Fairphones have a worse record than any other phone I ever owned in regards to sustainability for me. The phones become unusable as soon as the new model releases due to their non existing software quality, and it seems that they just stop bothering with tests for their previous models.
I bought the Fairphone 4 for myself and the Fairphone 5 for my mother and both had software issues without end. In both cases the ability to make and receive phone calls broke after an android update. Imagine not being able to call emergency services because of a software update. Imagine dying because the developers at Fairphone didn’t bother to test their shit. That is not even mentioning that security updates were also always months late. I truly wanted to like them but I couldn’t be bothered with these broken phones anymore and bought a refurbished Pixel, for not even half the price of a Fairphone, and flashed it with GrapheneOS instead.
I use my phones until they start crashing due to battery issues.
Tends to be about 6 years for that to happen, at least with the mid range phones I tend to buy.
My Nexus 4 did not survive an intense summer of Pokemon Go, and my Huawei Honor whatever number it was eventually would die just from opening the camera. I’d get the batteries replaced, but by the time they die I’m feeling the age of them even more than in my knees.
Me and my family just changed like 3 phone batteries for fucking change. Local shop charges 50RON (Ro) (10 EUR) per battery change WITH LABOR. New batteries installed. All reporting 101% in Accubattery, from 60-70% before. Can you guys not get cheap battery replacements?
I agree and that was the reason I initially chose a Fairphone but the promised 7 years of security updates also turned out to be a half-truth, after three years I only got quarterly security updates. I tolerated four years of buggy software the update that broke the phone part of my smartphone was just the last nail in the coffin.
I’ve also heard (too lazy to look up a source) but they don’t make their phone entirely “fairly” either, because apparently like with chocolates it is just very difficult to do without having exploitation be a part of your logistics chain and still make a feasible product.
Only if you still get security updates for those 7 years, which is I think the case with the Pixels, and some Samsung flagships, but is very far from being the norm. You don’t want a non-updated phone.
Edit: of course that also works if you can switch to an alternate rom that does receive the updates.
not necessarily. Plenty of exploits do not rely on links or downloads, and there’s a whole class of “zero-click” exploits. Usually, such critical vulnerabilities are quickly patched. But after a system stops receiving updates, they can add up.
This is probably the main point - not buying a new phone when the manufacturers release a new model.
I would add though that Fairphone are also improving the entire industry by not using cheap labour, paying fair wages and not using conflict materials, so there is more to this than just eWaste
But, I agree don’t scrap existing phones just to buy another - even if it is Fairphone
Isn’t the entire appeal of Fairphone that its modular and easy to repair?
I can’t extend my OnePlus for another 7 years because the charging port is flaky and the battery is burning out. The ringer switch is busted, so I can’t take my phone off silent. The camera’s focus is always a bit off. I can’t disassemble and fix the parts that are broken while keeping the bits that still work without getting a fucking engineering degree.
I gotta say, you had me until you cranked it to 11.
Not being able to call with a phone after an OS update is definitely a deal breaker. But “if I don’t have my phone on me, I’ll die” is the kind of hyperbole that has me doubt your entire testimonial.
Imagine dying wasn’t hyperbole it is a real concern of mine. I commute with a bicycle to work and also cycle a lot in my free time. I wouldn’t be the first cyclist injured or even killed in a hit and run accident, so a phone that is unable to make a emergency call when I need it is not something I am willing to risk.
It was referring to not being able to call emergency services, which may realistically lead to your death. It’s a fairly unlikely scenario, but not a completely crazy one. It’s just a highlight in a sea of issues. Or at least that’s how it looks to me, as I’ve never used a Fairphone. Some people say they work flawlessly.
For me Fairphone has been good. I bought my fp3 on release in 2019 for about 400 euro and it is still going strong today, 6 years later (I am in fact using it right now)
Not to say that there haven’t been software problems at all but it has not been that bad and was fixed over time.
Fairphones have a worse record than any other phone I ever owned in regards to sustainability for me. The phones become unusable as soon as the new model releases due to their non existing software quality, and it seems that they just stop bothering with tests for their previous models. I bought the Fairphone 4 for myself and the Fairphone 5 for my mother and both had software issues without end. In both cases the ability to make and receive phone calls broke after an android update. Imagine not being able to call emergency services because of a software update. Imagine dying because the developers at Fairphone didn’t bother to test their shit. That is not even mentioning that security updates were also always months late. I truly wanted to like them but I couldn’t be bothered with these broken phones anymore and bought a refurbished Pixel, for not even half the price of a Fairphone, and flashed it with GrapheneOS instead.
Bummer.
Also the best path for sustainability is to NOT BUY A NEW PHONE EVERY 2-3 YEARS.
Don’t buy fairphone. Try to run your current phone for 7 more years.
I use my phones until they start crashing due to battery issues.
Tends to be about 6 years for that to happen, at least with the mid range phones I tend to buy.
My Nexus 4 did not survive an intense summer of Pokemon Go, and my Huawei Honor whatever number it was eventually would die just from opening the camera. I’d get the batteries replaced, but by the time they die I’m feeling the age of them even more than in my knees.
I think you can change some batteries. Managed to change a pixel’s battery by myself using a hair drier.
Me and my family just changed like 3 phone batteries for fucking change. Local shop charges 50RON (Ro) (10 EUR) per battery change WITH LABOR. New batteries installed. All reporting 101% in Accubattery, from 60-70% before. Can you guys not get cheap battery replacements?
I tried giving them 2x the money and they straight up refused. These guys are crazy.
That’s awesome. What a low price.
I wonder if there is a boutique battery maker seller.
I think he’d do good business with people like us.
I agree and that was the reason I initially chose a Fairphone but the promised 7 years of security updates also turned out to be a half-truth, after three years I only got quarterly security updates. I tolerated four years of buggy software the update that broke the phone part of my smartphone was just the last nail in the coffin.
I’ve also heard (too lazy to look up a source) but they don’t make their phone entirely “fairly” either, because apparently like with chocolates it is just very difficult to do without having exploitation be a part of your logistics chain and still make a feasible product.
Citation needed^
And to be fair, at least they are trying.
Only if you still get security updates for those 7 years, which is I think the case with the Pixels, and some Samsung flagships, but is very far from being the norm. You don’t want a non-updated phone.
Edit: of course that also works if you can switch to an alternate rom that does receive the updates.
Or use an iPhone because they get updates for near a decade, but that’s the wrong tribe
If you don’t click on any weird links, you can still go without updates right?
not necessarily. Plenty of exploits do not rely on links or downloads, and there’s a whole class of “zero-click” exploits. Usually, such critical vulnerabilities are quickly patched. But after a system stops receiving updates, they can add up.
I have an old perfectly functional android phone that I like to use for playing games.
How would they know to target the phone?
I’d love to, but manufacturers are complete shit at supporting phones. Most don’t get security updates after 3 years.
This is probably the main point - not buying a new phone when the manufacturers release a new model.
I would add though that Fairphone are also improving the entire industry by not using cheap labour, paying fair wages and not using conflict materials, so there is more to this than just eWaste
But, I agree don’t scrap existing phones just to buy another - even if it is Fairphone
Isn’t the entire appeal of Fairphone that its modular and easy to repair?
I can’t extend my OnePlus for another 7 years because the charging port is flaky and the battery is burning out. The ringer switch is busted, so I can’t take my phone off silent. The camera’s focus is always a bit off. I can’t disassemble and fix the parts that are broken while keeping the bits that still work without getting a fucking engineering degree.
I won’t argue against necessity. If you can you should try, but you can only do what you can do.
Sure. But, again, the appeal of a modular phone is that it can last longer by design.
I gotta say, you had me until you cranked it to 11.
Not being able to call with a phone after an OS update is definitely a deal breaker. But “if I don’t have my phone on me, I’ll die” is the kind of hyperbole that has me doubt your entire testimonial.
Imagine dying wasn’t hyperbole it is a real concern of mine. I commute with a bicycle to work and also cycle a lot in my free time. I wouldn’t be the first cyclist injured or even killed in a hit and run accident, so a phone that is unable to make a emergency call when I need it is not something I am willing to risk.
If you’re hit by a car bad enough then I’d imagine the chances of your Florine breaking during a crash is pretty high, no?
Personally, my Florine is unbreakable.
It was referring to not being able to call emergency services, which may realistically lead to your death. It’s a fairly unlikely scenario, but not a completely crazy one. It’s just a highlight in a sea of issues. Or at least that’s how it looks to me, as I’ve never used a Fairphone. Some people say they work flawlessly.
For me Fairphone has been good. I bought my fp3 on release in 2019 for about 400 euro and it is still going strong today, 6 years later (I am in fact using it right now)
Not to say that there haven’t been software problems at all but it has not been that bad and was fixed over time.
Also had no big problems with my FP4
Same here with my FP3+
Skill issue