57 votes

Fairphone 5 - Android updates for five years and at least eight years of security updates; possibly upto ten years, keeping the phone active until 2033

Posted by Amun
Tags: android, phones.smart, repairability, sustainability, fairphone.5, author.ewan spence, source.forbes, short read, paywall
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2023/08/30/fairphone-5-preview-android-sustainable-repairable-modular-android/

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Title
Three Key Features Of The New Fairphone 5
Authors
Ewan Spence
Word count
376 words

8 comments

  1. [2]
    Amun
    Link
    Ewan Spence Fairphone continues to work as ethically as possible in the consumer electronics market.

    Ewan Spence

    Fairphone continues to work as ethically as possible in the consumer electronics market.

    It looks to source materials from sustainable sources and use recycled or ethically mined materials as much as possible (with the company quoting 70% of the handset uses these grades of materials).

    It also ensures a living wage is paid to those who work on the assembly line for the phone and its components.

    Fairphone’s approach shows that it is possible for manufacturers to make a difference and to show that consumers demand this approach.

    Just like its predecessors, the Fairphone 5 is a modular phone. With a regular screwdriver, you can disassemble the phone, remove the broken module, order a replacement from Fairphone, and screw it all back together.

    That software support window is five years of Android updates and at least eight years long for security updates; Fairphone has an ambition to take this out to ten years, keeping the phone active until 2033.

    12 votes
    1. kjw
      Link Parent
      I wish there were more companies focusing on things mentioned abouve.

      I wish there were more companies focusing on things mentioned abouve.

      5 votes
  2. [2]
    knocklessmonster
    Link
    I wish I could get the regular Android version for US networks, this would be my perfect phone and I'm shopping for a replacement slowly. I believe they're aiming to distribute a de-Googled...

    I wish I could get the regular Android version for US networks, this would be my perfect phone and I'm shopping for a replacement slowly. I believe they're aiming to distribute a de-Googled version like the 4 with a US partner.

    2 votes
    1. ButteredToast
      Link Parent
      I don't daily drive Android, but once the 5 comes to the US I'll probably buy one as an Android development device, because it's basically perfect for that: Long term support means it can be a...

      I don't daily drive Android, but once the 5 comes to the US I'll probably buy one as an Android development device, because it's basically perfect for that:

      • Long term support means it can be a primary test device for many years
      • Specs are somewhat representative of the typical device actual users might have
      • Battery can be easily replaced when it inevitably dies from being plugged for long periods

      Its cell band compatibility might not match US bands perfectly but that doesn't matter for a test device.

      1 vote
  3. AndreasChris
    Link
    If you wanna know more about the Fairphone 5, there's a collaboratively compiled, curated list of Fairphone 5 reviews and articles (in several languages) on the official Fairphone user forum:...

    If you wanna know more about the Fairphone 5, there's a collaboratively compiled, curated list of Fairphone 5 reviews and articles (in several languages) on the official Fairphone user forum:

    https://forum.fairphone.com/t/curated-list-of-reviews-for-the-fairphone-5/99369

    1 vote
  4. [3]
    zptc
    Link
    I didn't see this specifically mentioned on the website: The phone is meant to be repairable, but not necessarily upgradable, is that correct?

    I didn't see this specifically mentioned on the website: The phone is meant to be repairable, but not necessarily upgradable, is that correct?

    1. [2]
      TumblingTurquoise
      Link Parent
      For previous models you could upgrade individual components, such as the camera. Perhaps this new model will have the same kind of support.

      For previous models you could upgrade individual components, such as the camera. Perhaps this new model will have the same kind of support.

      1 vote
      1. AndreasChris
        Link Parent
        That was only the case for camera module of the Fairphone 3 to that of the Fairphone 3+. AFAIK there was no such thing before that and there is no such thing for the Fairphone 4. So I wouldn't bet...

        That was only the case for camera module of the Fairphone 3 to that of the Fairphone 3+. AFAIK there was no such thing before that and there is no such thing for the Fairphone 4. So I wouldn't bet on it.

        3 votes