Latest news with #Fairphone5
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
Android 15 is bricking some Fairphone 5 devices, and here's how you can avoid it
Damien Wilde / Android Authority TL;DR The Android 15 update is causing some Fairphone 5 phones to become bricked, but only if the fingerprint sensor is broken. A Fairphone rep confirmed stricter hardware checks in Android 15 are to blame. A fix is in the works, but for now, users with faulty sensors should avoid the update. For phone geeks like us, an OS update is usually exciting, but it doesn't always go smoothly. Multiple reports suggest that the Android 15 update is causing some Fairphone 5 handsets to become bricked, but only if they already had an existing biometric fault. According to a user and several respondents on the Fairphone Community Forum, the update is freezing some Fairphone 5 devices on the boot screen and making them unable to start. In each case, the phone gets stuck partway through the Fairphone boot animation, displaying only a green 'I' on a blank screen. The only way to recover appears to be rolling back to a previous Android version or wiping the device entirely. A Fairphone representative in the thread confirmed the root cause: The issue only affects Fairphone 5 units with broken fingerprint sensors. Android 15 introduces stricter hardware verification during startup, and if the fingerprint sensor isn't functioning properly, the phone won't boot. That diagnosis is backed up by user comments on the forum. Many who experienced the boot failure said their fingerprint sensor had already stopped working before the update. Some even said they attempted the update in hopes it might resolve the fingerprint issue, only to find their device bricked instead. The company says a fix is in the works that would allow Android 15 to boot even if the fingerprint hardware is broken, though the sensor itself would remain unusable. For now, affected users can either send their phone in for fingerprint repair or stick with Android 14. If your Fairphone 5's fingerprint sensor is already broken, updating now is a risk you probably don't want to take until a patch is released. Fairphone suggests either sending in your device for fingerprint sensor repair or repeatedly force-rebooting (up to eight times) to get back into Android. If you're still stuck, contacting customer support is your best bet. Follow
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
The modular Fairphone 6 offers two-day battery life and a modern design
With the flagship smartphone market in a continued state of stagnation and more people making an effort to be more sustainable with their tech purchases, it feels like a good time for the Fairphone 6 to arrive. It's been nearly two years since the Fairphone 5 first launched, and as you'd expect, its successor is another highly repairable modular smartphone designed to last you a long time. The Fairphone 6 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and ships with a 4415mAh battery that Fairphone says will last you nearly two days. You can get 50 percent of juice back into the phone in 25 minutes with a 30W charger. When that battery inevitably degrades a few years down the line, it's one of the 12 components in the phone that can be swapped out after removing a few screws. Nothing in the phone is glued down, so tinkering is fully encouraged here. That said, like the Fairphone 5 before it, its water and dust resistance is only rated at IP55, which means it won't take well to a swim. The Fairphone 6 has a 6.31-inch 1,116 x 2,484 OLED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a jump up from the previous model's 90 Hz panel. You get 256GB of internal storage which is expandable by up to 2TB via microSD, and the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. As for cameras, you have a 50MP main rear lens with up to 10x digital zoom, which is flanked by a 13MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, there's a 32-megapixel selfie camera. On paper, the Fairphone's photographic arsenal is actually a fairly sizable step downgrade from its predecessor, which used a 50MP lens for all three cameras. The Fairphone 6 runs Android 15 and its maker guarantees updates until 2033 (on top of the phone's five-year warranty). There's also some custom software called Fairphone Moments. Activated by flicking the lime green-colored switch on the side of the device, it's effectively a minimalist focus mode that lets you streamline your phone to show only five apps of your choice. You can have multiple Moments collections, from essentials to more relaxation-oriented apps. As well as the phone's modular innards, you're also free to replace its backplates with custom alternatives with built-in features like a cardholder, finger loop or lanyard. And that remains the main appeal of the Fairphone brand. The fairly mid-range specs are less important than its future-proofed, anti-wastage design. The Fairphone 6 is available to buy now for €599 (around $695), and comes in three colors: Cloud White, Forest Green and Horizon Black.
Engadget
25-06-2025
- Engadget
The modular Fairphone 6 offers two-day battery life and a modern design
With the flagship smartphone market in a continued state of stagnation and more people making an effort to be more sustainable with their tech purchases, it feels like a good time for the Fairphone 6 to arrive. It's been nearly two years since the Fairphone 5 first launched, and as you'd expect, its successor is another highly repairable modular smartphone designed to last you a long time. The Fairphone 6 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and ships with a 4415mAh battery that Fairphone says will last you nearly two days. You can get 50 percent of juice back into the phone in 25 minutes with a 30W charger. When that battery inevitably degrades a few years down the line, it's one of the 12 components in the phone that can be swapped out after removing a few screws. Nothing in the phone is glued down, so tinkering is fully encouraged here. That said, like the Fairphone 5 before it, its water and dust resistance is only rated at IP55, which means it won't take well to a swim. The Fairphone 6 has a 6.31-inch 1,116 x 2,484 OLED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a jump up from the previous model's 90 Hz panel. You get 256GB of internal storage which is expandable by up to 2TB via microSD, and the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. As for cameras, you have a 50MP main rear lens with up to 10x digital zoom, which is flanked by a 13MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, there's a 32-megapixel selfie camera. On paper, the Fairphone's photographic arsenal is actually a fairly sizable step downgrade from its predecessor, which used a 50MP lens for all three cameras. The Fairphone 6 runs Android 15 and its maker guarantees updates until 2033 (on top of the phone's five-year warranty). There's also some custom software called Fairphone Moments. Activated by flicking the lime green-colored switch on the side of the device, it's effectively a minimalist focus mode that lets you streamline your phone to show only five apps of your choice. You can have multiple Moments collections, from essentials to more relaxation-oriented apps. As well as the phone's modular innards, you're also free to replace its backplates with custom alternatives with built-in features like a cardholder, finger loop or lanyard. And that remains the main appeal of the Fairphone brand. The fairly mid-range specs are less important than its future-proofed, anti-wastage design. The Fairphone 6 is available to buy now for €599 (around $695), and comes in three colors: Cloud White, Forest Green and Horizon Black.
Engadget
19-06-2025
- Engadget
The Fairphone 6 leaks ahead of its rumored late June launch
The Fairphone 6 is widely expected to get an official unveiling in the next week but the leadup to the repairable smartphone's launch has been leakier than a bad tap. In a new report from WinFuture , purported images of the Fairphone 6 show that it'll feature two back covers: one for the main body covering the cameras, and a lower panel that can be easily removed by loosening a few visible screws. Doing so grants access to the battery, which WinFuture notes is not glued down, though swapping it out will require you to remove a few additional screws. The back plates are available in three different colors – black green and white – which you're free to mix and match with to give the phone a more personalized look. This being a Fairphone product, the battery unsurprisingly isn't the only removable component. If you know what you're doing, you can also replace the 50- and 13-megapixel main cameras and the 32–megapixel front-facing camera, as well as the display, speaker and USB-C charging port. In terms of specs, the Fairphone 6 is fairly unremarkable, but you'd expect it to be at the rumored €550 (around $630) price point it'll reportedly retail at. As well as the aforementioned trio of lenses, it'll reportedly have a 6.31-inch 120Hz display, 256GB of internal storage (expandable via a MicroSDXC slot), 8GB of RAM and a 4,415mAh battery. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, so we're firmly in mid-range territory. The Fairphone 6's expected IP55 rating for water and dust resistance means it'll comfortably withstand a bit of rain, but likely won't take well to a dunk in the bath. Of its predecessor, the Fairphone 5 , released (though not in the US) in 2023, Engadget's Daniel Cooper said: "If you're looking to pick up a mid-range handset that you can keep going for twice as long as any other phone on the market, and you want to do a bit of good in the process, this is probably the phone for you. It's not often the view from the moral high ground is this comfortable."
Tatler Asia
28-05-2025
- Tatler Asia
Will your next phone be as customisable as Lego blocks?
Modular phones present a radical departure from this model. Designed for longevity and customisation, these phones allow users to swap out components like the screen, battery and even camera modules, all using standard tools. The result? A phone that evolves with you, rather than expires on schedule. Also read: Doctor Anywhere founder Lim Mai Wun on creating a blueprint for a sustainable tech-enabled healthcare company HMD Fusion: modularity made simple Above HMD Fusion's modular accesories include Outfit cases with flash and a dedicated gaming controller (Photo: HMD) Finnish manufacturer HMD, best known for producing Nokia-branded phones, is venturing into modular territory with the HMD Fusion. Designed as a midrange device, the Fusion features a 6.56-inch screen, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset and a removable, modular back panel known as Outfits. These Outfits, which attach via connector pins, range from basic coloured covers to functional accessories like the Smart Outfit—featuring a flip-up flash powered by the phone—and a Gaming Outfit with dual joysticks and triggers that transforms the Fusion into a handheld console. HMD has prioritised repairability, using standard screws instead of glue. Users can replace the screen, battery and other internal components themselves. The company has also released a toolkit for developers and hobbyists to design their own Outfits using 3D printing. Fairphone 5: prioritising repairability and ethical sourcing Above The Fairphone 5 is built using ethical manufacturing with sustainable and recycled materials under fair labor practices (Photo: Fairphone) Dutch company Fairphone has been leading the sustainable smartphone movement since 2013. Its latest model, the Fairphone 5, is engineered for a 10-year lifespan, supported by a five-year warranty and eight years of software updates. Powered by a Qualcomm chipset and featuring IP54 resistance, the Fairphone 5 is designed with repairability and ethical sourcing in mind. It uses no glue in its assembly, instead relying on screws, so components like the battery, screen, camera modules, USB port and earpiece can be replaced individually. The phone's body is made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium, and its supply chain prioritises fair trade practices. It ships with a de-Googled version of Android called /e/OS, but users can opt to install other Android distributions—or even Linux. CMF by Nothing: stylish, accessible modularity Above CMF Phone 2 Pro has various attachment points for multiple accessories such as extra lenses, magnetic folding stand and lanyard (Photo: Nothing) CMF, a sub-brand of British tech upstart Nothing, has released the CMF Phone 2 Pro, its second modular phone. Designed with affordability in mind, it is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset and also carries an IP54 rating. Rather than overhaul the entire phone, CMF focuses on modular accessories that attach to the back panel. Users can swap in add-on lenses (such as fisheye or macro), magnetic folding stands, or even wallet attachments. An extra thumb screw on the corner allows lanyards or other accessories to be secured. The backplates themselves can be removed with a screwdriver and 3D printed for further customisation. Better phones mean a better future Above The Fairphone 5 has components that come from fair and ethical sources (Photo: Fairphone) Despite their promise, modular phones face challenges—chief among them being the trade-off between flexibility and sleek design. Consumer habits, driven by rapid upgrade cycles, also present a barrier to widespread adoption. However, as environmental concerns gain urgency and regulations around e-waste tighten, modular designs could become the new standard. With brands like Fairphone, HMD and CMF leading the charge, the smartphone of the future may not just be smarter—it may also be more sustainable, more durable and more personalised.
