My passion for mobile technology has been going on for 26 years. Which means I inevitably contributed to digital waste by buying and selling mobile devices. Last week, I tested a smartphone designed to counter these behaviors. How ? Thanks to modular hardware repairs and one of the longest software support policies I have ever seen.
The new phone carries over the iconic modular design of previous Fairphone models. The idea is that there is a basic framework from which it is possible to assemble modules. He is equipped :
- A Qualcomm 5G processor
- 8 GB RAM
- 256 GB internal storage space with a microSD card slot supporting up to 2 TB
- With an IP55 dust and water resistance rating
- A removable 4200 mAh battery
- From a triple camera system powered by sensors made by Sony.
Not bad for a gadget that claims to be eco-friendly.
The advantage of longevity
Sustainability, as with previous models, is key to the new Fairphone 5, with recycled materials from fair-trade mining and a take-back program for your old smartphone.
The general opinion is that the Fairphone 5 is an excellent mid-range smartphone, but its strength lies in its longevity. Fairphone offers a five-year warranty and promises at least five years of major Android OS updates, with a target of 8-10 years of software support. And if you want to replace any of the ten modular parts, all you need to do is use a screwdriver to do so without fear of hampering the operation of the device.
Luckily, when I took the Fairphone 5 out of its box, I was immediately impressed with its rock-solid sturdiness, beautiful light blue color, curved metal edges, matte plastic back, side power button /fingerprint sensor and its general appearance. I charged it up and turned it on to discover a beautiful 6.46-inch OLED display, capable of a 90Hz refresh rate.
The Fairphone 5 supports an eSIM card
The back cover is removable and reveals a large replaceable battery which can be recharged via a 30W charger, a microSD card slot and a SIM card slot. The rear panel snaps securely into several places on the device, allowing it to achieve IP55 water resistance. The Fairphone 5 also supports an eSIM card.
Here is what is included in the package. Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The Qualcomm QCM6490 processor supports 5G networks and Wi-Fi 6E and is primarily intended for IoT solutions such as rugged tablets. In my testing, the chip proved its ability to get the job done for communications, apps, and a few games.
However, when I tested the phone with a Verizon SIM card, I was unable to establish a cellular connection. But a T-Mobile USA SIM card worked well, and I was happy with the signal strength in all areas where I tested it. Download speeds were also strong, ranging from 36 Mbps to 58 Mbps.
I also took a lot of photos with the front and rear cameras, as camera quality is usually overlooked on cheaper phones. And unsurprisingly, in this regard, the Fairphone 5 is nothing extraordinary.
ZDNET’s buying tips for the Fairphone 5
Overall, the Fairphone 5 looks good, performs well, and positions itself as a competitive mid-range smartphone with a suggested retail price of €699. This price is higher than that of other mid-range Android smartphones. But if you consider this to be the only smartphone you’ll need for at least the next five years and helping the planet, it’s much easier to justify the price.
Apple, Samsung, and Google offer a few years of software updates with the latest smartphones, but each company continues to sell new models every year and even offers promotions to encourage consumers to update annually. That’s not good for the environment or the people who work to get the materials to make these phones.
Fairphone gives consumers the opportunity to take action and contribute to reducing waste, while showing that having the latest trendy smartphone is not sustainable in the long term. The question now is whether you will buy one.
To go further on the Fairphone
Source: “ZDNet.com”