Fairphone brand known for offering highly repairable and sustainable products, with long-term software support commitments, has just announced its latest smartphone – Fairphone 5.
Like its predecessors, the Fairphone 5 has relatively mid-range hardware, but it offers a host of features that could make it an attractive proposition for the environmentally conscious. The device is said to be made from 70% fairly-sourced and recycled materials and is manufactured by workers who the company claims are paid a “living wage.”.
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The Fairphone 5 features a 6.46-inch FullHD+ (2700 x 1224) OLED display with 90Hz refresh rate and up to 880 nits of brightness. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and has a sun-resistant coating. The device is powered by the Adreno 642L GPU and Qualcomm , which includes an octa-core 2.7GHz CPU. For those wondering, it is an IoT processor that Fairphone chose because it offers long-term software support, unlike Snapdragon SoCs. Other hardware specifications include 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage that can be expanded up to 2TB with a microSD card. The device has a 4,200mAh battery (with 30W fast charging support), which Fairphone claims can last a full day on a single charge.
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Imaging options include a dual camera on the back, with a Sony IMX 800 50MP primary sensor with OIS+EIS. Additionally, there is a Sony IMX 858 50MP ultra-wide shooter with EIS with a 117-degree field of view. The device supports 4K video recording at up to 30 fps and 1080p video at up to 60 fps. On the front, the Fairphone 5 features a Samsung JN1 50MP image sensor. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, 5G sub-6 GHz support, Bluetooth 5.2, and GPS. The device supports dual SIM cards, including one physical SIM and one eSIM. It also has a USB-C port for charging and is waterproof with an IP 55 rating, which means it is dust and water resistant.
The biggest advantage of the Fairphone 5 is its 8-year software support. This includes at least 5 years of Android updates and another 3 years of security patches. The company also claims that it will try to extend device updates for up to 10 years (until 2033), depending on hardware support. In terms of sustainability, the Fairphone 5 is easier to repair than other modern smartphones, with the company stating that all you need to open it is a Phillips-head screwdriver.
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Fairphone also emphasizes the ease of replacing the device's modules, having created ten modules that can be replaced by their users, without the need to visit a repair shop. The OLED screen, front and rear cameras, USB port and battery are just a few of the available modules, all of which can be ordered directly from Fairphone or the company's official commercial partners.
The Fairphone 5 is available for pre-order starting today, with shipping starting on September 14. Prices start at €699 (about $764) in the eurozone and £619 (about $787) in the UK. There are no immediate plans for a US launch, but that could change in the future, as the Fairphone 4 is currently available for purchase in the country.
Source: xda-developers.com
