Fairphone 3 gets 7 years of updates, besting every other Android OEM
Fairphone 3 gets 7 years of updates, besting every other Android OEM
Fairphone proves the usual excuses for ending Android support aren't valid.
Thoughts?
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I would like to support them, but it is lacking in several features. Kinda wish they would take their modular and user-replaceable components and let us upgrade, like a better camera module for example.
that said, it's missing the most important thing... Network compatibility.
I wish they were more similar to Framework except in the smartphone space. Because when I buy a Fairphone I'm still stuck with the specs I bought and when I want to have better specs I need to buy a new phone regardless of how repairable it is. WIth a Framework laptop I can upgrade the mainboard to one with better specs and can keep the rest.
I'm so tired of phone without bezels and tiny batteries.
I really really want a phone that has like 12 screws on the back, around the edge of the device that pinch down on a gasket for the seal instead of adhesives and plastic clips. Phones are plateauing in power now where most people don't need to upgrade the SOC or memory for the better part of 5-10 years. The only reason I ever really need to replace a phone is because the phone isn't getting updates or the battery is cooked.
If done well enough, the screws could even allow modular backs and shells. You could mount your phone's internals into a shell and lock it in with a different back. So people could have phones with a big ol ass on them and a big ol battery if they want. The SOC, memory, and storage could all be on one singular board with headers to all of the buttons and shit. Because it could be user serviceable you can even put the SIM card, SD card or whatever onboard and not have to deal with a water tight seal for those.
Boy do I have a phone for you!
I'm not sure the fairphone is even waterproof. Plus for what it offers it is way more costly than it needs to be. 20W charging, 3904 mAh battery, and for some reason no headphone jack.
Plus I'm American and I don't think they even sell the thing over here but for nearly $700 it'd have to be a very convincing phone for anyone who isn't thinking "I will fight climate change and ewaste by buying a phone" because you can buy a pixel 7a for $450 currently.
The only reason I ever really need to replace a phone is because the phone isn’t getting updates or the battery is cooked.
This solves both of your problems and means you have to buy a third as many phones.
Your example with the camera module is exactly what happened to the FP3. They released the FP3+ which featured a better camera and users of the original model could upgrade by just buying this module.
However this is definetly not the focus of Fairphone as a company as too many or regular new modules would introduce new e-waste again.
the fairphone 5 is rumored to come out this year, hopefully it will address those issues