Fairphone 5

[...] My only gripe is that it seems a bit slower after Android 15 (?) but I have the feeling that this is more of an A15 issue than a Fairphone issue. Apps being killed very quickly in the bg, phone turning slow when going through the recent apps history, etc. [...] Here’s to 3-6 more years Screenshot20251117-10074921224×1704 134 KB

Just wanted to share that my Fairphone 5 is 2 years and 2 days old! [...] Last June I met another fellow Fairphone 5 user in the wild and we had a little moment to talk about why we decided to get this phone. [...] The screenshot below is from the “Phone Timeline” available in the Fairphone app. Screenshot20251112-20590821224×1711 122 KB

[...] Overall good performance. I have no complaints about the battery, have not changed it since I bought the phone. As my phone use does not require the absolute best camera and I am not a gamer, I am happy to vote with my money for a more ethical choice.

i've been using my Fairphone 5 without any google account since last december, so about 5 months now i guess? [...] The apps i use most by far are messaging apps like Signal and Telegram which offer direct downloads and easy updating without play store, Organic maps for navigation, breezy weather, Immich (google photos replacement, self hosted) and etar (calendar, but its kinda clunky). [...]

I've been using a Fairphone 3 for 4 years. The battery is still good and I still get Android security updates. They promise to support the newest model Fairphone 5 up to 8 years. [...]

[...] I own my fp5 for over 9 month now and I can tell that the fingerprint sensor isn't bad! Actually, I like the position as well as the performance of it. [...]

I’ve had my fairphone 5 for 3 years now, and have had to replace the battery twice and the usb c port. [...] Now in it’s 3rd year it has started to glitch and slow down. WiFi drop outs, getting stuck in landscape mode, calls dropping, just a lot of performance issues. [...] With the hardware and software glitches I can’t see me using this phone for much longer just for it’s unreliability. [...]

[...] I'm as little reliant on proprietary services as possible and I'll jump to Linux mobile (having used a pinephone for one year as my main phone, I know it'll be comfortable for me) when a convincing phone that's not very expensive given the outdated hardware it has and that doesn't rely on an Android base can run it smoothly enough, but that phone doesn't exist yet. [...] The Fairphone 5 I have is very close to run PostmarketOS well, I have hope but for now few but critical features are missing.

[...] I broke a phone a year multiple years in a row before fairphone, it was crazy. [...] No screen cracks, nothing. [...] Battery lasts all day for me, as someone who watches tik toks every break and commute I have, but also has a screen free job. [...]

I have had Fairphone 5 for a bit over a year and I have not had any issues so far and would overall say this as positive investment for me. If your interest is in longevity then its positive for sure on that On gaming its not that good and pricing for sure it can be from higher end

I want to connect a Choyong internet radio to the hotspot on my fairphone 5. Unfortunately the Choyong radio can only connect to 2.4GHz Wifi and my Fairphone hotspot always goes to the 5GHz band even after I set in the Hotspot settings on the phone I prefer 2.4GHz. [...]

I have the Fairphone 5, for which they picked the IoT equivalent of the mobile chipset so they could ensure 10 years of driver availability from the vendor (8 years of majors + 2 of security patching IIRC). [...] That's 8 years of software updates when Android devices from that era barely got 3, and you had to pick the flagship. Kernel updates used to be bound to Android versions because of how the kernel modules development was handled, not really limited by the company or the hardware. I owned a OnePlus 5 and the custom ROM was stuck with older kernels for a while too, until the community stepped up to port it, because there just wasn't an easy way to build kernels with updated custom vendor modules for the hardware. [...] So newer kernels may still lag a bit based on the manpower available and priorities, but they should be easier to do. Now that replacement cycles have become longer because hardware is good enough that you don't need to change phone every year, and Android supports KMI and other features that make maintenance easier, more vendors decided to extend support, so at least there's some more choice. From the environment point of view, I can now finally easily repair my phone. A friend of mine always had bad luck with pixels, so bad that he went through 4 phones in 5 years (2 bought, 2 replacements). [...]

I just switched to a Fairphone 5 with e/OS, which is a de-googled Android (it uses microG), and am pleasantly surprised how well everything works. [...]

I understand we are getting personal about our phones and have our - sometimes - unique expectations. There is a dedicated thread on memory management issues linked to Android 15 - that is why I asked - with the company representatives confirming looking into it. But some users - included myself - are not experiencing that. My apps (apart from Spotify) do not usually close and I am able to complete most of my actions (payments, authentification, shopping). Hard to say how I would feel otherwise, perhaps would struggle like you or look for some radical solutions (a factory reset might be one).

[...] I don’t think it was distinctly different after the Android 15 update. I would definitely agree with your comments about night-mode photos. [...]

JamesANMacaulay: Apps: even having researched and adjusted all the settings, everything closes in the background the moment you swipe to a different screen. [...] Hello has it always been like that or since the update to Android 15? JamesANMacaulay: And the lowlight capability just isn’t there - I tried to take a photo with the lead singer of a band I had gone to see, and it was just a totally blurred mess and I was too embarrassed to ask to retake it. In my experience, when there is nightlight mode on, pictures need more time to be processed and when I move the phone too early, the picture gets blurry. [...]

That sounds frustrating indeed. [...] However, I own a Fairphone 6 with /e/OS and have only been using it for less than three weeks. [...]

Hi, long time reader / first time poster here - but sadly I think it’s time to say goodbye to my Fairphone 5. [...] I have had the FP5 since early 2024. [...] - Apps: even having researched and adjusted all the settings, everything closes in the background the moment you swipe to a different screen. [...] - Camera: in perfect lighting,

I use a Fairphone 5 and plan to stick with it for a while (after all, that's the point!) but this does look very nice. [...] I got mine on a trip to Europe and it works here, but not always consistently. [...]

Really loving my Fairphone 5 - basically smartphones are enough of a commodity now everything feels really high quality and fast physically. [...]

[...] Thanks to that, now I have iPhone (longer support) and Fairphone 5 (I like how they try to upstream everything for this phone and promise really long support). [...] As long as browser is up-to-date, she doesn't connect to unknown WiFi networks/Bluetooth devices and she is not targeted. The easiest security fix is to not have anything worth anything on the phone :D

I have had a pretty similarly bad experience repairing my pixel 4a the other month. Purchased a new screen and kit from ifixit for 1/3 the cost of buying a new phone, even had to get a heat gun to unglue the old screen, and guess what? [...] Just got a fairphone 4, optimistic but the build quality is shit and they're already rolling out a fairphone 5 now... [...]

I have used various providers Vodafone, EE, O2 and Lebara, SIM card and e-sim over the last three years due to my work. The poor performance issues have slowly got worse. Even after a factory reset and slowly introducing only relevant apps back, the performance issues remain. I have normally kept my phones for 4-5 years depending on battery performance and because of Fairphones business ethos I was really hoping the Fairphone 5 would last a lot longer than 3 years. But unfortunately in practice the Fairphone 5 performance is pretty poor and customer service even worse. [...]

[...] I buy it because its durable and long-term security support because of my banking apps. I love Fairphone promise of long-term support which means they wont deliberately slow their phones via updates. But I understand that it may degrade performance as it gets old at least not intentional. The weight is a plus feature for me to use my phone less. [...] I don't game on my phone and use only banking and productivity apps like email and notes. [...]

I've bought my fairphone 5 a few weeks back and overall I'm quite happy with how it's performing. I went from a Samsung Galaxy S10+ to a FP5 and I've largely upgraded in terms of specs, slightly downgraded in some others, and I would agree on the battery. I'd been wondering why the battery was draining so quickly yet also not (on standby) seeing as it should be quite a bit better than my old 3+ year old battery on my old phone, but it barely is. The theory of the chip causing this makes sense to me, and weighing the options, i'd rather have a chip that allows update support for 8 years than one that's fully optimised for energy use. [...] Overall the FP5 is very suitable for what I tend to use it for, mainly social media and video streaming, and I like that i'll be able to just replace parts if they break, especially seeing as with two phones I've previously had, having access to relatively cheap replacement parts that i could switch out myself and the inside of the phone in the first place would have allowed me to use them for quite a bit longer than i did. [...] I do like the look and feel of the phone myself, it's relatively bulky and heavy, but personally I quite like phones like that. [...]

Anyone phone shopping, if it's compatible with your network, I cannot rave about the fairphone 5 enough. I fell into a creek today and was able to open my phone up completely to make sure things got thoroughly dry! [...]

I have just bought a second hand Fairphone 5 and it has positively surprised me at every level. I expected the quality to be much less than other phones on the market because of the modular design, the long software support and the sourcing of sustainable and fair materials but this is simply not the case. [...] The battery performance is better than that of my previous phone (even when it was new) and I think the camera is good, I compared it to 2 Samsungs (good cameras) and do not see a difference either in sharpness or colors. [...] I had a little hickup with APN settings (guess because it was a second hand) and got quick and good assistance and solved the issue painlessly, so even the customer support is good. [...]

[...] I didn’t want to start a new topic, and I didn’t find an existing one for the FP6, so if it doesn’t exist maybe someone can edit title to “Fairphone 5 & 6”)? [...] So yes, I very much miss the LED showing charging and notifications. [...] so yes, if someone has ideas to work around these problems (that don’t affect the FP’s health or warranty) I’m very much interested as well.

Hi all, I’m experiencing an inconsistent charging problem with my Fairphone 5 and I’m having trouble pinpointing the cause. The problem When I leave my phone on the charger, it shows as charging, but when I come back hours later, the battery has only gained a few percent. using the AccuBattery Pro App: there is no actual charging current during these periods, even though the phone reports that it is charging. When I plug it in, it does charge normally at first. [...] It doesn’t seem to happen when I’m navigating in the car, or when I charge it quickly somewhere for half a day. Suspects The original Fairphone charger (30W) The USB-C port on the phone (it was already replaced earlier this year for an audio issue, so it could be faulty again) My Hema USB-C to USB-C cable (my first guess, but I’ve seen the same behavior with other cables when swapping them for testing), using a second Hema cable in my car no issues ther, same type of cable. The battery. [...] What I’ve noticed with different chargers Old Samsung charger (from a tablet, old type USB-A, rated 2A) with an old, cheap, extra-long USB-A to USB-C cable: I have never had the problem with this one, and charging is surprisingly fast, only slightly slower than a modern charger. Fairphone charger (30W): usually charges at around 15-20W, but it is the one where I often come back to a phone that hasn’t charged. No-name 20W PD charger (USB-A and USB-C): charges at around 8W, but the AccuBattery reading jumps around constantly, sometimes much higher, sometimes much lower. a new 12V car charger wite a old type USB-A and normal USB-C PD connection. [...] Side question I’m trying to use AccuBattery to determine the maximum current and power of my chargers and cables, but the results look quite random, even after multiple attempts. [...]

Hello My FP5 is just getting ready fot its third birthday and the main issue I am experiencing is the recent button not always responding Recent button not-responsive Fairphone 5 Continuing the discussion from Software Update: FP5.VT32.C.116.20260903 : I have decided to create a new topic. [...]

I'm switching from a Pixel 7a to the Fairphone 5. Screen cracked on my 7a and the repair quote I got was 70% of the price of a new 7a. I'm getting a worse phone in every way with the F5 but I hope and suspect it's good enough for me and when it breaks I can repair it myself for a fraction of the cost of what the repair would be on any other phone.

[...] Bluetooth is great, but there's things it just literally cannot do, like operate without batteries because it's physically connected via cable to the device producing audio. [...] So to see them keep it off for the Fairphone 5, to me, is frankly them ignoring their actual audience. [...]

The question of how much we're willing to continue sacrificing the health and safety of our environment for the sake of better performance; versus on the other hand accepting a higher price point and some inconveniences to work around (such as, as you mention, investing in extra batteries to make up for the power drain of the main one) is a decision I think we all need to be making very carefully, and questioning how much benefit we're getting out of the marginal improvements versus how much more they cost - not to our wallets, but to our world. It's valid for different people to find that it either is or is not worth the trade-offs for them... Personally, I think that when you're looking at the big picture, FairPhone 5 is exactly the kind of tech that it is vital to have on the market and getting as much press as possible so that even if it's not for everyone, those people who are willing to pay more for the care taken and for the long product life can DO so, and still be getting a solidly usable and convenient modern product.

[...] And I have a friend who keeps his small IPhone because they stopped building smaller phones, too. [...] For me, I want to be able to operate the phone with one hand, and the large screen makes it difficult to reach all the spots on the screen even with large hands. I do operate my Fairphone 5 with one hand, but it is super awkward and at some point, the phone will fall into a gully because I cannot hold it tight while navigating. And I wouldn't mind 2mm more thickness if this means the cameras are flush with the back and the battery is larger.

On the other hand, the Fairphone 5 is hardly a ball of fire when it comes to processor power. [...] I think performance might be what limits its actual useful life. I have had to replace phones more for being slow (since software is always eating up more and more performance) than for actual physical failures.

[...] Its most defining feature, for me, is its removable battery. [...] Over the Fairphone 5, the Samsung Xcover has a headphone jack, dual sim and a IP68 rating, it is a rugged phone. [...] The Fairphone has a better camera, better specs in general (but not best in class), and is more expensive. [...] The rest is about build quality, which is not easy to judge by the specs. [...] Software-wise, the Fairphone is, I think, much better. [...] All in all, I think both are worthwhile options, they just made different... [...]

[...] I am still using a Galaxy Note 8 as daily driver, which works perfectly fine, and since day I do that with a very thick and sturdy shell. [...]

I own a Fairphone 5 and have never had the audio issue that Linus speaks about, not sure if it's some weird prototype issue. I also don't mind the weird processor, they were criticized on the Fairphone 4 for not being able to keep up with processor security updates, and unfortunately, fairphone isn't big enough to have their own custom chip. [...]

For some time, my Fairphone 5 had been having serious charging problems. Most USB-C cables would disconnect or only work if I pressed the connector into the port. Strangely, some cables worked better than others, and I could sometimes get fast charging with my power bank. I initially suspected the cables or chargers, so I bought a new USB-C cable and a 30W charger. Both supported fast charging, but I still had to apply some pressure to keep the connection stable. I eventually ordered a replacement USB-C module for my Fairphone 5. [...] The cable connects firmly, and fast charging works without having to hold or press anything. [...] As for the replacement USB-C module I’ve already ordered, I’ve decided to keep it as a spare in case I actually need it someday. [...] If you’re experiencing similar problems, it might be worth checking for accumulated dirt before ordering replacement parts. [...]

[...] I didn't experience those audio issues. Though, the first week I've owned it, it did seem a bit fussy about actually transmitting audio through Bluetooth. But even without a software update, that behaviour just stopped. [...] I use it at 90hz, and I really like it. But it feels like sometimes scrolling turns to jelly, and responsiveness worsens, until you toggle the refresh rate down to 60, then back up to 90 (or just toggle the battery saver, it does the same thing). I'm perfectly happy with it's overall day to day performance. [...]

[...] I don’t like the stock OS shipped with the Fairphone 5. Google included, no customization, missing essential options for me I have on other system like LineageOS (tile of USB tethering, prevent screen from wake up when connecting/disconnecting charge cable etc.) While waiting for official alternative system, I want to install a GSI (RisingOS or crDroid) to make the work. [...] But all GSI come as a system.img file, while the Fairphone 5 use the new super format (one file for system, vendor etc.) All my attempt to install the GSI resulted in… nothing. [...] What is the procedure to install GSIs on Fairphone 5? [...]

Yep, I hit a lot of the same problems you have, and finally gave up after about 18 months with my FP5, switched to a Nothing Phone (3). It’s been so nice not having to fight with my phone for basic functionality. I’m really hoping the software issues are temporary, and that fairphone figures things out, I just couldn’t put up with it any more.

I’m also in for two years Also, no real problems, small glitches, sure, but then, my wife’s Samsung phone isn’t perfect, either… BTW, more timely updates would be fine, just saying… Screenshot20251113-07350511165×1811 92.4 KB

[...] I have saved a similar screenshot in my collection:) Screenshot20251007-0544401224×2700 121 KB Once we hit 3 years, we will most likely qualify for a badge:) In terms of learning more about the fellow users, feel free to read this topic Welcome! [...] I’m Marco and I help run Fairphone’s Customer Support team! All of my lovely colleagues are featured on the picture below! [...]

It's been a little bit over a year now since I bought the Fairphone 5. And I should have listened to Linus. The main motivation for me was the long 7 year support, but I really can't tolerate this anymore after a year in.

I've had a Fairphone 5 for a year and it seems fine to me. I do remember people giving up on the early ones.

I have had my Fairphone 5 since 2023 and I enjoy it, but I also barely use its camera. Otherwise I do like it, though I installed LineageOS on it because Fairphone is kind of slow with updates.

[...] I've switched to Bluetooth but agree it isn't compatible with old school tech. That said, I've had my fairphone 5+ years now. The only replacement I've needed was a battery change which was so simple to do!

Liquid glass basically was the last straw for me to get away from Apple. I got a Fairphone 5 late last year and will switch from my iPad to a 2-in-1 Windows laptop this year.

@footsteps 2 years ago, I bought a Fairphone 5 while traveling to England. I have used CalyxOS on it, slightly different. [...] ATT does not sorry wifi calling. [...]