Background information

Fairphone 3: Review superfluous

24.10.2019

Translation: machine translated

The Fairphone 3 is fair to you and to those who have to build it. But there's a big catch. Since you're not buying it for the specs anyway, let's take it apart. Why? So that you know for sure that you can do it too.

The Fairphone 3 is a phone. That's all there is to it. Because none of you are buying the Fairphone because of its outstanding specs. And that's exactly the problem. Fairphone could theoretically just take any scrap parts and cobble together a phone. You're not buying technology, you're buying the good feeling of owning something that makes the world a better place, according to the marketing. Better working conditions with an eye on sustainability. Sounds good, doesn't it? But it is purely the goodwill of a company on a social mission that the Fairphone 3 has reasonably decent specs.

Smartphones

Fairphone 3

64 GB, Dark Translucent, 5.65", Dual SIM, 4G

Requests more.

Seriously. Because if a company can get away with a Snapdragon 632 from last year, 4GB of RAM, a resolution of 2160×1080 pixels on an LCD screen and an internal memory of 64GB, then that's simply not good enough because it doesn't make a statement.

What I want to say is: Don't settle for a better Herdöpfel. Demand fair flagships. Demand the Snapdragon 855 under fair conditions, 4K/60fps camera systems and batteries that don't just barely survive a working day. Be rebellious. And not like this: "Och, that's good enough. That's all I need". It's not about needing, it's about wanting. Or that it should be better. If it's possible to build a potato Snapdragon under fair conditions, then it must also be possible with the 855.

Because something that consists of parts that could just as easily have been lying around somewhere is something that you buy if you want to buy yourself a clear conscience. Not something that shows the economy that you want something good and fair.

To the screwdrivers

But nobody buys the phone because of the specs. You think about buying it partly because you feel good about having saved the world. Or you buy it because - like me - you like tinkering with things. As an advocate of the Right to Repair, I, just like others around the world, have made it my motto that you should be able to at least roughly repair a device yourself. If you're reading this article now, I have to say one thing up front: The entire disassembly of the phone took about ten minutes. So you don't necessarily have to take a day off work to take the Fairphone apart. By replacing a module, you can easily watch an episode of "Hyperdrive" in the background. You don't need an instruction manual either, because the Fairphone is designed in such a way that you can do little to nothing wrong.

The Fairphone 3 comes with a screwdriver. If you look through the really cool semi-transparent back cover, you can see screws. Yes, the Fairphone is made to be screwed on yourself. Unfortunately, the industry has already taken us so far that we just don't dare to do it anymore. "Oh, that's far too complex for me" is something I often hear in the context of simple repairs that essentially only require a screwdriver and maybe a pair of tweezers. Anyone can do that. I can do it. You can too.

That's why I'm testing the Fairphone 3 not for specs and camera quality, but for disassembly. A word I've just invented. Hopefully.

Around the Fairphone is a rubber tyre-like thing that protects the edges of the phone. Then there's the semi-transparent back plate, under which you can see ugly slogans. Why? Why not let the technology shine through? That would look much cooler. But then again, I'm not a fan of slogans and logos on my phones anyway.

You can simply pull off the back plate as in the old days. A little force behind it and voilà, the entire inner workings of the phone are exposed. You will most likely need this feature to replace the battery, which means that the Fairphone could work indefinitely if treated well. Because of all the parts on the mobile, the weak points are the screen, which tends to shatter, and the battery, which loses usable capacity over time.

Followed by the first screws. All the screws you need to loosen for minor repairs are the same size. Fairphone kindly provides a screwdriver, but I prefer a more handy one from the iFixit toolbox.

Just because I use a different screwdriver doesn't mean you have to leave extra money for tools. The screwdriver in the box works great. I just like a slightly more handy one.

Now you have essentially separated the screen - unfortunately only an LCD, calls for AMOLED! - from the inner workings. That's a bit tricky in terms of feel, but I never think I could damage the phone. At this point at the latest, I can only get as excited about the Fairphone as you can get excited about your boyfriend or girlfriend: There's love, but lol, that sucks like nobody's business. Because how can something be so good and then settle for so little. The concept is amazing from A to Z. It's realised well, very well in fact. Argh!

The small parts that can't just be spare parts

Once the screen is safely on its side, the Fairphone really comes into its own. This is where the strength of the concept is revealed in its entirety. The individual modules are labelled with simple symbols. A stylised camera for the camera module, for example.

You simply have to disconnect the connection from the system-on-a-chip - on a PC this would be the mainboard - and then you can easily remove it from the frame. If your camera is broken, you can simply replace it with a new camera module.

Or upgrade, of course. That would be awesome, of course. Because Fairphone is not really tied to the lens. The only thing that is binding is the shape of the module. Otherwise they are free. On the software side, Android is at least theoretically capable of handling cameras dynamically. Speaking of Android. Even more points for the Fairphone. It is part of Android One. This means no bloatware, fast updates and a generally lean operating system that is updated directly by Google.

This applies to all replacement parts. Of course, you could just replace, but you could also upgrade. And upgrading would be great. Because fair flagship specs sounds like a damn good and fair plan to me. Except that Fairphone doesn't offer upgrades, only replacements.

You can do this!

The Fairphone is not something for hobbyists like me or nerds. No, it was designed so that you can do it easily, whether you're an amateur or an amateur. It's made for everyone. As long as your grandmother isn't shaking too much, she can replace a camera on the Fairphone. Or the battery. It's great fun that way. You need a screwdriver, that's all you need. A dining table with a lamp and get to work. If something does break - and that's unlikely - you can order a replacement part at a reasonable price.

In short: the Fairphone is good. But only good. I want it to be very good. I want it to set the example that it wants to set so that it can compete with the flagships. The Fairphone should not and must not remain a niche product. It has to be sexy enough for someone to consider switching from Huawei or Samsung. It can cost more, but it must not be inferior. It's a waste in the midfield.

So, that's it. Get your screwdriver and open something. No kidding, you can do it.

79 people like this article

Dominik Bärlocher

Senior Editor

dominik.baerlocher@digitecgalaxus.ch

Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.

Smartphone

Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest

Background information

Interesting facts about products, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturers and deep-dives on interesting people.

Show all

These articles might also interest you

Background information
Gamer mouse vs. rugged phone - an absurd battle with an even more absurd outcome
by Kevin Hofer
video
Background information
Nokia 7.2 First Look: Old, new, camera, business... what?
by Dominik Bärlocher
Background information
Android Q: Google rigidly toes the line
by Dominik Bärlocher

44 comments

later

Search

Fairphone 3: Review superfluous

To the screwdrivers

The small parts that can't just be spare parts

You can do this!

These articles might also interest you

Gamer mouse vs. rugged phone - an absurd battle with an even more absurd outcome

Nokia 7.2 First Look: Old, new, camera, business... what?

Android Q: Google rigidly toes the line

44 comments

Top 10 categories

Go to

44 comments

Digitec Deal of the day