February 7, 2025
All of the options I need to see

The Fairphone 5 represented a significant step ahead for the sustainable cellphone firm. Whereas it improved upon lots of its predecessor’s shortcomings, it was removed from excellent. Not solely have been there battery life and warmth dissipation considerations, however there have been additionally a couple of different areas the place it fell brief as an Android cellphone. Though its successor remains to be a great distance off, right here’s my wishlist for what I’d prefer to see within the Fairphone 6.

Higher thermals are a should

Fairphone 5 23

Damien Wilde / Android Authority

The Fairphone 5 performs pretty nicely on the subject of primary duties, however even then, you’re more likely to encounter overheating points that may actually spoil what would in any other case be an honest mid-range expertise. Our personal Rita El Khoury beforehand famous in her overview that the cellphone would usually overheat, and never simply from prolonged classes. Even simply thirty minutes of use was sufficient to make the cellphone noticeably heat, and longer classes might turn into uncomfortable rapidly. It’s not simply the processor that causes these thermal overloads, both. Simply 5 minutes of digital camera use in our check mannequin was sufficient to make the module very heat, even in comparatively cool climate.

It’s fairly apparent this gained’t fly once more. I understand that growing a contemporary cellphone that the common Joe can take aside comes with huge challenges on the subject of constructing respectable thermal options. The modular design leaves much less room for one. It’s additionally only a problem to construct a case with correct airflow that’s nonetheless straightforward to open proper up. A big a part of the issue was the Qualcomm QCM6490 chip discovered contained in the cellphone, which we’ll get to a bit in a while this wishlist. Nonetheless, it’s essential for Fairphone to handle this situation within the Fairphone 6. Even a slight enhance within the cellphone’s case measurement might assist, as it could present further room for air flow.

Let’s resolve the battery life subsequent time, lets?

Fairphone 5 19

Damien Wilde / Android Authority

Battery drain is a significant situation with the Fairphone 5. Whereas its 4,200mAh capability is often sufficiently big for a cellphone with mid-range specs, that’s not the case right here. In our testing, we discovered that the Fairphone 5 might not often make it by a full day’s use with no top-off. Even after we stopped utilizing it, it sat on the overview desk for some time, and we observed it could solely take about two days to empty even when idle, a course of that takes most different telephones nearer to per week.

Fairphone has promised it’s engaged on software program optimizations that ought to hopefully enhance battery life on the present technology, however wanting forward, the Fairphone 6 ought to leap as much as a 5,000mAh battery, much like what you’d discover in one other mid-ranger, just like the Galaxy A54 5G. I believe that many people fascinated about telephones with minimal impression on the surroundings are additionally more likely to go off the grid occasionally. Having a much bigger battery looks like a pure match for this collection.

After all, simply shifting on to a extra power-efficient processor will seemingly assist the battery life leap up dramatically. However the one-two punch from upsizing the battery would seemingly make this a cellphone that would simply final into the two-day mark if Fairphone performs their playing cards proper. On the very least, it wouldn’t die earlier than sooner or later is up!

A extra highly effective, optimized processor, please

fairphone 5 deconstructed lower upper module

Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

The Qualcomm QCM6490 is a curious alternative for a processor, because it’s not primarily constructed with telephones in thoughts and is as an alternative billed as an IoT chip. Nonetheless, there’s a methodology to the insanity right here. Fairphone opted for this processor as a result of it knew it had long-term help on its aspect, permitting it to confidently promise eight years of safety updates. Sadly, it’s very seemingly the chip is the explanation for each battery drain and overheating points, because it merely wasn’t optimized for this function.

Fairphone tried to suppose exterior the field right here, however I’d argue it’s not a transfer price repeating. Whereas Google and Samsung each supply replace insurance policies of seven years of OS and safety updates for his or her flagship telephones, Qualcomm will seemingly proceed to enhance its help for cellular chips. Though this improved help could at the moment solely apply to higher-end SoCs, Samsung’s help traits sometimes lengthen downward over time, suggesting that lots of Samsung’s future price range units might additionally supply higher help. By that logic, Fairphone would take fewer dangers subsequent time round by sticking to a extra tried-and-true mid-range chip. In spite of everything, the Fairphone 6 gained’t seemingly floor till 2025, so it nonetheless has somewhat time earlier than it has to lock down a chip forward of manufacturing.

A wi-fi charging choice can be a pleasant further

Okay, not everybody cares about wi-fi charging, myself included. I’ve a wi-fi charger, however I usually find yourself simply plugging within the USB-C cable because it’s quicker. Nonetheless, the modular nature of the Fairphone collection lends itself to a bit extra flexibility. I hope the Fairphone 6 provides wi-fi charging for individuals who desire it, even when meaning making it an add-on. Maybe Fairphone might accommodate room within the case design however require you to purchase the module individually so you’ll be able to add it your self.

A bodily 3.5mm jack is sensible for a cellphone like this

Fairphone 5 5

Damien Wilde / Android Authority

One other smaller factor however the Fairphone 6 is a cellphone that’s additionally a pure match for a 3.5mm headphone jack. Let’s face it, in the present day’s wi-fi earbuds and headphones have a a lot larger environmental impression than old-school wired options. There’s a battery, the elements wanted for Bluetooth, in addition to the elements for any on-device controls. If the Fairphone is meant to attraction to those that need to reduce their environmental impression, a headphone jack can be a pleasant further. Similar to wi-fi charging, it might even be one thing that you may add on your self for an additional price if the corporate doesn’t need to supply it by default.

Fairphone 6 wishlist: What would you most prefer to see?

79 votes

Will there be a Fairphone 6?

Fairphone 5 15

Damien Wilde / Android Authority

It’s manner too early for any actual Fairphone 6 rumors simply but but it surely’s fairly seemingly the cellphone will exist finally. Fairphone’s first launch was manner again in 2013, so it’s a fairly established participant at this level. Then once more, it’s also a really small fish in a giant pond.

Whereas I wasn’t in a position to dig up newer numbers, it appears like the corporate offered round 115,681 handsets in 2022. After all, this was in the course of the Fairphone 4 days, and it was already a 12 months outdated. That’s fairly puny when you think about an enormous like Samsung offered round 259 million items. Even manufacturers smaller than giants like Apple and Samsung handle to do significantly better than this. For instance, the Pixel collection offered round 10 million items in 2022.

It’s actually onerous to gauge how financially secure the corporate is with out realizing extra about its workers prices and different belongings. The world can also be dealing with a whole lot of basic monetary instability in the mean time, making it even more durable to say for positive. Nonetheless, the corporate appears to be doing nicely, and it has a devoted, although small, fanbase. We’d say it’s greater than seemingly there’ll many extra Fairphone units.

As for when such a cellphone would possibly arrive? Fairphone’s constant launch schedule truly makes this one fairly straightforward to pin down.

  • Fairphone 5 — September 14, 2023
  • Fairphone 4 — September 30, 2021
  • Fairphone 3 — September 3, 2019

As you’ll be able to see, there was a brand new Fairphone each two years in September because the Fairphone 3. Earlier than that, launch cycles have been a bit extra random. Except Fairphone makes a significant change to its technique, I’d say you’re more likely to see the Fairphone 6 debut in any some level in September of 2025.

Must you look forward to the Fairphone 6?

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Damien Wilde / Android Authority

The Fairphone 5 hasn’t even been round six months, so I undoubtedly wouldn’t look forward to the following one, however I’m additionally undecided I’d leap out and purchase the present one both. On paper, it’s an incredible cellphone however with its reported overheating and battery drain points, I wouldn’t rush out and get one till the corporate has time to optimize the software program additional, which ought to hopefully assist. In case you completely desire a cellphone constructed round ethically sourced supplies, there’s actually no different available various exterior of the Fairphone 4 ($690 at Amazon). Whereas it’s beginning to age already, it might at the least tide you over till the Fairphone 5 both addresses its points or the Fairphone 6 arrives.

Fairphone 5Fairphone 5
AA Recommended

Fairphone 5

Modular • Repairable • 8 years of updates

You may take the Fairphone 5 aside with a screwdriver and restore it your self

The Fairphone 5 is a cellphone with reparaibility in thoughts. Almost each side of the cellphone might be eliminated and changed (and even upgraded) with only one screwdriver. To encourage long-term use, Fairphone will supply 5 Android upgrades, at the least eight years of updates, and probably even lengthen that to 10 years of updates!