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Fairphone's Latest Sustainable Smartphone Comes With a Five-Year Warranty (theverge.com) 65

Posted by BeauHD from the reuse-and-recycle dept.
New submitter thegreatnick writes: The next generation of Fairphone -- an attempt to make an ethical smartphone -- has been announced with the Fairphone 4. The base specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage (upgradeable to 8GB and 256GB). On the front, you'll get a 6.3-inch, 2340x1080 LCD display with slimmer bezels (compared to the Fairphone 3 design) and a teardrop notch for the 25-megapixel front camera. The 3,905mAh battery is Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.1 compatible, so if you have a compatible USB-C charger (not included in the box to reduce waste) you can take the battery from 0-50% in 30 minutes. The phone ships with Android 11 and has a side-mounted fingerprint reader in the power button, a MicroSD slot, and the option for dual-SIM usage via one physical nanoSIM and an eSIM.

Continuing Fairphone's progress in making a "fair" supply chain -- both ethically-clean raw materials and paying workers a fair wage -- it also describes the 4 as "e-waste neutral." This is a neat way of summing up the idea that the company will recycle one device for every Fairphone 4 it sells. In addition, Fairphone can boast that it now uses 70% "fair" materials inside the handset, including FairTrade Gold and Silver, aluminum from ASI-certified vendors, and a backplate made from 100% post-consumer recycled polycarbonate. In an upgrade to previous models, the Fairphone 4 has dual cameras, though it loses the headphone jack. The company says this was to achieve an IP54 waterproof rating (light splashes) -- a first for the Fairphone brand. It's also been announced that it will come with an industry-leading 5-year warranty and aims to get 6 years of software updates for the phone.
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Fairphone's Latest Sustainable Smartphone Comes With a Five-Year Warranty More

Fairphone's Latest Sustainable Smartphone Comes With a Five-Year Warranty

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  • Looks lovely ... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by b0s0z0ku ( 752509 ) on Thursday September 30, 2021 @08:53PM (#61849667)
    Easily replaceable battery, good specs, upgradable storage. Only problem is that it's not available in YankSkankia, aka the USA ... where Apple is far too entrenched. Any word on whether it would work on US cell networks if someone were to do an illegal import?

    • It looks like a bog standard Snapdragon, depending on what bands are enabled.

      Question is why the USA's cartel of network operators, that slashdotters continually whinge about, would prevent an international BYOD.

      Here in Australia, bargain hunters "grey import" all the time and handsets mostly work on one or the other of our two major networks, Telstra or Optus. (But no I won't since it amounts to in excess of $AUS1000 to import the thing and the utility of 5G is limited since my MVNO is still stuck on 4G as

      • There's nothing to prevent a grey import -- the problem is that the cell frequency bands used in USA differ significantly from those in the rest of the world.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by fermion ( 181285 )
      But I suspect most high end phones are 70% non slave built. And no one has the ability to insure a 100% post consumer recycle. At some point you are paying other people, who you can only trust on faith.
      • I really don't care who builds it. I like features like easy repair, easy battery replacement, upgradablilty ... the best form of recycling is long-term use. A phone is a tool. I don't mind keeping the same tech for 5-10 years.

        • That's the problem with capitalism, most people don't care enough about the working conditions of the almost slaves, er, employees to change the company.
          If Wallsmart pays people low salaries but people still shop there then things won't change.
          And yes I am probably guilty of this too.
          P.S. I misspelled WalMarts because it is a bad company.
          At least I capitalized them.

    • Just a bit expensive for my taste.

      $200 is my top limit. Anything beyond that has always been a waste of money, as it didn't give anything more in practical life.
      I'd pay maybe $50-$100 on top if and only if the camera is one of the best on any phone in the world.

      • Same. Most premium phones have specs and features that degrade battery life. I also don't understand why you would pay more for a phone that is coated in glass just to have to get a case for it. The top displays are nice, however.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

      The camera is budget phone tier but might be possible to improve it with software.

  • > you can take the battery from 0-50% in 30 minutes

    What is novel about that?

    • Who said it was?

      • > The 3,905mAh battery is Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.1 compatible

        The build up and the let down.

        • https://www.qualcomm.com/news/... [qualcomm.com]

          "Quick Charge 4 is engineered to charge a typical smartphone from zero to 50 percent in about 15 minutes or less."

          Could be that this is just Slashdot and I shouldn't trust it.

          • Ah, that answers my question. My bad and thank you.

          • You know what's even quicker?

            Just pop in a different battery!

            You can charge that while you're using the first one.

            Come on, what complete asshole thought of non-replaceable batteries?
            I'm sure, given a time machine, many people would make a stop at his home even before offing Hitler.

            • Come on, what complete asshole thought of non-replaceable batteries?

              Probably someone who was sick of their battery falling out every time they drop their phone.

              Did you really think Apple would pass up an opportunity to charge $99 for a $19 battery?

  • google (Score:4, Insightful)

    by awwshit ( 6214476 ) on Thursday September 30, 2021 @09:05PM (#61849689)

    Sounds great right up until Google.

    • Like 70% of phones on the planet then.

      Anyhow, FP3 ran /e/ and postmarketOS already has a wiki entry:

      https://wiki.postmarketos.org/... [postmarketos.org]

    • And the missing headphone jack. I tried bluetooth and I don't know how all these idiots can say it's even remotely usable. The lag alone is atrocious, not to mention the audio degradation from the compression. I haven't tried Apple's own wireless audio, but given that their only options are things you jam in your ears (I dislike that so much that even free AirPods every year wouldn't make make me change my mind about this) or over-the-ears headphones that cost as much if not more than an iPhone SE itself.

      Wi

      • Headphone Jack (Score:4, Insightful)

        by jddj ( 1085169 ) on Thursday September 30, 2021 @10:26PM (#61849851) Journal

        I've tinkered with electronics for 50 years, and realize a standard headphone jack would flood a phone if dropped in water.

        But can it really be that hard to build a sealed headphone jack into the case?

        There's a sealed power adapter/USB-C on most phones. Nobody says the headphones have to WORK while the phone is immersed. Defensive circuit design could prevent shorting the headphone jack with liquid from damaging output amp circuits.

        I realize they're trying to open as few holes in the phone case as possible, but they're really creating an inconvenient device.

        It's also ironic that the "Freedom Phone" chooses to leave a headphone jack off, especially given all the windy talk among DRM proponents about "closing the analog hole" so they can further restrict the rights of ownership.

        • Re:Headphone Jack (Score:4, Informative)

          by metrix007 ( 200091 ) on Thursday September 30, 2021 @10:28PM (#61849859)

          There are plenty of waterproof phones with headphone jacks. One of the Xperia compacts had exactly that.

          • If they can't be closed, they will fill with muck and, when electricity runs through it, corrode or lose contact. Just make it closable.

          • The Xperia phones still do, IP68 rating and a headset jack. Plus even the below 400 USD Xperia 10 III has video out on the USB-C connector. What's crap with Sony smartphones, at least the Xperia 10 plus, the only one I ever owned (to try if SailfishOS would be usable as a daily driver, for me it isn't), they can be unlocked, but not relocked, so no more updates over the air. I'm not sure if newer models can be unlocked at all, I don't see LineageOS for recent models, so that's perhaps a moot point. No Linea

        • My old Blackview BV6000 just hat a rubber latch/plug. I went swimming with it in my pocket. No problem.

          (The actual screws with actual rubber seals on each of them aswell as all around the case half and the card panel were a thing of beauty. As was the polycarbonate overmolded over an aluminium frame. THAT is what I call "high-end"! Not fucking literally-designed-to-break *glass* backs that are so flat they create an air cushion so it definitely slides off the table and breaks! ... I'm spoiled. I can't buy a

        • I fully agree, it's quite contradictory to omit the audio jack. 6 years of software updates, however, is really golden of you ask me. Otherwise that needs custom ROMs. My 2 galaxy S4 devices both run LineageOS 18 based on Android 11, those are from 2014. Manufacturers hardly promise more than 2 major updates and 1 more year of security updates, from the first phone sold. Samsung, Nokia.
        • I found that here. It seem to be very unique type of things which here: http://www.choicewar.com/ [choicewar.com]

    • So wipe off Android and replace it with eOS - A fork of Android with all Google stuff removed.

  • ... more sustainable?

    I've been hanging onto my Galaxy s9 for years now, as I can find no compelling reason to upgrade.
    Sure, I may not meet the "die hard" smartphone using demographic, as I'm not constantly gawping at the screen.

    I'm just checking out the specs of my now, "ancient" phone, from 2018 and they are pretty much still up there.

    My thoughts are, surely it is more sustainable to keep your current phone for as long as possible?

    The Fairphone claim is "good for the world", but it isn't really, is it?
    It's

    • That seems to be their biggest claim too:
      "A phone’s biggest environmental impact comes from making the thing in the first place. So the longer you keep it, the more sustainable it becomes."

      They guarantee 5 years of support which is good but then again the iPhone 6S is still supported in the most recent iOS 15 release and that's 6 years old.

      • But then again, it's an iPhone. Which couldn't be less of an acceptable alternative for humans that are actual people of their own.

      • But the iPhone 6s was still sold 3 years ago...

        • But the iPhone 6s was still sold 3 years ago...

          Yep and the Fairphone is the same, the 5 years is from the release date, not the purchase date. From their website:

          We don’t just promise long-term support, software updates and friendly customer service. We have it in writing: A 5-year warranty for every Fairphone 4*.

          *When you purchase before 31/12/2022.

          https://shop.fairphone.com/en/ [fairphone.com]

          • Good point, which doesn't negate my point above. They should define a service life from the moment a device isn't manufactured anymore, and the end of manufacturing should be openly communicated. Then the years of service life, full updates for X years plus security updates for Y years should be communicated up front.
            • Sure, what I'm pointing out is their claim about how they deal with what they say is "a phone’s biggest environmental impact" isn't class-leading. Now if they did what you suggest then that would be a real change for the better, as it stands today its only a little bit worse than an iPhone in that regard - that said they may decide to extend support further as they reach that 5 year mark.

  • Not shipping to all EU countries? (Score:3)

    by ISayWeOnlyToBePolite ( 721679 ) on Friday October 01, 2021 @02:24AM (#61850129)

    Looking at the list they don't seem to ship to Cyprus, Malta or Sweden (Specifically I'm looking at the shipping destination pulldown menu for the fairphone 4 pre-order at checkout). Anyone know a reason for that, it just seems odd?

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • You might consider a dedicated camera from Sony or Nikon. The pricing is not as crazy as it once was and no phone can compete with the zoom power of a stand-alone camera lens.
      • But they all win on pocketability. And my wife prefers the pictures out of her Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro over the Panasonic LX 100, they are more processed, but more pleasing to the eye in her opinion and the opinions of her students... Me, I'll still take the LX100 especially if lighting may get more challenging.

      • Most people don't carry cameras on them anymore.

        As someone that grew up in the age where you made every picture count (as you only had so much film and had to pay to get it developed), I miss patience and uniqueness that each photo use to hold. That nostalgia did not stop me from replacing my camera with my phone.

  • Is it physically disconnected by default? (Level 1 of evil)
    Can it at least be physically disconnected without tools in a minute? (Level 2 of evil)
    Or at least with a screwdriver and 30 minutes? (Level 3 of evil)
    (Level 0 would be not having such a stupidity in the first place and not cater to morons who were dumbed into believing they "want" one.)

    • How easy is it to just not configure the finger print reader? I was able to not set it up at all on my iPhone...

    • I'm trying to figure out why this is evil? Passwords are just that much better for you?

      I have to give up my fingerprints just to get a driver's ID and with some job background checks. My fingerprint's are not exactly secret anymore. (Plus, I tend to leave a lot of samples everywhere I go :))

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon Bugs Leave 40% Of World’s Smartphones Exposed To Spying Threat https://www.forbes.com/sites/d... [forbes.com]

    Fairphone keep making this mistake. they've been told by multiple people, multiple times, for many years now. they design fantastic ethical products... that because the source code is not available of the full Operating System have to be THROWN OUT because they become a massive security risk after 12-18 months, and because of DRM bootloader locking built-in to the main processor and fir

  • Another website full of flashy graphics and no useful information. Had to go elsewhere just to get specs for this thing.

    Things I like:
    IPS display
    Removable battery

    Things I don't like:
    No 3.5 TRRS
    Small battery
    Fingerprint reader in the power button is something I personally find disgusting and distasteful.
    Price

    Not that any of this matters without VoLTE being blessed by US carriers.

    • I agree.
      I do think though that the price is expected to be higher if it is a "fair" phone rather than one made with "non-fair" parts in factories with bad working conditions or maybe blood-cobalt.

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