The Fairphone 5 represented a serious step ahead for the sustainable telephone firm. Whereas it improved upon a lot of its predecessor’s shortcomings, it was removed from good. Not solely had been there battery life and warmth dissipation considerations, however there have been additionally a couple of different areas the place it fell quick as an Android telephone. Though its successor remains to be a great distance off, right here’s my wishlist for what I’d prefer to see within the Fairphone 6.
Higher thermals are a should
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
The Fairphone 5 performs pretty effectively in terms of fundamental duties, however even then, you’re prone to encounter overheating points that may actually spoil what would in any other case be an honest mid-range expertise. Our personal Rita El Khoury beforehand famous in her assessment that the telephone would typically overheat, and never simply from prolonged periods. Even simply thirty minutes of use was sufficient to make the telephone noticeably heat, and longer periods might develop into uncomfortable rapidly. It’s not simply the processor that causes these thermal overloads, both. Simply 5 minutes of digicam use in our check mannequin was sufficient to make the module very heat, even in comparatively cool climate.
It’s fairly apparent this received’t fly once more. I understand that growing a contemporary telephone that the common Joe can take aside comes with huge challenges in terms of constructing respectable thermal options. The modular design leaves much less room for one. It’s additionally only a problem to construct a case with correct airflow that’s nonetheless simple to open proper up. A big a part of the issue was the Qualcomm QCM6490 chip discovered contained in the telephone, which we’ll get to a bit afterward this wishlist. Nonetheless, it’s essential for Fairphone to handle this situation within the Fairphone 6. Even a slight improve within the telephone’s case measurement might assist, as it could present additional room for air flow.
Let’s resolve the battery life subsequent time, lets?
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
Battery drain is a serious situation with the Fairphone 5. Whereas its 4,200mAh capability is usually sufficiently big for a telephone with mid-range specs, that’s not the case right here. In our testing, we discovered that the Fairphone 5 might hardly ever make it by means of a full day’s use and not using a top-off. Even after we stopped utilizing it, it sat on the assessment desk for some time, and we observed it could solely take about two days to empty even when idle, a course of that takes most different telephones nearer to per week.
Fairphone has promised it’s engaged on software program optimizations that ought to hopefully enhance battery life on the present technology, however trying forward, the Fairphone 6 ought to bounce as much as a 5,000mAh battery, much like what you’d discover in one other mid-ranger, just like the Galaxy A54 5G. I think that many people curious about telephones with minimal impression on the atmosphere are additionally prone to go off the grid now and again. Having an even bigger battery looks as if a pure match for this sequence.
In fact, simply transferring on to a extra power-efficient processor will seemingly assist the battery life bounce up dramatically. However the one-two punch from upsizing the battery would seemingly make this a telephone that might simply final into the two-day mark if Fairphone performs their playing cards proper. On the very least, it wouldn’t die earlier than in the future is up!
A extra highly effective, optimized processor, please
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The Qualcomm QCM6490 is a curious alternative for a processor, because it’s not primarily constructed with telephones in thoughts and is as an alternative billed as an IoT chip. Nonetheless, there’s a technique to the insanity right here. Fairphone opted for this processor as a result of it knew it had long-term help on its aspect, permitting it to confidently promise eight years of safety updates. Sadly, it’s very seemingly the chip is the explanation for each battery drain and overheating points, because it merely wasn’t optimized for this function.
Fairphone tried to assume exterior the field right here, however I’d argue it’s not a transfer value repeating. Whereas Google and Samsung each supply replace insurance policies of seven years of OS and safety updates for his or her flagship telephones, Qualcomm will seemingly proceed to enhance its help for cellular chips. Though this improved help could presently solely apply to higher-end SoCs, Samsung’s help traits usually lengthen downward over time, suggesting that a lot of Samsung’s future finances units might additionally supply higher help. By that logic, Fairphone would take fewer dangers subsequent time round by sticking to a extra tried-and-true mid-range chip. In any case, the Fairphone 6 received’t seemingly floor till 2025, so it nonetheless has slightly time earlier than it has to lock down a chip forward of manufacturing.
A wi-fi charging possibility could be a pleasant additional
Okay, not everybody cares about wi-fi charging, myself included. I’ve a wi-fi charger, however I typically find yourself simply plugging within the USB-C cable because it’s sooner. Nonetheless, the modular nature of the Fairphone sequence lends itself to a bit extra flexibility. I hope the Fairphone 6 provides wi-fi charging for individuals who choose it, even when meaning making it an add-on. Maybe Fairphone might accommodate room within the case design however require you to purchase the module individually so you’ll be able to add it your self.
A bodily 3.5mm jack is smart for a telephone like this
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
One other smaller factor however the Fairphone 6 is a telephone that’s additionally a pure match for a 3.5mm headphone jack. Let’s face it, at present’s wi-fi earbuds and headphones have a a lot larger environmental impression than old-school wired options. There’s a battery, the parts wanted for Bluetooth, in addition to the parts for any on-device controls. If the Fairphone is meant to enchantment to those that wish to reduce their environmental impression, a headphone jack could be a pleasant additional. Similar to wi-fi charging, it might even be one thing which you can add on your self for an additional value if the corporate doesn’t wish to supply it by default.
Fairphone 6 wishlist: What would you most prefer to see?
94 votes
Will there be a Fairphone 6?
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
It’s manner too early for any actual Fairphone 6 rumors simply but however it’s fairly seemingly the telephone will exist ultimately. Fairphone’s first launch was manner again in 2013, so it’s a reasonably established participant at this level. Then once more, it is usually a really small fish in a giant pond.
Whereas I wasn’t in a position to dig up newer numbers, it seems like the corporate bought round 115,681 handsets in 2022. In fact, this was in the course of the Fairphone 4 days, and it was already a yr outdated. That’s fairly puny when you think about an enormous like Samsung bought round 259 million models. Even manufacturers smaller than giants like Apple and Samsung handle to do significantly better than this. For instance, the Pixel sequence bought round 10 million models in 2022.
It’s actually onerous to gauge how financially secure the corporate is with out understanding extra about its employees prices and different property. The world can be dealing with loads of common monetary instability for the time being, making it even tougher to say for certain. Nonetheless, the corporate appears to be doing effectively, and it has a devoted, although small, fanbase. We’d say it’s greater than seemingly there’ll many extra Fairphone units.
As for when such a telephone would possibly arrive? Fairphone’s constant launch schedule truly makes this one fairly simple to pin down.
- Fairphone 5 — September 14, 2023
- Fairphone 4 — September 30, 2021
- Fairphone 3 — September 3, 2019
As you’ll be able to see, there was a brand new Fairphone each two years in September for the reason that Fairphone 3. Earlier than that, launch cycles had been a bit extra random. Until Fairphone makes a serious change to its technique, I’d say you might be prone to see the Fairphone 6 debut in any some level in September of 2025.
Must you watch for the Fairphone 6?
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
The Fairphone 5 hasn’t even been round six months, so I positively wouldn’t watch for the following one, however I’m additionally unsure I’d leap out and purchase the present one both. On paper, it’s a terrific telephone however with its reported overheating and battery drain points, I wouldn’t rush out and get one till the corporate has time to optimize the software program additional, which ought to hopefully assist. In the event you completely need a telephone constructed round ethically sourced supplies, there’s actually no different available different exterior of the Fairphone 4 ($690 at Amazon). Whereas it’s beginning to age already, it might a minimum of tide you over till the Fairphone 5 both addresses its points or the Fairphone 6 arrives.
Fairphone 5
Modular • Repairable • 8 years of updates
You’ll be able to take the Fairphone 5 aside with a screwdriver and restore it your self
The Fairphone 5 is a telephone with reparaibility in thoughts. Practically each side of the telephone could be eliminated and changed (and even upgraded) with only one screwdriver. To encourage long-term use, Fairphone will supply 5 Android upgrades, a minimum of eight years of updates, and probably even lengthen that to 10 years of updates!