The Fairphone 5 represented a serious step ahead for the sustainable cellphone firm. Whereas it improved upon a lot of its predecessor’s shortcomings, it was removed from good. Not solely have been there battery life and warmth dissipation considerations, however there have been additionally just a few different areas the place it fell brief as an Android cellphone. Though its successor remains to be a good distance off, right here’s my wishlist for what I’d wish to see within the Fairphone 6.
Higher thermals are a should
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
The Fairphone 5 performs pretty nicely in relation to primary 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 evaluation that the cellphone would usually overheat, and never simply from prolonged periods. Even simply thirty minutes of use was sufficient to make the cellphone noticeably heat, and longer periods may turn into uncomfortable rapidly. It’s not simply the processor that causes these thermal overloads, both. Simply 5 minutes of digicam use in our take a look at 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 creating a contemporary cellphone that the common Joe can take aside comes with massive challenges in relation to 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 straightforward to open proper up. A big a part of the issue was the Qualcomm QCM6490 chip discovered contained in the cellphone, which we’ll get to a bit in a while this wishlist. Nonetheless, it’s essential for Fairphone to handle this difficulty within the Fairphone 6. Even a slight enhance within the cellphone’s case measurement may assist, as it could present further room for air flow.
Let’s resolve the battery life subsequent time, lets?
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
Battery drain is a serious difficulty with the Fairphone 5. Whereas its 4,200mAh capability is often sufficiently big for a cellphone with mid-range specs, that’s not the case right here. In our testing, we discovered that the Fairphone 5 may hardly ever make it by means of a full day’s use with no top-off. Even after we stopped utilizing it, it sat on the evaluation 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 every week.
Fairphone has promised it’s engaged on software program optimizations that ought to hopefully enhance battery life on the present era, however trying forward, the Fairphone 6 ought to leap as much as a 5,000mAh battery, just like what you’d discover in one other mid-ranger, just like the Galaxy A54 5G. I believe that many people thinking about telephones with minimal affect on the setting are additionally prone to go off the grid once in a while. Having an even bigger battery looks like a pure match for this sequence.
After all, simply shifting on to a extra power-efficient processor will possible assist the battery life leap up dramatically. However the one-two punch from upsizing the battery would possible make this a cellphone 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 at some point is up!
A extra highly effective, optimized processor, please
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
The Qualcomm QCM6490 is a curious selection for a processor, because it’s not primarily constructed with telephones in thoughts and is as a substitute billed as an IoT chip. Nonetheless, there’s a methodology to the insanity right here. Fairphone opted for this processor as a result of it knew it had long-term assist on its facet, permitting it to confidently promise eight years of safety updates. Sadly, it’s very possible the chip is the rationale for each battery drain and overheating points, because it merely wasn’t optimized for this function.
Fairphone tried to suppose exterior the field right here, however I’d argue it’s not a transfer price repeating. Whereas Google and Samsung each provide replace insurance policies of seven years of OS and safety updates for his or her flagship telephones, Qualcomm will possible proceed to enhance its assist for cellular chips. Though this improved assist might at present solely apply to higher-end SoCs, Samsung’s assist tendencies sometimes prolong downward over time, suggesting that a lot of Samsung’s future finances units may additionally provide higher assist. By that logic, Fairphone would take fewer dangers subsequent time round by sticking to a extra tried-and-true mid-range chip. In spite of everything, the Fairphone 6 received’t possible floor till 2025, so it nonetheless has a bit time earlier than it has to lock down a chip forward of manufacturing.
A wi-fi charging possibility could be a pleasant further
Okay, not everybody cares about wi-fi charging, myself included. I’ve a wi-fi charger, however I usually 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 desire it, even when meaning making it an add-on. Maybe Fairphone may 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 cellphone like this
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
One other smaller factor however the Fairphone 6 is a cellphone 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 affect than old-school wired options. There’s a battery, the elements wanted for Bluetooth, in addition to the elements for any on-device controls. If the Fairphone is meant to attraction to those that wish to decrease their environmental affect, a headphone jack could be a pleasant further. Similar to wi-fi charging, it may even be one thing which you could add on your self for an additional price if the corporate doesn’t wish to provide it by default.
Fairphone 6 wishlist: What would you most wish to see?
95 votes
Will there be a Fairphone 6?
Damien Wilde / Android Authority
It’s means too early for any actual Fairphone 6 rumors simply but but it surely’s fairly possible the cellphone will exist ultimately. Fairphone’s first launch was means again in 2013, so it’s a fairly established participant at this level. Then once more, additionally it is a really small fish in an enormous pond.
Whereas I wasn’t capable of dig up newer numbers, it appears to be like like the corporate bought round 115,681 handsets in 2022. After all, this was throughout the Fairphone 4 days, and it was already a 12 months outdated. That’s fairly puny when you think about an enormous like Samsung bought round 259 million items. Even manufacturers smaller than giants like Apple and Samsung handle to do a lot better than this. For instance, the Pixel sequence bought round 10 million items in 2022.
It’s actually laborious to gauge how financially secure the corporate is with out realizing extra about its workers prices and different belongings. The world can also be going through a whole lot of common monetary instability for the time being, making it even more durable to say for positive. Nonetheless, the corporate appears to be doing nicely, and it has a devoted, although small, fanbase. We’d say it’s greater than possible there’ll many extra Fairphone units.
As for when such a cellphone may arrive? Fairphone’s constant launch schedule truly makes this one fairly straightforward 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 have 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.
Do you have to 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 subsequent one, however I’m additionally undecided I’d leap out and purchase the present one both. On paper, it’s an amazing cellphone 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 cellphone constructed round ethically sourced supplies, there’s actually no different available various exterior of the Fairphone 4 ($690 at Amazon). Whereas it’s beginning to age already, it may 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 possibly can take the Fairphone 5 aside with a screwdriver and restore it your self
The Fairphone 5 is a cellphone with reparaibility in thoughts. Almost each facet of the cellphone will be eliminated and changed (and even upgraded) with only one screwdriver. To encourage long-term use, Fairphone will provide 5 Android upgrades, a minimum of eight years of updates, and presumably even prolong that to 10 years of updates!