cross-posted from: https://rss.ponder.cat/post/214933
You can access and swap out several components in the Fairphone 6, including its battery, with a single screwdriver. | Image: Fairphone
Fairphone has announced its latest repairable smartphone, nearly two years after introducing the last upgrade. The new Fairphone 6 is smaller and 9 percent lighter than its predecessor, but it includes a larger 4,415mAh battery โ easily replaceable by removing just seven screws โ that will power the phone for up to 53 hours on a full charge. Itโs also more modular than previous versions, with new accessories like a card holder and finger loop that can be attached to the back of the phone.
The Fairphone 6 is available now through the companyโs online store and other European retailers for โฌ599 (around $696). There are black, green, and white color options. But as with previous versions dating back to the Fairphone 3, the new model will only be available in the US through Murena, and delivery is expected sometime in August. Instead of running standard Android, the Murena version of the Fairphone 6 will feature a privacy-focused and de-Googled version of Android that the company calls /e/OS. Itโs available for preorder now for $899.
The Fairphone 6 has a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 mobile processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage thatโs expandable up to 2TB using an SDXC card. It also features a 6.31-inch LTPO OLED display thatโs slightly smaller than the Fairphone 5โs 6.46-inch screen, but with a refresh rate boosted from 90Hz to 120Hz.
On the back, youโll find a 50MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide camera, while the front has a 32MP hole-punch camera for selfies and video calls. Thatโs a significant step down from the Fairphone 5, which used 50MP sensors on all three of its cameras.
The Fairphone 6โs physical design is similar to the previous model, although the lenses on the back are no longer located on a small camera bump and instead sit directly on the back panel. That panel is more modular now, allowing the lower section to be removed using just two screws and replaced with alternatives that add more functionality, like a wallet for holding cards or a finger loop for more securely holding the phone with one hand. The idea is similar to the swappable accessories Nothing offers for its CMF Phone 1 and Phone Pro 2, but how useful it will actually be depends on how many accessories Fairphone makes available.
Repairability is still a priority for Fairphone, and its new phone carries forward the same modular design of past versions. The modular aspect lets you access and swap 12 different parts โ including the screen, battery, and USB port โ using just a single standard screwdriver instead of specialized tools.
To further extend the Fairphone 6โs lifespan, the company includes a five-year warranty and promises eight years of software support through 2033. But the downside to not having everything inside the phone being glued in place and sealed tight is that the Fairphone 6 still has a limited IP55 rating for dust and water resistance. It can get splashed or even blasted with a jet of water, but it wonโt survive an accidental submersion.
Aside from performance improvements and the new modular accessories, Fairphone seems to be staying the course with its latest smartphone, but it is introducing one additional new feature on the software side: Fairphone Moments. Activated through a physical switch on the phoneโs side, it will let you โtoggle between a full-featured smartphone and a minimalist experience.โ
We donโt know exactly what Fairphone Moments will be minimizing, but since the company describes it as being โa mindful way to engage with technology, putting owners in control, not their notifications,โ it sounds like an alternate mode that reduces distractions so you can focus on specific tasks.
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Lighter, smaller, better battery life than the 5. Very happy about those features.
A tiny bit sad you need a screwdriver to swap the battery, and a tiny bit sad you don't get a headphone jack.
Seems like they keep moving in generally the right direction
Definitely. I was getting worried that the phone was growing bigger and heavier with each new model until the 4. Seems like they successfully reversed coursed and the phone is now pretty "small" for today's standards (screen is iPhone Pro size)
I'm actually quite fond of a large screen, but it's not enough of a selling point for me to not go for this as my next phone. I have large enough hands that I don't struggle with reach on a large phone, so the main drawback is the additional battery power. But the fairphone has a swappable battery anyway, so that issue is more or less nullified.
My pet peeve is the front camera, I cannot wrap my head around the lunacy of having a large dead spot on the front of the phone, to the point I'd rather have a phone with no front facing camera than a big dead spot. People throw out screens for less.
Fairphone is almost the ideal phone for me, except this, and although I can probably remove the camera module, I can't swap the screen for one without the dead patch.