Fairphone 3+ hands-on review

27 August 2020


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  • D
  • AnonD-804996
  • puk
  • 19 Feb 2021

I wonder if they could make it even cheaper by not even assembling it. Just pack it in a box like LEGO's and let users assemble it themselves. I think a lot of cost comes from labor in charge for assembling it. I wouldn't mind assembling it myself if that means shaving off I don't know, 70€ or 100€. I have no clue how much that really costs them, but I'm certain EU labor isn't as cheap as Chinese labor used by everyone else... Seems pretty simple since it's using modules that you just piece together and even comes with screwdriver already in the box :) Just a thought.

    • V
    • ValdikSS
    • 3%t
    • 15 Jan 2021

    r33fd, 29 Aug 2020This is overpriced hot garbage. There is absolutely 0 z... moreI'll buy it because Fairphone provides 5 year tech support, replaceable parts, and FP 3 has official /e/ and LineageOS support. That's basically all I need from the phone: long software support period, parts availability and custom OS with sources.

    These aspects are almost never gets mentioned in the reviews.

      • A
      • AGG
      • mDc
      • 20 Oct 2020

      Guest, 15 Sep 2020Have you experienced any lagging or stuttering when browsin... moreyes, all the time.
      Starting at 4-5webpages, it happens more and more often.

      I,m happy i can repair it , because i,ve had it with replacing my phone ,latest all 2-3 years.
      But that Snapdragon Chip is not replaceable.

      But i don.t see it it able to open anything in
      4-5years.

        • G
        • Guest
        • 6v0
        • 15 Sep 2020

        Have you experienced any lagging or stuttering when browsing web pages since your initial use? This was a remark in previous reviews of the Fairphone 3.

          harwey, 28 Aug 2020What "child labor"??What you're on about?Loo... moreIt's mainly about where component manufacturers source their raw materials from. Your Gold, Cobalt, Tantalum. Those are often sourced from many different mines, a lot of these with very poor conditions.

            Mobilemaster, 30 Aug 2020This really wont make a huge difference on the environment,... moreThe Fairphone is mainly about fair working conditions.

              • J
              • Jake
              • 7xk
              • 31 Aug 2020

              Anonymous, 29 Aug 2020People outside europe who want to buy the Fairphone 3+ , ca... moreThanks! Very kind.

                • M
                • Mobilemaster
                • 3DR
                • 30 Aug 2020

                This really wont make a huge difference on the environment, like really, its so small and insignificant that its not going to be any benefit to the environment at all. Poor choice of USP!!! Pee

                  I feel like the majority of people will get this as a "peace of mind" novelty. Beyond its modular design and its fair trade branding there's little attractive features on this phone. Specs aren't very exciting for that price, you can get a lot better.

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • DkZ
                    • 29 Aug 2020

                    People outside europe who want to buy the Fairphone 3+ , can try online at 'clove uk' . They seem to be good, have 2 decades experience. Ships to every continent. hXXps://www.clove.co.uk . Replace XX with tt . PS: This is no advertisement. I have no connections with clove. Just to help those who are despaired because the official store ships only within europe. Kudos to Fairphone for the modular design.

                      • A
                      • Ayaan Goswami
                      • gNT
                      • 29 Aug 2020

                      Looks pretty basic but still not bad, earphones look cool though design wise.

                        • r
                        • r33fd
                        • nDM
                        • 29 Aug 2020

                        This is overpriced hot garbage.

                        There is absolutely 0 zero reason to buy this over many other phones in the same price range.

                        It's not ethical at all.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 7Mr
                          • 28 Aug 2020

                          I've bought one of the previous models. If you ignore the ethical sourcing and fair pay policies it's terrible value for money. But that would be ignoring half the value of the phone.

                          The solution to the sweatshop problem in my view should be legal protections. Only a tiny minority of people will buy an expensive phone, and they can only ever make a tiny difference.

                          It might be interesting if someone were to offer an "unfair" (sweatshop) but still modular and repairable phone. I suspect this could be cheaper, and while it's less ethically sound than this phone, it's also still an improvement over a disposable sweatshop phone and might get more traction.

                            Fair Phone is doing what do other company in the industry cln do even Google failed to implement Ara modular phone they deserve all credits as for price it will reduce down the line and upgraability is the goal here

                              Domestoboto, 28 Aug 2020I mean, for one, they don't use "cheaper" ma... moreWhat "child labor"??What you're on about?Look at the spec sheet and find one single component that justifies the price tag.That's what I meant.I appreciate the idea behind this but for half the price they're asking.You mentioned Foxconn,underpayed and overworked workers.That's all true,but those workers make 3000-3500 RMB per month(400 euros).For a lot of people in the world that's not a bad salary.Of course,in Holland, that's not even a week salary.Ask people in Vietnam where Samsung moved their smartphone production,what they think about $450 a month salary...many of them can't make a third of that...

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 3yL
                                • 28 Aug 2020

                                Anonymous, 28 Aug 2020I respect a lot Fairphone´s mission a lot. you got to give ... moreI personally think that if we can make modularity in smartphones finally win, we as customers will get actually a better value than we have today.

                                Upgrading from fp3 to 3+ costs EUR 95, that't not much. Even if we say, hardware isn't that great.

                                If we can make our smartphones more like pcs, then companies won't be able to charge us for
                                the things we haven't asked. Nor easily market new phones based on that and we could keep our phones longer thanks to easy service. Making us less prone to change our tech so often.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • MkE
                                  • 28 Aug 2020

                                  I respect a lot Fairphone´s mission a lot. you got to give them credit for what they´re doing. But for me still represents a huge change in our daily lifestyles.

                                  It´s the same thing for as to buy biological products supporting the associated high costs of it) or driving exclusively an electrical car as your main car etc....

                                  It´s fine and you´re doing nothing wron , on the contrary, still. Fairphone give´s you 5 yeras of support(which is more than most of the majory of manufacturers) but using the same phone for 5 years with an already 2 years dated snapdragon 632? That´s a tough one hard to swallow. I´m not asking to have the latest 865+ on board, that would be much to ask and (most users don´t care) but couldn´t they just used a 7 series snapdragon instead?
                                  5 yeras is a life in tech world.

                                  The question still remains if if this mission by itself remains uthopic, or slow down progress mission. Almost another stepdown to stop evolution. i mean, we certanly don´t need new phones every months, i agree on that, but still every 5 years as Fairphone suggests.

                                  Those who are willing to pay the high cost of the fairphone , i admire you, you´re not choosing the phone itself but chossing a new sustainable way of life and taht itself makes a lot of sense.

                                    Davy Jones, 28 Aug 2020Would have been a true upgrade with a SD 765g Bigger bat... moreHRR display sounds like a bit too much for this kind of phone, but everything else sounds pretty decent.

                                      Would have been a true upgrade with a
                                      SD 765g
                                      Bigger battery
                                      HRR display
                                      And a dual rear camera on the rear

                                        harwey, 27 Aug 2020Ok,I do respect the idea behind an upgradable phone and eco... moreI mean, for one, they don't use "cheaper" materials obtained from child labor or ethically questionable methods (i.e. overworked and underpaid factory workers. Look at how severe the workers' treatment issues at Foxconn are, for one).

                                        When the company has to pay more at ALL stages of the phone making process because they believe in paying everyone "living wages", of course they will have to pass on the costs to the consumer.

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