Any reviews on Fairphone?

FlorayG

I don't want a fancy 'phone. I just want to take pics and videos for my own amusement, make 'phone calls and texts, use the internet a bit.
Usually I buy Motorola and happy with the specs but my current one at only three years old is failing and I get so SICK of buying 'phones with built in obsolescence so I'm thinking of a Fairphone
Any comments? Experience of same?

flaneurs_lobster

I would have liked to have bought one but the premium for sustainability (probably ~£250) was just too great.

The specs are easily beaten by mid-range phones and although software updates are good for ten years you do wonder if the processor will still handle apps of that time. 

Also the phone won't take a dunking into water (my £400 Samsung is good for 30 minutes). 10 years without dropping it into the sea, pool, loo probably do-able.

Mark_d

I also like the idea of a phone you can upgrade, however fairphone has poor performance compared to equivalently priced phones.  In terms of phones becoming obsolete, this is generally due to the operating system becoming unsupported rather than the hardware no longer being able to support web browsing, phone calls, photos etc.

My recommendation would be to get a good spec phone running /e/OS

https://murena.com/products/smartphones/?wcpbc-manual-country=GB

400ixl

/e/OS if I remember correctly is just Google Android via the AOSP programme. So the open source version which has none of the Google apps including the play store, gmail, photos etc.

That site you have linked to looks like it is just flashing AOSP onto other people's hardware (e.g. Fairphone or Pixel) for more money than the original vendor. They seem to be focussed on the tin foil had brigade who don't want to be tracked.

Not sure that is what the OP is looking for.

Fairphone from a support perspective is pretty good. 5 year warranty and guaranteed updated until 2031. As mentioned the spec is very much mid level so how good it would be in 2031 is debatable. It is also more expensive than other midrange phones of which some match some of the support.

The Pixel 8a for example matches the 2031 support side (and more likely to achieve it). Also has the benefit of the Google elements that come with their own phones such as the AI for the camera and post processing. It doesn't have the 5 year warranty, but is quite a bit cheaper.

Some of the Samsung mid range phones are now also starting to get the longer support guarantee.

Personally I would look at the Pixel 8a (or 8 if you want a bigger screen) or maybe some of the Samsung mid range phones if the guarantee the updates until 2031.

FlorayG

400ixl said:

Personally I would look at the Pixel 8a (or 8 if you want a bigger screen) or maybe some of the Samsung mid range phones if the guarantee the updates until 2031.

But is the actual 'phone going to last that long? Can I change the battery when it starts to fail?

400ixl

No one can answer that question. Partially depends on how often and how you charge it.

My current Pixel is 3 years old, charged daily and never above 80% and rarely allowed to drop below 20%. The battery status is 96% of the original capacity, so minimal wear. Battery is not owner changeable, but can be done if required.

I will likely keep it for another year whilst it gets the major updates (security update will be longer). Performance wise it is as good as it has been, it wouldn't keep up with the latest version, but performs well enough.

Not sure I would keep a phone that long personally, but looked after it should, especially if you are only doing the basics with it.

FlorayG

400ixl said:

Not sure I would keep a phone that long personally, but looked after it should, especially if you are only doing the basics with it.

Why not? If it works, why replace it?

moneysaver1978

If you are looking at FairPhone, you might want to consider NothingPhone too - a friend earlier this year was deciding between the two and went for the latter. No regrets (so far!).

The other option is look at refurbished "fancy" phones, like the iPhone SE 3 for £199 on Amazon.

FlorayG

moneysaver1978 said:

If you are looking at FairPhone, you might want to consider NothingPhone too - a friend earlier this year was deciding between the two and went for the latter. No regrets (so far!).

The other option is look at refurbished "fancy" phones, like the iPhone SE 3 for £199 on Amazon.

Thanks for the option. I'm not looking to save money really, I'm looking for a 'phone that will last and can be updated and repaired

moneysaver1978

FlorayG said:

moneysaver1978 said:

If you are looking at FairPhone, you might want to consider NothingPhone too - a friend earlier this year was deciding between the two and went for the latter. No regrets (so far!).

The other option is look at refurbished "fancy" phones, like the iPhone SE 3 for £199 on Amazon.

Thanks for the option. I'm not looking to save money really, I'm looking for a 'phone that will last and can be updated and repaired

I have an iPhone 12 (sim-free) and it's still going strong with updates still coming in. Someone I know still has an iPhone 8 who recently had the battery replaced at an Apple store.

FlorayG

I don't know anything about Apple phones I'm on Android. How old are those 'phones?