How Fairphone built the Fairphone Gen 6+
Fairphone’s new Gen 6+ smartphone, marketed as an ethical, long-lasting and repairable device, prompts mixed reactions from users comparing the company’s promises with real-world support for older models, spare parts availability and actual device lifetimes. Many value its modular hardware, conflict-mineral stance and official support for de-Googled Android variants, but criticize slow and incomplete security updates, lack of top-tier hardening compared with iPhones or Pixel phones running GrapheneOS, and the removal of features like the headphone jack. A recurring theme is whether buying a Fairphone is truly “greener” or more user-friendly than keeping a mainstream phone longer, repairing it through existing channels, or choosing a popular, well-supported device and custom ROM instead.
Repairability & Parts Availability
- Many value Fairphone mainly for repairability and modular design; some keep spare modules (screens, cameras, batteries) at home.
- Official spare parts: FP4 (2021) and FP5 (2023) parts are available; FP2 (2015) and FP3 (2019) parts are no longer sold, which some see as acceptable after 7–11 years, others as falling short of the “longevity” message.
- Some report FP3 parts becoming scarce around 2024 and reserved mainly for warranty work.
- In the US, parts availability is currently poor; iFixit lists guides but not parts, and Fairphone’s US store is limited.
- Comparison with Apple: debate over DIY vs manufacturer repairs; some argue Fairphone extends repairability longer, others say Apple offers longer official repair windows.
Longevity, Performance & Environmental Claims
- Several users kept FP2/FP3 for 4–6 years, but some say performance (especially FP3/3+) became painfully slow long before hardware failure, pushing them to replace the phone.
- Some argue that a single long‑lasting iPhone/Pixel may be “greener” than multiple Fairphones if the Fairphone is slow from the start.
- Spare-part sunsetting and end of software support (e.g., FP3, emerging concerns for FP5) undermine long‑term use for some.
Software Support, Security & Alternative OSes
- Strong criticism that new models ship with an older Android version and often lag 1–2 months or more on security bulletins.
- Concerns that Fairphone devices rely on end‑of‑life Linux kernels and other components without ongoing security maintenance.
- Some report serious issues with /e/OS and other de-Googled ROMs on Fairphone: delayed updates, unlocked bootloaders, use of public test keys, and weaker security than stock Android.
- GrapheneOS is repeatedly cited as a much stronger security/privacy option, but it does not support Fairphone due to missing hardware security features; Pixels (and possibly some Motorolas) are recommended instead.
- Others prioritize user freedom (root access, de-Googling, microG) over maximum security and accept those tradeoffs.
Ethics & Openness
- Debate over how much more “fair” Fairphone really is: hardware/firmware remain closed, supply-chain partner T2Mobile is opaque, and overall impact vs mainstream phones (e.g., iPhone, Pixel) is described as unclear.
- Some argue that buying popular, long‑supported phones and keeping them for many years is itself an ethical choice.
User Experiences & Hardware Design
- Mixed reliability reports: some FP4 owners are happy after 3–4 years with only battery swaps; others report overheating, flimsy covers/snaps, random screen failures, or “sudden death” on FP3.
- Lack of headphone jack is a dealbreaker for some, who see it as contradictory to longevity; others suggest USB‑C audio dongles or note that analog‑audio-over‑USB‑C support on Fairphone is unclear.
- Missing Qi/wireless charging and the large physical size are further complaints; some want a truly compact Fairphone.
- A few prefer very cheap or second‑hand phones (often with custom ROMs) as a more practical or ethical route than paying a premium for Fairphone.