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Dutch smartphone company Fairphone has achieved something remarkable: a phone that could last a decade.
The ethical pioneer leading the way in repairable devices has just launched the Fairphone 5. It’s a slimmer, lighter and more refined device compared to its predecessors and makes leaps and bounds in terms of longevity, repairability and quality.
Priced at £649 (€699), it is more expensive than previous models but offers up to 10 years of software support – unheard of in the smartphone industry and an important step towards tackling tech waste.
The most notable improvement on the new device is the display, now a crisp OLED that runs at 90Hz for smooth scrolling and is bright enough for most situations, though it does struggle some in bright sunlight.
The device feels solid and durable, but it does look a little dated compared to more modern designs. It has IP55 water resistance, meaning it can withstand rain, spray, or splashes without any problems, but not a drop in a pool.
The stereo speakers are fine, but can’t compare to those on an iPhone or Samsung. The vibration motor is quite powerful, but sounds a bit hollow for keystrokes and alerts. Call quality is good, and you can use a nano and an e-SIM card at the same time for two lines on a single phone.
Budget
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Screen: 6.46-inch QHD+ OLED display (460 ppi)
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Processor: Qualcomm QCM6490
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RAM: 8 GB
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Storage: 256GB + micro SD card slot
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Operating system: Fairphone OS based on Android 13
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Camera: 50MP dual rear camera, 50MP selfie camera
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Connectivity: 5G, eSIM+NanoSIM, wifi6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 and GPS
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Water resistance: IP55 (spray/splash)
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Dimensions: 161.6 x 75.83 x 9.6 mm
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Weight: 212 grams
Long-lasting chip and removable battery
The latest Fairphone has an unusual chip at its core. The Qualcomm QCM6490 It’s designed primarily for a wide range of commercial systems, not phones, but it works just as well in the Fairphone, with roughly the same performance as a mid-range Snapdragon 782 phone chip from last year.
That means it won’t win any awards for performance, but it’s faster than its predecessor, feels snappy for everyday tasks, and is capable of playing moderate games. Its big advantage is long-term support, allowing for at least five Android version upgrades and eight years of security updates – and Fairphone intends to extend that time to a total of 10 years from launch – something no other manufacturer offers, with the best ones maxing out at between six and seven years.
The Fairphone also has a microSD card slot so you can add storage easily and cheaply.
Battery life is about average, at around 36 hours between charges, including active screen use for more than five hours at 90Hz (the faster of the two available speeds) and two hours on 5G. That means you’ll typically need to charge every night or every other day for lighter use.
The battery takes 66 minutes to fully recharge using a 30W or higher power adapter (not included), and reaches 50% in 21 minutes. However, you can also swap the battery in seconds, so you can carry a spare if you need the phone to last longer.
Sustainability
Fairphone says the battery will maintain at least 80% of its original capacity for over 1,000 full charge cycles and that a replacement or spare costs £36.
The Fairphone 5 has a five-year warranty. Users can repair the phone themselves with 10 modular spare parts Available, and only a standard screwdriver is required to install. A replacement screen costs £90, the back £22, while other components cost between £18 and £62.
Fairphone recycles the equivalent weight (212g) of electronics for every phone sold, making it e-waste neutral. Fair trade gold and silverethically sourced lithium and tungsten, and recycled aluminum, copper, indium, magnesium, nickel, plastic, rare earths, tin and zinc. The company also increases the pay of its contract manufacturing workers to a living wage.
Fairphone OS
The phone comes with stock Android 13 with no unnecessary bells and whistles, beyond a preloaded My Fairphone app for service and support. That means it’s plenty fast to run, but it lacks the features and extensive customization options that a Google or Samsung phone might have. It has full access to the Google Play store and Google’s various services, so it’s not short on apps and should feel familiar to anyone who’s used an Android device in the past five years.
With eight to ten years of security updates, you’ll be able to safely run Android on the Fairphone for longer than on any other device. But the Fairphone also allows users to install another operating system if they wish, such as Linux or other versions of Android, which may be attractive to tinkerers or those looking to break free from Google services.
Camera
The phone has a pair of 50-megapixel cameras on the back and a 50MP selfie camera.
The main camera is the best, taking reasonable images in good light, but can sometimes struggle with a lack of colour uniformity compared to rivals. The ultra-wide camera is decent, but lacks detail, especially at the edges of photos. Both struggle in low light, producing photos that may be bright enough, but blurry and lacking in detail.
The same goes for the selfie camera, which captures solid images in good light but can lose quality in bright or backlit conditions and struggles in low light.
The phone has a macro photography mode that uses the ultra-wide camera (which is fun), a pro mode with manual controls, slow-motion video at up to 240 frames per second, and standard video at up to 4K at 30 frames per second. But the camera is the Fairphone’s weakest point. It’s possible to get good shots with it, but overall it can’t match mainstream rivals with big advantages in the software needed to get the most out of the hardware.
Price
The Fairphone 5 costs £649 (€699) and will be available in stores from September 14 throughout Europe.
For comparison, the Fairphone 4 costs £479The Nothing Phone 2 costs £579, the Google Pixel 7a costs £449The Nokia G22 costs £139 and the iPhone 14 costs £849
Verdict
The Fairphone 5 is another big step forward in the fight against waste in the smartphone industry, with the Dutch manufacturer proving to other manufacturers that long-term support is possible.
Up to 10 years of software updates is unheard of, so it gets an extra star. Plus, the Fairphone is simple enough to repair that the hardware will last just as long with an occasional quick and cheap battery change. It also comes with a five-year warranty and is made from as much recycled and ethically sourced materials as possible. Aside from a slightly bulkier design and a plastic back, it doesn’t look out of the ordinary.
My main concern is how the chip at the heart of the Fairphone will fare: something that’s fine now may become painfully slow in a decade. Only time will tell. The camera is also a weak point. It’ll be fine for the occasional photo, but it simply can’t compete with even cheaper competitors, which have a huge software advantage.
The most ethical, repairable and durable phone on the market costs around £200 to purchase, compared to its direct competitors which cost around £450. However, when you factor in longevity and low cost of repairs, the Fairphone is better value for money.
The Fairphone 5 is an important and excellent device for those looking to support the company’s ethical, repairable movement, as long as they’re willing to make compromises to do so.
Advantages: Eight to ten years of software support, truly home repairable, ethical manufacturing, recycled and sustainable materials, good display, 5G, microSD card slot, removable battery, bloat-free, five-year warranty.
Cons: Mid-range performance, a bit thick, expensive for the specs, average camera, can’t be submerged in water, software lacks features, no headphone jack, fingerprint scanner is hard to reach for left-handed people.