The Fairphone 4 launched two years ago left a whole lot to be desired, and the sustainability-focused electronics startup from Amsterdam has now launched the next version to reignite hopes. This is the Android 13 powered Fairphone 5 modular phone which is the most repairable device out there for good reason.
The silver lining with this modern-looking device honing a translucent back panel is its whopping five years of OS support and eight years of security patches promised by the ethical company. They are striving to get that number up to 10 years. Also, there’s a 5-year warranty, so you have nothing to worry about for a long time. How much better can that get?
Pros:
- 8 years of software support and 5 years of warranty
- Decent hardware specification compared to predecessor
- Made from ethically sourced material
- Upgradable storage of up to 2TB
Cons:
- High price tag
- Average processor
Designer: Fairphone
Just like their select suite of other products, the Fairphone 5 is made from ethically sourced materials and is designed to be easily pairable at home. Of course, it comes with the freedom to upgrade the hardware, and we’re glad that this time around the device is more of a modern mid-range phone that ignites interest. It has a 6.46-inch OLED display with 1224×2770 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. On the rear reside the duo of a 50MP primary lens and a 50MP ultrawide shooter. Interestingly, the selfie camera on the front inside the hole punch is also a 50MP shooter.
The number of repairable modules has been increased to 10 as now you can replace the rear camera module and the module having SIM and SD card slots. That beefed-up 4,200mAh battery with 30W charging support is user-replaceable and good for 1,000 charging cycles. Since the phone is targeting a niche set of users, don’t expect it to compete with the current flagships on the market.
It’s powered by the Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset designed specifically for industrial applications and mated to an Adreno 643L GPU and 8GB of RAM. The processor is somewhat similar to the more identifiable Snapdragon 782G in terms of specs. Out of the box, the phone comes with 256GB storage that can be upgraded to 2TB via a separate module. While modular smartphones are not particularly water-resistant, still Fairphone managed to get IP55 water and dust resistance for the device.
For someone who’s looking to buy a mid-range device that has a long-term commitment guaranteed, the Fairphone 5 is a fair recommendation. If so, the device can be pre-ordered right away with shipping in Europe promised on September 14. There are no plans for a US release, but that could change in the coming months. For a price tag of around $750, the Fairphone could just tickle your fancy with the features it has.
