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Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

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Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#311

Post by lopis »

pachico wrote: post #289

I never broke a phone, not even scratched the screen but I feel force to buy a new one every 3 years because they become obsolete (I guess apps require more and more memory to the point I cannot have two open at the same time, which kills my ability to pay online). I bought a Framework laptop for the same reason and I successfully managed to upgrade it, not repair it! Is there a phone that allows me to upgrade over t…

I really really hope FairPhone has a plan to start making their phones upgradable. They gave us a taste of it with the 3T. The FP5 is so similar to the FP4. I imagine they will eventually be able to estabilize the design and start offering backwards compatible parts. Until the 4, the hardware was just not up to industry standards.

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#312

Post by tetris11 »

ilkke wrote: post #304
pachico wrote: post #289

I never broke a phone, not even scratched the screen but I feel force to buy a new one every 3 years because they become obsolete (I guess apps require more and more memory to the point I cannot have two open at the same time, which kills my ability to pay online). I bought a Framework laptop for the same reason and I successfully managed to upgrade it, not repair it! Is there a phone that allows me to upgrade over t…

I have the same problem and no real solution. FWIW I've been able to make my (mid-range android) phone last for 7+ years now by uninstalling some apps whenever memory becomes an issue. Also I update apps only when forced.

Samsung j3 mini, running Android 11. I think there's even a 12 Lineage available, but the current one is so stable as a daily driver that I don't feel the need.

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#313

Post by cuu508 »

GuB-42 wrote: post #260
hsbauauvhabzb wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Travel, among other things. Wear on the phone side of the port should be considered too.

But usually, people don't travel with their wireless chargers, or if they do, their wireless charger wire will get the same bad treatment as their phone charging cable. As for wear on the phone side, the good thing of having a Fairphone is that it is easily replaceable. But USB-C ports are also designed to be more robust than the cable. So unless there is a defect, it should last the life of the phone.

Sadly in practice the USB-C port still is one of the weakest parts of the phone. When it becomes too loose / mushy / unreliable, and cleaning it does not help, and replacing it is not economical, then that's it for the phone.

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#314

Post by llamaInSouth »

pachico wrote: post #289

I never broke a phone, not even scratched the screen but I feel force to buy a new one every 3 years because they become obsolete (I guess apps require more and more memory to the point I cannot have two open at the same time, which kills my ability to pay online). I bought a Framework laptop for the same reason and I successfully managed to upgrade it, not repair it! Is there a phone that allows me to upgrade over t…

You are one of the rare people that never broke a phone, probably.... or you just started using a cellphone... or you dont really use it or armored case, or something similar

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#315

Post by vinc »

jaeckel wrote: post #162
fancyfredbot wrote: post #80

I owned a fairphone 3. It was expensive but very easy to take apart and promised years of updates. Then it broke, after about 18 months. Fine, I thought, I'm glad I got a repairable phone. I'll just fix it, it'll be easy. I determined the problem was with the main logic board and found that a) a new one would cost much more than an entirely new, and more capable phone and b) it was out of stock. I just bought a new p…

Sorry to hear that! I have a pretty low sample size of ~8 friends on FP3 and I can't remember hearing of a single hardware failure. Some batteries got replaced and some are even still going strong on their first battery. I've updated mine from 3 to 3+ and I'm on my second battery since this summer, I.e. the main board is ~4years old. A friend had some minor issues in the beginning with some internal connector but I c…

I had to replace the USB module on my FP3 because it couldn't charge my battery anymore. At first I tried to replace the battery but that didn't work, and I was afraid that the issue would be from the motherboard, but no I just needed to change that module. Great experience!

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#316

Post by robertlagrant »

pachico wrote: post #297
k__ wrote: post #294

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I noticed two ways. Either you don't get any updates and at one point you can't use any app because it's outdated. Or you get all updates and at one point you can't use any apps, because your phone became unbearably slow.

Yup, that's what I'm dealing with and it sucks. I am typing this from a phone that I am already considering replacing for this very same reason although it does everything well and I looks brand new (rubber case, screen protection, etc.). I understand phones are harder to upgrade because space is very limited but the e-waste we're generating (and the money impact) seems something that needs to be addressed.

> and the money impact

I imagine if this is something that lots of people want, it will result in more alternatives, but also raised prices. So it might not save money, but it might well result in less waste.

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#317

Post by baz00 »

prmoustache wrote: post #67
TrueGeek wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm surprised you're getting downvoted. The iPhone has been IP67 since iPhone 7 (so 7 years now). I figured more people appreciated this. I assume most Androids are the same. It's nice to be able to go kayaking and not worry about having to have a waterproof case. Mine once spent 10 hours in a back cycling jersey pocket where it rained the entire time and it was perfectly fine.

Having an IP67 phone is of little help if your phone end up at the bottom of a river/lake. Ask me how I know.

I dropped mine in a river in central asia.

I went in and got it out.

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#318

Post by rekoil »

k__ wrote: post #294
pachico wrote: post #289

I never broke a phone, not even scratched the screen but I feel force to buy a new one every 3 years because they become obsolete (I guess apps require more and more memory to the point I cannot have two open at the same time, which kills my ability to pay online). I bought a Framework laptop for the same reason and I successfully managed to upgrade it, not repair it! Is there a phone that allows me to upgrade over t…

I noticed two ways. Either you don't get any updates and at one point you can't use any app because it's outdated. Or you get all updates and at one point you can't use any apps, because your phone became unbearably slow.

The problem is really that the SoCs aren't maintained for long, and the complexity of the SoC concept makes maintaining it yourself as the device manufacturer at best impractical, maybe even impossible if the SoC manufacturer won't release necessary source code to you.

They want it this way because then they can sell more SoCs because users end up upgrading more often, and device manufacturers (besides Fairphone) don't complain because their interests are aligned.

On the Apple side you see devices getting support for much longer as Apple designs and maintains it's SoCs in-house, and at least to a degree value device longevity because that keeps second-hand prices relatively high, and that aligns somewhat with Apples interests.

Not quite 10 years, but we've seen feature updates for just under 7 years with the iPhone 6s (released 2015), and it's still receiving security updates and bug fixes.

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#319

Post by baz00 »

sgift wrote: post #25
baz00 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in the UK. It rains here. A lot. And I need to take calls.

I think you are good with IP55 in that case: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_code > Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm (0.25 in)) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. > Test duration: 1 minute per square meter for at least 3 minutes > Water volume: 12.5 litres per minute Pressure: 30 kPa (4.4 psi) at distance of 3 meters (9.8 ft)

It classifies as submersion when the case is saturated.

Also with these things you never buy at the line. You get something that's a couple of ratings higher than what you expect. That allows some margin for error and uncertainty.

Re: Fairphone 5: Keeping it 10/10?

#320

Post by whazor »

lopis wrote: post #311
pachico wrote: post #289

I never broke a phone, not even scratched the screen but I feel force to buy a new one every 3 years because they become obsolete (I guess apps require more and more memory to the point I cannot have two open at the same time, which kills my ability to pay online). I bought a Framework laptop for the same reason and I successfully managed to upgrade it, not repair it! Is there a phone that allows me to upgrade over t…

I really really hope FairPhone has a plan to start making their phones upgradable. They gave us a taste of it with the 3T. The FP5 is so similar to the FP4. I imagine they will eventually be able to estabilize the design and start offering backwards compatible parts. Until the 4, the hardware was just not up to industry standards.

You would not upgrade from the 5 to a 6, as it would be a small upgrade. You would likely want to upgrade from a 3, but the design is too old, the cameras are too small, and probably other problems. I think we need a very stable upgradable base.
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