Latest news with #Fairphone
CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
What Makes a Phone Ethical? I Talked With Someone Who Builds One to Find Out
Fairphone is a David among Goliaths in the phone world. We're talking about a tiny Dutch social enterprise that shipped just over 100,000 phones in 2023, versus tech giants such as Apple and Samsung, which routinely ship hundreds of millions of phones annually. On Wednesday, Fairphone CEO Raymond van Eck unveiled the latest device, the sixth generation, in its family of phones. Intended to be known simply as the Fairphone (but in reality more likely to be referred to as the Fairphone 6), this modular phone is designed to be easily repairable and last people who buy it at least eight years. I spoke with van Eck at the Amsterdam launch event, which took a different tack for a smartphone company. Instead of foregrounding the specs and AI capabilities, Fairphone talked mostly about how this newest device has the lowest carbon footprint of any phone it has made. Company reps also talked about how the workers in its supply chain are paid a living wage bonus and protected from harmful chemicals. It's not the easy or convenient way to make a phone. But if a phone maker as diminutive as Fairphone can do it, then it does raise the question of why industry mammoths can't too. "It takes effort," van Eck tells me. "If we can do it, in my opinion, others can do it, because if you look at our scale, it's even more difficult to convince suppliers to work this way." Niche phones are having something of a moment – just last week the Trump Organization announced the T1 device, aka the Trump phone, expected later this year, with much boasting of American origins. But rather than a preoccupation with making phones in the US, which doesn't have the supply chain or manufacturing capabilities, I'd much rather see more options that present people with more ethically made, more easily repairable devices. I've been covering consumer tech and the climate crisis for many years, and not only do phones such as the Fairphone provide people with better value for the money in the long run, but they also put less stress on our rapidly warming planet. Van Eck is aware that Fairphone's slice of the market is a small one, but the company is also making an impact through its role in setting up systems that the entire tech industry can take advantage of. He cited progressive approaches focused on the use of minerals in mobile phone manufacturing like the Fair Cobalt Alliance and responsible gold credits (through which companies pay an extra $1 per every gram of gold mined in order to fund oxygen masks and other safety equipment). A fairer phone Then of course there's the Fairphone itself – a device designed to be easily repairable by anyone who owns it, regardless of skill level. It even comes with a dedicated iFixit screwdriver in the box so that you can replace the back panel. Inside is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip – a solid processor, but not the company's most sophisticated silicon. I can't help but wonder whether Fairphone is potentially shaving years off the phone's longevity by not using the most advanced chipset at the time the device is manufactured. But van Eck thinks not. "The device is perfectly equipped to fulfill the needs of the customers that are buying it," he says. The Fairphone is designed for longevity via repair and updates, not to compete with future flagship models of competitors, he adds. "Within this midrange, we're very confident that we can still deliver to the expectations of the customers in the years to come." One of the more notable (and noticeable) features of the Fairphone 6 is a lime green slider on the side of the phone. There's been something of a renaissance of physical buttons on phones over the past few years, but most phone makers install these primarily for activating a device's AI features. The Fairphone 6 comes with software support through 2033. Katie Collins/Jeffrey Hazelwood/CNET I was fascinated to see that Fairphone has gone practically in the opposite direction. The slider is customizable, but comes pre-programmed to switch the phone into "essentials" mode. This pared-back monochrome interface gives you access to just the core functions of your phone – messaging, camera, web browser and the like – to give you something more akin to a dumb phone experience. It's not that van Eck is against AI – the Android version of the Fairphone 6 will come with Google's Gemini – but he's also aware of the wider conversation around responsible phone us. "We see debates about children's smartphones. We see debates about people who are glued to their devices even having eye problems," he says. "It's actually in our mission… that we want to make tech ethical. So it's also good for us to help our users to switch off." When ethics meet scale Worthy though its ideals and practices may be, this doesn't mean Fairphone is totally above criticism. If you've followed the company's journey as closely as I have, it's impossible not to have seen an influx of negative customer experience reports over the past few months, especially complaints about wait times and lack of communication. Fairphone's growth has been both a blessing and a curse, according to van Eck, who puts the issues the company has experienced down to systems, processes and workforce that have now been resolved. "We see more interest for our devices, and that also triggered the fact that we needed to scale up," he says. "We expect that the longer waiting times that customers have experienced, that will be a thing from the past within the next few weeks." Crucially, customers interested in buying a Fairphone 6 shouldn't see a repeat of these issues. This being the sixth generation device, rebranded without a number officially attached to it, I ask van Eck whether this ultimate Fairphone is therefore the last Fairphone. It is not. "We're here to stay," he tells me. Not only will Fairphone continue developing its tech, but it will keep pushing for and holding itself to higher standards. The new device contains more recycled materials than the Fairphone 5, for example. "Of course there will be next versions to come," he says. "But for now, we're very happy with the Fairphone."
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
Fairphone 6 might be a hard sell as a mid-ranger, but not if you're a green customer
Fairphone 6 comes in three colors: Black, Forest Green and White | Image credit: Fairphone Dutch company Fairphone has just introduced its new modular smartphone, Fairphone 6. We've been talking about the device for about a week now, but if you haven't been following our news feed, the main selling point of the Fairphone 6 is how easy it is to repair and replace parts of it, either for customization or due to this is a mid-range phone, you'd expect to be priced below the $500 / €500 price mark, but Fairphone 6 is a pretty expensive device. That's partly due to the fact that Fairphone 6 is a 'clean' device assembled in factories with fair labor conditions. As such, Fairphone is asking €600 for the Android version and €650 for the /e/OS variant. In the US, Fairphone sells only the /e/OS model through its local partner Murena. Fairphone 6 is available for pre-order in the US for $900, but it won't ship until August. Fairphone 6 is the company's fairest phone yet Made with more than 50% fair and recycled materials (by total weight) Cobalt sourced through Fair Cobalt Alliance, an initiative Fairphone helped to create Includes fair-mined gold and silver, and fair tungsten Includes recycled aluminum & rare earth metals 100% e-waste neutral Factories powered by 100% renewable energy Supports better working conditions and living wages for the makers Fairphone 6 allows users to attach various accessories | Image credit: Fairphone Besides that, it features the highest repairability rating given in the EU. Fairphone 6 is built in a way that lets you swap 12 different parts. More importantly, users can swap the phone's parts by simply using a standard screwdriver and the videos provided by Fairphone. Parts like the battery, screen, USB ports, and individual cameras can be easily swapped in case of need. Not to mention that Fairphone offers a five-year warranty for Fairphone 6 and no less than eight years of software support (seven major Android OS upgrades guaranteed). In comparison, Google offers just 1 year of manufacturer warranty for its latest Pixel phones. Fairphone 6 specs : Display : 6.31-inch LTPO OLED, FHD+ resolution, 10-120 Hz dynamize refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i : 6.31-inch LTPO OLED, FHD+ resolution, 10-120 Hz dynamize refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i Chipset : Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 : Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Memory : 8 GB RAM : 8 GB RAM Storage : 256 GB (expandable up to 2 TB) : 256 GB (expandable up to 2 TB) Camera : 50MP main (Sony Lytia 700C sensor), 13MP ultra-wide : 50MP main (Sony Lytia 700C sensor), 13MP ultra-wide Front camera : 32MP (Samsung KD1 sensor) : 32MP (Samsung KD1 sensor) Battery : 4,415 mAh, 30W wired Prices for Fairphone 6 parts and accessories | Image credit: Fairphone The new stuff that Fairphone came up with for its new modular smartphone is the accessories that can now be attached to Fairphone 6 by removing two screws from the back cover. At launch, three accessories can be attached to the Fairphone 6: card holder, finger loop, and card holder. Another new feature that Fairphone 6 brings compared to its predecessors is Fairphone Moments, ' a calm, distraction-free space that's more than a focus mode .' According to Fairphone, users can create their unique Moment with five essential apps and shut out everything else. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
The modular Fairphone 6 offers two-day battery life and a modern design
With the flagship smartphone market in a continued state of stagnation and more people making an effort to be more sustainable with their tech purchases, it feels like a good time for the Fairphone 6 to arrive. It's been nearly two years since the Fairphone 5 first launched, and as you'd expect, its successor is another highly repairable modular smartphone designed to last you a long time. The Fairphone 6 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and ships with a 4415mAh battery that Fairphone says will last you nearly two days. You can get 50 percent of juice back into the phone in 25 minutes with a 30W charger. When that battery inevitably degrades a few years down the line, it's one of the 12 components in the phone that can be swapped out after removing a few screws. Nothing in the phone is glued down, so tinkering is fully encouraged here. That said, like the Fairphone 5 before it, its water and dust resistance is only rated at IP55, which means it won't take well to a swim. The Fairphone 6 has a 6.31-inch 1,116 x 2,484 OLED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a jump up from the previous model's 90 Hz panel. You get 256GB of internal storage which is expandable by up to 2TB via microSD, and the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. As for cameras, you have a 50MP main rear lens with up to 10x digital zoom, which is flanked by a 13MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, there's a 32-megapixel selfie camera. On paper, the Fairphone's photographic arsenal is actually a fairly sizable step downgrade from its predecessor, which used a 50MP lens for all three cameras. The Fairphone 6 runs Android 15 and its maker guarantees updates until 2033 (on top of the phone's five-year warranty). There's also some custom software called Fairphone Moments. Activated by flicking the lime green-colored switch on the side of the device, it's effectively a minimalist focus mode that lets you streamline your phone to show only five apps of your choice. You can have multiple Moments collections, from essentials to more relaxation-oriented apps. As well as the phone's modular innards, you're also free to replace its backplates with custom alternatives with built-in features like a cardholder, finger loop or lanyard. And that remains the main appeal of the Fairphone brand. The fairly mid-range specs are less important than its future-proofed, anti-wastage design. The Fairphone 6 is available to buy now for €599 (around $695), and comes in three colors: Cloud White, Forest Green and Horizon Black.
Engadget
3 days ago
- Engadget
The modular Fairphone 6 offers two-day battery life and a modern design
With the flagship smartphone market in a continued state of stagnation and more people making an effort to be more sustainable with their tech purchases, it feels like a good time for the Fairphone 6 to arrive. It's been nearly two years since the Fairphone 5 first launched, and as you'd expect, its successor is another highly repairable modular smartphone designed to last you a long time. The Fairphone 6 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and ships with a 4415mAh battery that Fairphone says will last you nearly two days. You can get 50 percent of juice back into the phone in 25 minutes with a 30W charger. When that battery inevitably degrades a few years down the line, it's one of the 12 components in the phone that can be swapped out after removing a few screws. Nothing in the phone is glued down, so tinkering is fully encouraged here. That said, like the Fairphone 5 before it, its water and dust resistance is only rated at IP55, which means it won't take well to a swim. The Fairphone 6 has a 6.31-inch 1,116 x 2,484 OLED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a jump up from the previous model's 90 Hz panel. You get 256GB of internal storage which is expandable by up to 2TB via microSD, and the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. As for cameras, you have a 50MP main rear lens with up to 10x digital zoom, which is flanked by a 13MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, there's a 32-megapixel selfie camera. On paper, the Fairphone's photographic arsenal is actually a fairly sizable step downgrade from its predecessor, which used a 50MP lens for all three cameras. The Fairphone 6 runs Android 15 and its maker guarantees updates until 2033 (on top of the phone's five-year warranty). There's also some custom software called Fairphone Moments. Activated by flicking the lime green-colored switch on the side of the device, it's effectively a minimalist focus mode that lets you streamline your phone to show only five apps of your choice. You can have multiple Moments collections, from essentials to more relaxation-oriented apps. As well as the phone's modular innards, you're also free to replace its backplates with custom alternatives with built-in features like a cardholder, finger loop or lanyard. And that remains the main appeal of the Fairphone brand. The fairly mid-range specs are less important than its future-proofed, anti-wastage design. The Fairphone 6 is available to buy now for €599 (around $695), and comes in three colors: Cloud White, Forest Green and Horizon Black.
GSM Arena
3 days ago
- GSM Arena
Fairphone 6 official, gets expanded modular design with accessories Comments
Fairphone 5 now has a cheaper 6/128GB variant and a new color to go with it
