Apple has a reputation for having the best software support in the smartphone world, but when iOS 16 arrived in 2022, it was only for phones from 2017 onwards: 2016’s iPhone 7 and iPhone SE were discontinued. It’s better than Android manufacturers, who only do OS updates for four years at most… well, it’s better than most Android manufacturers.
The Dutch company Fairphone has caused a sensation with its fifth generation phone: using an industrial Qualcomm chip, it can promise support for 8 years (with an option to extend it to 10 years). This means security patches, but the company is also aiming for “at least” 5 OS updates from Android 13 that the phone receives from the factory.
8 years (maybe 10) of software support for Fairphone 5
The Fairphone 5 can easily last for a long, long time. For starters, the company offers 5 years of warranty instead of the standard 2 years. And of course, what made Fairphone famous is the repairable design of its phones. Model 5 has ten modules that can be replaced individually by an inexperienced user: all you need is a prying tool and a Phillips screwdriver.
The Fairphone 5 has 10 modules that can be replaced individually
Well, the word “Fair” in “Fairphone” actually represents how the company sources components and materials and how its phones are built: this year’s phone is built with 70% fair and recycled materials and factory staff are paid a decent wage.
So, best phone ever? Let’s take a look at the specifications first. The Fairphone 5 costs €700/£650, compared to €580/£500 for the Fairphone 4. It’s a nice price increase and the Qualcomm QCM 6490 is only equivalent to a Snapdragon 778G or so – you can easily get an 8 Gen 2 in this price range.
Fairphone’s first HRR display, also the first punch hole
On the plus side, this year Fairphone switched to a higher resolution 90Hz OLED display, 6.46” 1,224 x 2,700px, versus a 60Hz, 6.3” 1,080 x 2,340px IPS LCD . The phone now also boasts stereo speakers, but there is no headphone jack.
Furthermore, the phone is equipped with three 50 MP cameras: a main module (1/1.56”, 1.0 µm) with OIS, an ultra wide-angle one (0.7 µm) and a selfie camera (0.74 µm ). All three can record 4K video at 30 fps. And note the lack of a notch: This is the company’s first punch-hole camera.
Higher quality cameras on the Fairphone 5 (50+50MP rear, 50MP front)
Further improvements include more RAM and storage in the base configuration (actually only), 8/256 GB versus 6/128 GB, which partially offsets the price increase. There’s also a larger 4,200mAh battery with faster 30W charging (up from 3,905mAh/20W), reaching 50% in 20 minutes (up from 30 minutes). And the water resistance has been upgraded from IP54 to IP55.
The battery and USB-C port are easy to replace
All in all this is a solid mid-range device and even though it has a higher price than a mid-range device, that cost will pay for itself over time. A current mid-range Android device could lose support after just 2-3 years, and even if it made it to 4-5 years, it would only equal the warranty of the Fairphone 5, regardless of its actual lifespan.
There is no direct competitor to the Fairphone 5, although the future looks bright. Apple recently did a 180° turn and announced support for Right To Repair invoices. Cupertino has also expanded its self-service repair program, rival Samsung has done the same. Additionally, the EU could force manufacturers to make batteries easier to replace. But that’s in the future, Fairphone is here today and does auto repair better than any other company.
Fairphone 5 colors: Matte Black • Sky Blue • Transparent Edition
Checking the company’s online store, we see that the estimated delivery time has slipped to September 20-25 (it started on September 14). This suggests that there is demand for this device. Fairphones are niche devices, they sell tens of thousands rather than tens of millions like iPhones and Galaxys, so demand is still quite small.
Fairphone sales in 2022
Maybe it’s time for things to change: what do you think, is the company on the right track and will you get a Fairphone 5?
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