Fairphone 4 presented and viewed: Smartphone for a better world?

Fairphone 4 presented and viewed: Smartphone for a better world?

The Dutch company Fairphone has presented its latest smartphone. The Fairphone 4 compensates for E-Waste, is built from raw materials obtained as fairly as possible, is easy to repair and should be supported for a long time. We take a look at it first.

What the Fairphone 4 5G can do

The Fairphone 4 wants to score with future- proofing, relying on proven Qualcomm technology at its core. A Snapdragon 750G is used as the clock - in terms of performance, the device and chip are in the current mid-range. The cheaper version comes up with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, a slightly more expensive version with 8 GB and 256 GB of internal storage.

The LC-based display has a diagonal of 6.3 inches , has a resolution of FHD + and is protected by robust Gorilla Glass 5 from Corning. The Fairphone has 4 stereo speakers for enjoying media.

Two cameras on the back have a resolution of 48 MP each - in addition to the regular camera module with optical image stabilization (OIS), one is installed with a 120 ° ultra-wide-angle lens , and the auto focus is accelerated with laser support. The front camera, which is enclosed in the display by a drop-shaped notch, offers a resolution of 25 MP. The device only has one SIM slot, but thanks to the support of the eSIM standard, it is also dual-SIM capable .

The frame of the large and bulky-looking smartphone is made of metal, the removable back is made of a non-slip, rubberized plastic. Accordingly, the 3905 mAh battery is changed at any time without aids - a novelty in the current generation of smartphones.

A charger is not included, with the help of a 20 W charger the battery charges from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes . You have to do without wireless charging and a jack socket for wired headphones. Fairphone plans to sell wireless earbuds with the Fairphone concept in the future.

An important part of the Fairphone concept: sustainability

The Fairphone 4 sees itself as a sustainable alternative to the disposable products of the smartphone industry. It starts with the device itself. While most devices are only used for around 2 to 3 years, Fairphone wants buyers to use their devices for as long as possible.

This includes a 5-year guarantee (which does not, however, apply to the battery). In addition, the Fairphone 4 is easy to open and repair yourself thanks to its modular design . Only two different types of screws are used; corresponding spare parts can be obtained from the Fairphone website.

In addition, the manufacturer guarantees an unprecedented long supply of software updates - at least until the end of 2025. Although Qualcomm's driver support for the chipset will expire thereafter, updates to Android 14 and 15 will also be delivered by the end of 2027 , according to the manufacturer .

Another important point is the materials used in the Fairphone 4 . As with the predecessor devices, it is important that these are obtained under humane conditions, with fair wages for the workers in the supply chains and production, and with no child labor . For the raw materials, for example, Fairtrade gold, sustainable aluminum, fair tungsten, recycled tin and rare earths are used.

Ultimately, Fairphone would also like to compensate for the e-waste that arises from cell phones that are not properly disposed of. For every smartphone sold, the company has a different device recycled in order to recover the raw materials or ensures that a device is reconditioned so that it can be used again.

My first impression of the Fairphone 4

Fairphone gave xiaomist an exclusive first impression of the Fairphone 4 , in which we were able to test the device a week in advance. I am a fan of the idea of ​​a fair smartphone and can attest to the device that it is actually easy to open and repair . As a hobbyist and fan of the right-to-repair movement, my heart opens up. And hey, when was the last time I had a smartphone with a removable battery in my hand - 2016?

The lush dimensions and the higher weight compared to other devices are understandable and forgivable in view of these possibilities. From my point of view, it is questionable whether the Fairphone 4 can keep its promise regarding future security. I'm not worried about the update supply, but about the display and the performance of the device , which is already more on par with mid-range cell phones. Despite the modularity of the Fairphone 4, these parts cannot be replaced by better versions, as Fairphone confirmed when we asked. In the test report, I will explore these and other questions further.

Order the Fairphone 4

The Fairphone 4 can now be pre-ordered on the Fairphone website as well as from o2 and Deutsche Telekom, among others.

The version with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage costs 579 euros (RRP) and is only available in gray. The version with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage costs 649 euros (RRP) and can be ordered in gray and green as well as "Green Speckled" (speckled green, exclusively on the Fairphone website).

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