Fairphone is now officially available in the United States

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Fairphone’s newly launched Gen 6+ handset is now sold directly in the US, drawing interest for its modular, repairable design, long support promises, and more ethical sourcing, but also criticism over its $650 price and mid‑range hardware. Commenters highlight practical drawbacks such as lack of Verizon band 13 support, USB 2.0 without DisplayPort Alt Mode, and no headphone jack, which limit appeal for power users and wired‑audio holdouts. A major point of contention is security: advocates of hardened Android argue Fairphone’s slow updates, weaker hardware security, and close alignment with /e/OS and Murena undermine its privacy claims, while others still see it as a meaningful step toward more sustainable smartphones.

US availability & carrier support

  • New direct US sales are seen as a big step, especially beyond the older FP4 via Murena.
  • Device lacks Verizon’s primary LTE band 13 and is “not certified” for Verizon; some pages list Verizon support while the carrier-compatibility page and band list contradict this.
  • Several commenters consider switching from Verizon to AT&T/T‑Mobile or MVNOs; others note US spectrum/carrier fragmentation as a longstanding problem.
  • T‑Mobile coverage looks good because critical rural bands (12/71 LTE, n71 5G) are supported.

Alternative OSes, privacy & security debate

  • Many ask about GrapheneOS support; GrapheneOS maintainers explicitly state they won’t support Fairphone.
  • Reasons cited: missing hardware security features (e.g., secure element tiers, MTE), end‑of‑life kernel branches, lagging firmware/driver and Android security updates, and previous use of publicly available signing keys.
  • Fairphone’s tight partnership with Murena (/e/OS) is also a blocker: /e/OS is accused of poor patch discipline, invasive services, privileged Google integration, and public statements framing hardened devices as mainly for criminals.
  • Others argue GrapheneOS is “obsessive” for average users and that Fairphone’s goals (repairability, de‑Googling) differ from hardening‑focused projects.

Repairability, sustainability & supply chain

  • Enthusiasm for replaceable batteries, modular parts, and microSD expansion; some see this as more genuinely “green” than mainstream vendors.
  • Skeptics question supply‑chain ethics claims, noting reliance on ODM T2Mobile, limited transparency on working conditions, and arguably inferior long‑term update support versus Apple/Google.
  • Some argue used Pixels with long support may be more ecological than new Fairphones.

Hardware features & omissions

  • Criticism of downgrade to USB 2.0 and removal of DisplayPort Alt‑Mode compared to FP4/FP5; this breaks dock/desktop‑mode, “phone as PC,” and recovery‑with‑external‑display workflows.
  • Use cases cited: Linux/postmarketOS, thin‑client setups, hotel TV streaming, fast media offload, and ADB reliability.
  • Lack of 3.5 mm jack is a dealbreaker for several; dongles and passthrough adapters are viewed by some as clumsy and limiting (charging + audio).
  • Missing wireless‑charging backplate and 2 TB microSD stated limit draw complaints; others note larger cards may still work but aren’t tested.
  • Some want smaller screens; others fantasize about a foldable but acknowledge it’s unrealistic for a niche vendor.

Software quality, bugs & support

  • Reports of serious Fairphone 4/6 bugs (Wi‑Fi IPv6 issues, aggressive memory management, charging/board failures, weak haptics, awkward button layout) and slow fixes.
  • Support and repair turnaround are described as slow; experiences range from “hostile” to merely overburdened.

Marketing, pricing & positioning

  • $650 price is seen as high versus mainstream phones (e.g., “iPhone 17e”) but acceptable for those prioritizing ethics and repairability.
  • Some critique the AI‑like, vacuous marketing copy; others point out that human‑written corporate marketing has long sounded similar.