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Fairphone 5 Released (shop.fairphone.com)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

With 5 years of OS support and 8 years of security update.

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[–] [email protected] 75 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Interesting how they went for an IoT SoC (Qualcomm QCM 6490), instead for an SoC that's actually meant for usage in phones.

They probably did this to be able to get longer Android updates. As a side effect, that means it natively supports desktop Ubuntu and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise.

On the other hand, this is pretty much the only phone using this SoC. (There are three models by a totally unknown brand from India that use the same SoC.)

It's going to be interesting to see whether that's an advantage or a disadvantage.

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[–] [email protected] 74 points 1 year ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (19 children)

I really wish it had a 3.5mm audio jack. I don't see what companies stand to earn, other than money, when they remove the headphone jack.

I can see why Apple and Samsung removed it because the they can market their own wireless headphones.

Removing the jack only removes capability, it is not like older phones didn't have the capability to connect to Bluetooth headphones

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago

Yeah their original excuse to remove it was largely related to space due to the modular design.

If you want to read it is here.

https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/9836188988049-Audio-jack-3-5mm

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[–] [email protected] 69 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Threads for Fairphone often fill up with "it's not going to work if they don't X." Lots of people don't seem to understand that their personal viewpoint can be quite different from other's.

There are people who are aware of the trade-offs of a Fairphone, but still choose to get one.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I've always been in favour of a phone with a shitty camera. I don't give a fuck about posting on social media, and these days a huge chunk of a phone's price is determined by how powerful of a camera they were able to cram into it.

I recognize that this apparently sounds insane to most people.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago

It's nice to have a decent camera, but honestly, 90% of the people (including myself) are so bad at taking pictures, that the difference between mid range and ultra premium is almost zero.

The only thing that's really really cool is night mode. My Pixel can take really great photos with extremely low light levels.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

I don't post on social media either, but my phone have replaced the compact camera that I used to pack for family vacations.

I suspect that's what most people use their phone camera phone: to take personal photos that will only be shared with family members.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

My socially isolated self rarely if ever needs to take a single picture. I'm doing perfectly fine with the base camera that my old devices came with.

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[–] [email protected] 58 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (9 children)

I pre-ordered already.

Ok, so honesty time: The fact that this company is good for the environment, pays people well, etc.. is NOT my main "thing" for wanting to own this phone.

It's the fact that it is open. I can unlock and flash whatever I want, I can fix things by ordering replacement parts, a new screen is TOTALLY do-able both price wise and doing it myself.

Also it does not come with bloat, or vendor-lock in software like on ALL samsung shitty phones.

Out of all the phones, this one makes the most sense.

(And my current FP4 goes to my mother, perfect for her and many more years of support)

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago (10 children)

I was exited for this phone, but as I said in another thread: I am a bit disappoited about the CPU and the substantial price hike, but most of all aqout the size increase. Is there any market research at all indicating that customers want 6"+ displays?

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Is there any market research at all indicating that customers want 6"+ displays?

Unfortunately, yes. People who buy smaller phones are the people who buy a new phone less often, and small phones tend to sell worse than the big models (see S10e, iPhone 12(?) Mini) so don't get renewed. Would be nice if they did.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

It's so frustrating that this is true. I use devices until they're dead or at risk of serious compromise before getting another, but the only options are ones that I can't even hold comfortably with one hand. I'm seriously considering the Jelly 2 at this point.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The CPU choice is great, why are you disappointed with it? It's the reason they can offer a minimum of 8 years of support on this model.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (8 children)

I would also like to know what the problem is with the CPU. My current phone has this CPU and it works fine.

Edit:

Geekbench FP4 Vs FP5 https://browser.geekbench.com/v6/cpu/compare/2432096?baseline=2439889

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago

Unfortunately I think a lot of people just have zero understanding of how the smartphone industry works. They think small manufacturers like Fairphone just have free reign to get whatever parts they want, offer updates for however long they want, etc.

The reality is that Fairphone have to find a way to work within the system that has been created by big tech. That means selecting parts based on their suitability for the long-term support goals they have. It's one of the reasons why the specs are mid-range, because these parts stay in circulation for longer. For example, the 4 had a very generic 60 Hz IPS notch display because it was a widely used panel within the industry at the time. Now that higher refresh rate OLEDs have become more common on mid-range devices, Fairphone has been able to put one into the 5.

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[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago (9 children)

The first company that produces a phone with

  • removable battery
  • maximum 6in screen
  • 3.5mm jack
  • open bootloader

will break the market

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Fairphone 3 has that. It also supports Android 13.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just wish it had a US release...

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Fairphone 4 is sold and supported in NA, hope they will carry fairphone 5 as well: https://mander.xyz/comment/2699680

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Wish they sold it in the U.S.

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago (6 children)

I understand why is the device so expensive (they wanted to make sure that everyone in the manufacture pipeline is properly paid, and that the materials are ethically sourced as much as humanly possible) but yeah, unless I can be absolutely sure that I won't be changing devices in the next five years, I don't think I'll be able to afford this one.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

Isn't it wonderful playing a rigged game?

Here is a phone that ticks many, many boxes for sustainable and ethical production. It's the phone that "free market will fix it" neoliberals insist should bring the downfall of companies that just release e-waste.

But of course the free market won't fix anything.

Neoliberals built a managed democracy and giant corporations were allowed to use outsourcing, slaves and environment-unfriendly manufacturing.

The influx of cheap goods subsidised by the misery of foreign workers and future generations made it harder to notice our shrinking wages. We could still afford to fill our homes with tat, just like our parents did.

But your grandfathers tools lasted 30 years and yours will last 3 (and be worse for the duration). Very few companies even bother offering good products, let alone ethical ones.

Because nobody can actually afford "good" any more. Not the consumers who want to buy it, nor the handful of companies trying to sell it. You have to buy crap. Companies have to be unethical.

It's dug us a very very deep hole that's going to be a lot of hard work to climb out of and it's looking like politicians and billionaires are only interested in selling us new shovels.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)
  • rounded screen
  • front camera in screen

designed for you

Sure as hell not.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

Also:

  • lack of 3.5mm jack
  • EVEN BIGGER size

At this point, they're just following the trend.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's not bigger, it's even a bit thinner than fairphone 4. Screen is slightly bigger though

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Why wouldn't they? Their goal is to create a fair phone. Not a niche phone for a few geeks.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Their website doesn't seem to specify which GSM bands it has (simply "More Bands and Band-Combinations for better reception"). I want to know how much of a given provider's spectrum I'd be missing out on trying to sneak one of these to the states.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Fairphone 4:
4G supported bands: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B18/B19/B20/B28/B32/B38/B40/B41/B71
5G supported bands: n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n41/n71/n77/n78

Fairphone 5:
4G supported bands: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B20/B28/B32/B38/B40/B41/B42/B48/B66/B71
5G supported bands: n1/n2/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n41/n48/n66/n71/n77/n78

Relevant comment about Fairphone 4 in the USA

TL;DR: By adding band 66, Fairphone 5 has better compatibility with cellular network providers in the USA. Band 48 also gives better compatibility with Verizon. T-Mobile is still the best for Fairphone in the USA.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (5 children)

This is a preorder, not actual release.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is a pretty great phone, I just wouldn't spend this much on a phone. Even if it lasts let's say 6 years, I can buy 3-4 mid range androids at this price & as the years go by they could be far better than this one near the end.

Also while Iphones are really hard to repair, they do last very long & there are people out there who can replace my iphone battery for like $40 and it too would last 5-6 years. (a recent enough refurbished SE for example)

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Even if it lasts let's say 6 years, I can buy 3-4 mid range androids at this price

Something tells me you missed the point of the Fairphone...

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

still waiting for the next unfairphone release

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

September 12th for the new iPhone.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (3 children)

If it a) comes to the US, and b) comes with stock Android out of the box, I might get it for my next phone. Currently leaning toward a Pixel with Graphene.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is going to be my next phone. I cant wait to get out of the mainstream phone market. I barely use my phone for anything but browsing the web so it shouldbe fine.

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