my mum bought a fairphone 3 about 5 years ago and is extremely happy with it, so far she’s gone through one usb-c port and one battery. it looks and feels exactly like a normal phone but it pops open with just 4 screws. helping her fix it has taught me that phone manufacturers could make repairable phones easily and they all just choose not to
I used to run a small electronics repair business and you are 1 billion percent correct. Slowly watching things over the years become unrepairable was just such an obvious business decision for profit over customer satisfaction. There is absolutely no reason to make those changes unless you have a profit driven motive. So so so many electronics used to be like the fairphone your mom has. Pop it open, take out what’s broke, replace it with some OEM or 3rd party part you bought for like 2 dollars and you’re all set. It’s so frustrating nowadays with how purposefully difficult manufacturers make any repairability. Can’t even change a damn battery in your phone now! lol
I remember the glory days where my alarm would go off for school and I’d just take the battery out of my phone to get it to shut up
Man I remember when my Mom was actually able to fix a VCR at home with simple tools as well. That VCR lasted as long as sears repaired shops and then they were out of business and the VCR was out for good.
The situation won’t improve until some big company goes full “IBM PC” thing with open AT, ISA, VESA, etc tier standards for phones.
This phone is better just because you can open the case. Spare parts are still provided by a single company. Not a big step ahead.
Better than nothing though…
Better than Nothing though.
Nothing phone has a pretty average repairability score, so I’d assume so.
the wheels of justice turn slowly 🐌
As long as they aren’t preventing third party components, they can become the phone version of full “ibm pc”
Every purchase is additional incentive for thirty parties to enter the market.
With all respect, I still think an iPhone is a better chance at having spare parts many years ahead. I am confident I can find some spare parts of iPhone 4S. Would that hold for FairPhone or a similar phone? If not, the benefit is an illusion. Unless, I think, you can produce that part yourself.
First party spare parts or third party sketchy spare parts?
Spare part availability comes partly from the popularity of a phone, and iPhones were pretty popular.
Fairphone is just starting to get some steam, so third party spare part may start appearing in the future. same for used parts.Fairphones got a lot better lately. I got both the 4, 5, and now gen 6, and the latest one feels like a good phone, unless the FP4 which is a brick in comparison. Still lacks several Flagship feature (wireless charging, amongs other), but as a mid-range phone it is quite good.
And the repeatability is great. I repaired my FP4 once (usb-c port), and it was easy as heck.
It’s great to hear, thanks for the feedback!
I meant any spare parts, so in your terms they are sketchy spare parts, I guess. Yet, it’s better than nothing though.
My primary concern is the software part though. I have plenty of phones that never broke, but all of them hit the software wall and it was just easier to buy a newer model.
With unofficial parts you can get anything, from very good parts to outright dangerous ones (especially batteries).
The problem with IPhone is their association system (which is illegal in the EU BTW). Understandable with those dangerous part on the market, but far too overcharging. They could just warn you during boot or something like that.
As for the software wall, it is where Fairphones shines. Even when the official support ends, the custom ROMs keeps updating for a while. IPhones are great on that aspect too, Samsungs are OK, but can’t say for other brands.
Honestly, how’s the camera on the 6? I’ve been pixel mostly because I want to take pictures of my son without regretting later.
I’m okay with the camera on the 6, but no it’s not as good as a Pixel, nor does it open and take pictures as quickly.
I’m not that much into photos, so I can’t really judge. In my book, it is OK.
If you want to get good pictures, nothing will ever beat a dedicated camera, even a mid-range one is way better than a smartphone, even an high-end one, due to the size limitations.
That’s not true. You can still get dedicated cameras that are much worse.
Low-range, yes. Mid-range, no. As soon as you get de decent quality camera, given you know how to use it, you’ll always get better result than smartphones.
But an iPhone 4S nowadays is completely unusable, it’s impossibile to run a browser that doesn’t use a ten years old engine. For reference, a galaxy Nexus from the same age could run android 6 (custom ROM, otherwise android 4.3) and can still run most modern apps.
If you can find parts for the iphone 4s it’s because some warehouse is still full of them, not because Apple is still manufacturing them if needed
Yes, I do agree. If only Apple allowed compete and true removal of some apps (not hiding them, but completely removing some system apps), and allowed Safari upgrades, that would be quite decent phone for an average light use. I’d use it, I think.
Also, since we dream here, if the system was open source and drivers too, and all that… theoretically, we could run a slimmed down OS that would allow some apps to run.
My point is, in some sibling comment, that software is more of a problem than hardware. I have a usable (hardware wise) iPhone 4S, but it’s useless software-wise.
Doesn’t matter how many spare parts you can get if the device simply refuses to function after replacing them.
If it supported GrapheneOS I would be using one too.
The choice of only supporting Pixels comes from GrapheneOS’s side, not Fairphone. Fairphone got some great ROMs support, and even have an official partnership with one of them (e/OS).
I love Fairphones, but GrapheneOS developers are very clear on why they son’t support phones other than Pixels. If other phones complied with those requirements, they would support them. I really hoped the OEM they’re working with to support from another brand would be Fairphone, but the most educated guess I’ve seen is Motorola
Yes but also no, the fairphone doesn’t meet the extensive list of requirements required to maintain the goal of GrapheneOS - List of requirements for devices
Some of those requirements are really hard to get for non-Google devices. EOM don’t get updates as early as Google engineers gets. It takes time to validate everything, especially since their don’t control their own hardware.
Those requirements are more a way to not appear like dicks by telling that they’ll only supports Pixels.
No, the Fairphone hardware platform doesn’t meet minimal security features of the GOS project. You could say they chose not to compromise on security rather.
Which is alright. It’s their project after all. I find myself very happy from my Murena Fairphone (except the launcher, which I hate), so I’ll probably be a good Fairphone/Murena client for the years to come.
You could switch the launcher, right?
I did, I use Lawnchair.
Oh ok, cool 👍
I know that. So I stand corrected that I should have written “If it were supported by GrapheneOS…”
Doesn’t change, that its a show stopper for me, though.
That’s fair. We all have our needs, and I find mine in Fairphone + e/OS, which is nice. And when I upgrade, I get to give my parents an almost new, still supported phone, which is nice.
I’m running e/os on my FP6 and it’s a great de googled alternative!
I’m using GrapheneOS on a Pixel 7a which I bought just to flash it. Google Android just ran on it for the obligatory update before the flashing. It’s just very secure and that’s what I like about it. I’m not so sure about /e/ even though it’s being supported by semi prominent people here in DACH.
For me any concerns about e/os are overshadowed by buying one of the most sustainable and “ethical” phones there are currently available, and not supporting google.
Buying a Pixel isn’t automatically supporting Google. You can get them secondhand.
You’re indirectly helping Google though. If the second hand market is better for Pixels than other devices because of Graphene, then people are more willing to buy Pixels, so Google sells more of them.
The secondhand market for GrapheneOS users is a fraction of a fraction of Google’s overall Pixel sales. Saying you’re supporting Google by using GrapheneOS is a stretch even by the loosest definition and only serves to detract from literally the best OS you can use for privacy and security.
Exactly this!
By using /e/ os you are supporting google because /e/ os is not degoogled
/e/ os is not degoogled
How is it not degoogled?
Calls home to Google constantly ootb https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm
Where does it say that specifically? The table is not mobile friendly.
According to e/os themselves, it is degoogled…
Where does it say that specifically?
See the row labeled “degoogling”
According to e/os themselves, it is degoogled…
Sorry but they are liars. The only truly degoogled android OSs are GrapheneOS and the experimental mobile linux ones.
I really wish these alternative OSs were more truthful in how they portray themselves. They might not be terrible options for certain people and they might have good intentions but the dishonesty really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. There are so many who are misled.
Yeah unfortunate that it doesn’t, I imagine the market overlap for those two things is high
every post about fairphone, there’s always one comment like this
deleted by creator
I recently moved from an iPhone 11 Pro to a Fairphone (Fairphone Gen 6), and it’s been a genuinely great change.
It’s made me realise how little I actually use most of the features you end up paying extra for in flagship phones. Because of that, I’m really looking forward to keeping this device for five years or more.
The only thing I occasionally miss is camera quality especially at concerts or when travelling but it’s a small trade-off rather than a deal-breaker. I’d love to see future Fairphone models improve on this.
Hopefully, Fairphone helps set a trend as more people start looking for products that are ethically sourced, repairable and built to last.
Ya I just want to browse , bank, text and msg and call.
Still running a FP4, only replaced the battery and the charging port. No further issues, works like a charm.
Love that, can’t wait to rock the FP6 for as long as possible!
I asked someone else, but I hope you don’t mind me asking you as well… With the FP6, 5g works as well? Any issues with MMS or RCS messages? Visual voicemail works fine?
I am trying to find a new phone, and while there are a few different companies making repairable phones, (Fair phone, HMD, shift) most of them are aimed at EU markets, so I want to make sure that a majority of the features also work in the US. My goal it’s to find something that will work for me, my wife and my in laws that won’t be a hassle. (Because, I do the tech support for all of them, and ideally I’d love to support just 1 device)
Ask away, I have no issue with anything you mentioned inside The Netherlands so I assume the majority of the features would work in the US as well. As they promise a good working phone in the regions they sell. (To keep in mind i do run android not e/os/!)
Do they work on US networks?
Yup! I daily drive a Fairphone 6 with Mint Mobile in the US.
Awesome! And just to clarify, 5g works as well? Any issues with MMS or RCS messages? Visual voicemail works?
I ask because I am actively looking for a replacement for my 4a, it really is at its end of life at this point.
I was also considering some Nokia/HMD phones,as they made good scores on the ifixit repairability scale. Apparently HMD (who actually make Nokia phones) has a whole line of phones where their goal was modularity/repairability. It’s just been unclear which of these phones actually work on US networks.
There’s also shift phones out of Germany, but same deal, will they work on US networks?
I’m guessing the EU has some incentive programs to help these phones exist, but as a result, they’re mostly aimed at EU markets and networks.
Yeah, 5G works (I’m on it at the moment!). No issues with MMS, but I haven’t tested RCS since I’m on /e/OS (which doesn’t support RCS as far as I’m aware - I just use SMS/MMS and Matrix). The visual voicemail functionality in the stock /e/OS Phone app doesn’t work with Mint Mobile, but the T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app does work.
It all boils down to drivers, if those are not open source (and they usually are not), then phone upgradability depends on them
Yes and no, Fairphone has actually managed to reverse engineer some of the drivers for its old phones to provide android upgrades years after the component manufacturers have dropped support. The Fairphone 2, for instance, received a little over 7 years of support and 4 major version upgrades, skipping one on the way. For the Fairphone 5, they’ve promised 10 years of software support, and judging by their track record, I believe them. They also open source as much as they can and even give instructions on how to build the OS yourself.
Of course, open source drivers would be better, but that doesn’t exist at the moment, unfortunately. At this point, Fairphone is one of the companies that comes closest (with Shiftphone being a close rival).
Fingers crossed
That said, I like FP very much, but it’ll eventually hit the software block.
That’s exactly the issue, and the bigger one. Theoretically, Google Pixel 1 could be upgraded software-wise with the newest Android, while the hardware can work longer. So, I’m not really interested in repairability (except the battery replacement, obviously) as much as in software longevity.
My iPhone 4s is still going strong, even despite numerous falls. The software though, it made it useless. I use one as a digital voice recorder sometimes, but that’s the only idea I had. It can shoot nice pictures too (in a bright daylight), and be a nice smartphone for a kid. (Because it’s very limited, and also small, and also cheap.) But the software made it useless.
Indeed, this is really infuriating. They are forcing use to throw away perfectly working hardware in name of profits.
Has anyone tried loading KDE Plasma Mobile onto one of these?
The Fairphone team has tried to help with mainline Linux support: https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Fairphone_(Gen._6)_(fairphone-fp6)
Is plasma mobile any good?
I haven’t had a chance to try it, myself, but the developments on their site looks promising. I’ve heard it’s pretty functional, but it’s lacking in battery optimization, and compatible devices.
I really value the camera on my phone, since it is essentially my main camera and I enjoy taking pictures. I might rather lean into graphene-ing this pixel than a fair phone, unfortunately. But probably not purchase a future pixel, since they abandoned the physical SIM slot
My 9 has one. (Canada)
Same, my 9 (us) does too. But I heard going forward they want to be eSIM only
*in the US
I replaced the power button and battery on my android phone. Managed to fix it by watching YouTube tutorials.
Well they finally delivered a decent camera. That’s what made me buy one. It’s a step down from a Pixel 8 Pro but not a huge one.
I’ve been running a Fairphone 6 for about 6 months now and it’s by far the buggiest phone I’ve ever used. I’d love to keep using it until the security updates stop but it’s already such a miserable experience already I can’t imagine how bad it’ll be in a few years time.
It’s been fine for me
I bought a Fairphone 5 when they were somewhat new and immediately flashed an alternative ROM onto it (CalyxOS at the time, though now it’s iodeOS as Calyx appears to have gone on hiatus).
Nothing terrible bug-wise, but I have already had to return the phone to be repaired for a fault I couldn’t repair by swapping parts out myself… Which considering it’s apparently got a number of years ahead of it before it officially gets dropped is a bit worrying.
Seriously? Like what did you put on it? I love mine. I basically removed MicroG and kept the basic ecosystem. Got Fdroid. Replaced voice recorder, calendar, call app with Fossify. Put an RSS feed on with Lemmy app, Peer tube, Searchix, and Tuta. Absolutely zero issues. You need to disable the MicroG call home though. Can you reset to factory and just use trusted apps?
If you’re miserable, then something is wrong.
I don’t have MicroG I’m just using the stock ROM with Play Services. I too replaced most the default apps with foss options with Fossify being a big chunk of them. It’s not the apps that are the issue, it’s the Fairphone software.
Since my original comment I’ve already bought a second hand Galaxy S25 Edge as I haven’t tried Samsung since the Galaxy S3. Not exactly the privacy focused experience I’d ideally like but the Fairphone is becoming unusable after only 3 months. There’s no way I’d be using it in 7 years.
I have had mine 3 months. Never going back. Samsung has a partnership with Google. They take all your data and.call home a lot. Start monitoring through NextDNS and start blocking the domains and you’ll see. I’d just reset.or reinstall and try again. Something sounds off.
I’ve already tried a reset and the issues persist. I’ve just lost faith with Fairphone. I took a photo yesterday, the preview in the camera app shows a photo has been taken. If i click the preview I get a “failed to load media” warning and if I open the gallery app or file manager the photo is nowhere to be seen. This simply isn’t good enough. They’ve been well known for buggy software all over the internet so I’m not entirely surprised.
If you get to where you want to sell it, let me know. I just might be interested if it’s on a good day.
I’m interested in this brand and their Gen 6. I kind of wish I was in the market for a phone. Unfortunately I bought a used Pixel 6 three years ago and everything is just fine with it 😄
My 5yo Pixel 6 inflated just last Friday. I panic-ordered a Pixel 9a, but since Google didn’t fulfill my supplier’s shipment, I cancelled and switched to a Fairphone today. It’ll arrive tomorrow. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I am leaning toward Fairphone to replace my Apple.
I will have to consider Fairphone when I am looking for my next phone. Looking at their site, my only hesitation is about water resistance. I understand that repairability comes at the cost of making everything glued and sealed shut, but I drop my phone in water once every couple of years. If that risks killing it, it is not going to be a phone that will last long in my hands.
Have you considered not dropping your phone in water?
I have, but decided against it. I am clumsy and my hands are big enough to barely use my phone one handed (but not hold it securely when I do).
Hard to avoid when you have a toddler and dog bowls around…
Is it?
I feel like people have had toddlers and dog bowls for a long time, and that people in the past have been ableto keep certain things away from water successfully. Perhaps if you have increased opportunities to get the phone wet, you should take extra precautions.
With an IP55 rating, I would assume it can resist a drop in water. As long as you don’t stare at it for multiple minutes and do get it out asap.
I would hope, but I would want to check reviews to be sure.
It’s got a rating. Not sure if water resistant or proof. They didnplan for it to be in rainy environments. Also, phone is modular and repairable by design.
It is rated as water resistant, capable of withstanding a jet of water.
Repairability depends on what breaks. If water getting into the phone fries the CPU, it does not seem fixable. Glancing at the site, I could not find a part on sale, probably because the cost of a replacement part would cost almost as much as replacing the phone.
I assume they just haven’tspent the money for higher IPS ratings?
If anyone is looking for a Canadian or international order, I just found this U.K. site which multiple threads of Reddit have been talking about. They offer shipping tracking.
https://www.clove.co.uk/products/fairphone-gen-6
https://www.reddit.com/r/fairphone/comments/kkd44p/is_there_a_way_to_get_a_fairphone_in_canada/
I like the look of these but I would much rather to not use Android again. It appears that they’re trying to port Ubuntu Touch over and the Postmarket wiki shows some functionality is not all there. Interesting to see this coming along though.
I have no complaints. Went from Samsung S25 Ultra to FF6.
