Fairphone 6
![MrMobile [Michael Fisher]](https://yt3.ggpht.com/RpqJy1uS9sbNkT9zExMcvg0_wiGr-84xC-D0k5gLyOtDw1NMSzySlMz-ldmBtWCKqgUzjHMu=s88-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj){kind=small}
The Phone You Don't Need To Feel Bad About
Pros
- High iFixit repairability rating with user-replaceable components
- Long-term support with 5-year warranty and 8 years of software updates
- Ethically made, planet-friendly and consumer-friendly design
- Solid full-day battery life and user-replaceable battery
- Excellent call quality with effective noise cancellation
Cons
- Sluggish camera app and mid-range photo quality
- Disappointing ultra-wide camera performance, especially in low light
- Jutter in Android animations and cheap-feeling haptic motor
- Slow and inconsistent auto-brightness
- Limited 5G band support in the US leading to reduced coverage
The Fairphone 6 is a solid mid-range smartphone that truly shines through its unparalleled commitment to repairability, sustainability, and ethical manufacturing, earning a 10/10 iFixit rating and offering impressive longevity with an 8-year software support promise.
It provides reliable daily performance, solid battery life, and excellent call quality, making it a compelling choice for consumers who prioritize long-term use and responsible technology over cutting-edge specs.
However, it has notable drawbacks including a sluggish camera app with a poor ultra-wide lens, juddery animations, a cheap haptic motor, and inconsistent auto-brightness. Despite its nearly $700 price and these limitations, it stands out as the most consumer-friendly and planet-friendly phone available.
“The quickest way I can sum up my week with this thing is that it feels like a solid mid-ranger. The spec sheet is neither over nor underwhelming, and the same is true of the performance it delivers.”
“I fix it 10 out of 10 repairability rating seems to be well earned here.”
“Add in the repairability, a 5-year warranty, and a promised 8 years of software support [...] I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that this is the most consumerfriendly, planetfriendly phone available. It's definitely not for everyone.”
Zooming in on weird cameras | The Vergecast
Pros
- The phone is notably easy to repair, even for novices.
- It offers extensive long-term software support with 8 years of OS updates.
- It is available with a de-Googled OS option in Europe.
“I managed to take the phone completely apart to its parts and put it all the way back together, and it still worked at the other end of it all.”
“they give you years of software updates. you can fix the phone easily yourself, get spare parts.”
“you can get the version running EOS. You can get that in Europe as well, so that's completely deoogled as an option.”
I made their CEO mad - Fairphone Gen. 6
Pros
- Features a bright 120Hz OLED display, reaching up to 2000 nits.
- Offers significantly improved battery longevity for media playback.
- Includes an easy to access and user-replaceable battery.
- Utilizes a proper smartphone processor, making the device feel snappier.
- Emphasizes ethical material sourcing and sustainability.
Cons
- Produces generally disappointing camera image quality with unpleasing bokeh.
- Exhibits noticeable video jitter, especially when panning.
- Performance significantly lags behind similarly priced flagship phones.
- The price is difficult to justify purely on phone functionality.
- Has an IP55 rating, limiting water resistance to heavy rain, not immersion.
The Fairphone Gen 6 brings notable improvements over its predecessor, including a high-brightness 120Hz OLED screen, significantly better performance from a dedicated smartphone processor, and enhanced battery life. Its strong points also include repairability, a user-replaceable battery, and long-term software support.
However, the device struggles with a major weakness in camera performance, producing unpleasing images and unstable video. Its overall performance still lags behind competitors at a similar price point, and the extended software support is no longer a unique selling proposition.
Ultimately, while the Fairphone Gen 6 makes strides in usability, its core appeal and justification for its price remain primarily rooted in its commitment to ethical materials and sustainability.
“And I'm hoping that the Fairphone Gen 6 is going to find a middle ground between well, the sustainability, not to mention ethical production as well as longevity that they're promising and the day-to-day usability that I'm asking for.”
“But I still consider this to be an upgrade, raising the question, would you really even want to be using this 7 to 8 years from now?”
“And I think basically it comes down to um your interest in fair materials.”
Fairphone (Gen 6): Everything Android fans want, but will you buy it?
Pros
- Offers exceptional repairability with user-replaceable components.
- Guarantees long software support until 2033 with six major Android updates.
- Comes with an extensive five-year warranty.
- Features a removable battery for easy swapping.
- Provides expandable storage up to 2TB.
Cons
- Cameras are considered mid-range and do not stand out.
- The phone commands a slight premium price.
The Fairphone Gen 6 distinguishes itself with exceptional repairability, allowing users to replace most components themselves, and boasts impressive longevity with a five-year warranty and software updates until 2033. It features solid mid-range specifications, including a 120Hz LTPO OLED display, a Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 processor, and expandable storage up to 2TB, along with a removable battery.
However, its camera performance is considered average, and it carries a slight premium price point. This phone is best suited for users who prioritize sustainability, durability, and extended support over cutting-edge camera performance.
“The fact that you can repair almost all of the main components of this phone with a single screwdriver at home on your own is just an added bonus.”
“it's a good spec mid-range phone that you're paying a slight premium for because you believe in the ethos of Fairphone.”
“Do you just really like the durability of this phone? because I think that is great”