easy to repair, but i could not find its replacement battery within two years of its release, which defeated the purpose of having that ability. if existing userbase are having trust issues with fairphone's parts supply long-term, it will be a hard sell for many who can put up with the phone's tradeoffs in the name of repairability. i do hope for their success so that at least third parties can support the phone for the near future. maybe it will be there for my next-to-next upgrade.