Fairphone 5 review

18 September 2023


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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • PZa
  • 19 Sep 2023

Moore's law never died, the power of smartphone chipsets is never in excess and keeps increasing. The requirements of software keeps increasing as well.
There is no way this phone can be used after 5 major updates and 8 years of usage. The midrange chipset used in this phone, on par with a snapdragon 778G, is not even strong in 2023 standards. Android 18 will run like crap on that phone, since mobile chipsets will be much more advanced and software require much more cpu horsepower.

A prime example is my 4 year old Huawei Y9s, which runs a midranger of 2018 - kirin 710F. Now, with only one major update and running 2023 version of apps, the phone stutters like crap even when scrolling Facebook or sending email. Some of you say that it is more than enough for daily tasks in 2030, but that's just not the case. If my Y9s suffers like that after just 4 years, imagine what the Fairphone 5 works in 8 years. Just use some redmi note 3 in 2023 and a android 13 custom rom and you will find out for yourself.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • 0BG
    • 19 Sep 2023

    Super Android 22, 18 Sep 2023I mean i dont get this site, youre right this phone is a de... moreYou are missing the point. The fact that you're supposed to use it for many years is exactly why every detail matters. What's the point of having such a phone if you're gonna be so annoyed by it you will want to throw it away long before if fails?
    It is mediocre at everything at best, and doesn't even have 3.5mm jack.

    For the money, i could buy 3 mid-rangers for 10 years and have better phones. And don't tell me it's less "green" because Fairphone doesn't care about it, or it would have included 3.5mm jack.

      They should've atleast aimed for an 8+gen1 which would make this phone so much better and much more "recent" in terms of performance and to not have a large hit with performance degradation for it's 8 year support. Using the QCM SoC just gave it an old cortex-a78 cores, a hard-limit on its video recording capability and significantly huge performance difference on the GPU department. Also the battery is quite tiny, most Android phones already have 5000mAh battery and averages above 100hr endurance in GSMArena, this phone only does 88hr which is very underwhelming and the speaker, it's so tinny.

      It's a really good phone but very underwhelming for their pricepoint target relative to competition.

        Lol from the review, it can be seen that this is below average. Who wants to suffer using 1 year? Or up to 8 years?

          Every initiative for environmental protection should be supported. Thumbs up.

            Well, I guess the price to pay in order to get a special SoC with extended support/lifetime without actually breaking the bank, is to settle for some below average performance.
            Most people using that phone for their average everyday tasks such as email, messaging, browsing the web, calender, and listening to music via earphones, will have a device with more than enough oomph in order to do all that splendidly..

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • nem
              • 18 Sep 2023

              Super Android 22, 18 Sep 2023I mean i dont get this site, youre right this phone is a de... moreYou are right, it should be ranked differently. It should be ranked worse. The hardware is unimpressive to be very generous. It's a phone nobody wants to seriously use right now because of this, so who cares about the long updates? If the phone isn't good, you'll upgrade long before the end of the update window anyways and I am not sure if upgradeable hardware is enough to keep this phone competitive in the long run seeing as it isn't competitive right now.

                I think we were all expecting an average phone for a lot of money, but this review suggests that the phone is worse than expected.

                A display that's not colour accurate, with limited ability to make whites accurate, a very poor battery (which actually makes the removable battery essential rather than a bonus), speakers that are quiet and of poor quality, an unusual chipset, an unimpressive camera, it's too heavy (especially given it has a plastic back), and major android versions only on alternate years.

                As pointed out, anyone can purchase another midranger for less money and have superior specs in every regard.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • nem
                  • 18 Sep 2023

                  As expected, as mediocre as it gets. For the price point it demands it just isn't enough and the long updates don't matter at all when it is already underperforming. Just very, very meh.

                    • N
                    • Nick
                    • iAE
                    • 18 Sep 2023

                    The idea is great, but final product is absolutely mediocre.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • 0p}
                      • 18 Sep 2023

                      Super Android 22, 18 Sep 2023I mean i dont get this site, youre right this phone is a de... moreAny phone can be easily used for 5-7 years.
                      Users just have to want to.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • 0p}
                        • 18 Sep 2023

                        Photos are better than op11

                          I've never liked fairphone and I'll never do it. This shows how much of a scam this is. The ability to repair your phone easy shouldn't cost more than $500 over the price a normal phone of this range should be.

                            rosesarerosie, 18 Sep 2023The speakers and cameras are pure trash, phones from 300-$4... moreI mean i dont get this site, youre right this phone is a device you can use for 5+ years, super easy repairability and a removeable battery (honestly its slow charging is negated because of this unlike sony, apple, samsung and google) yet their review ranks it like a standard designed phone, such a bad review. Its clearly not designed for top quality screen and cams, also they give some side mounted phones a positive but this is a negative? Such inconsistent reviews.

                            Also in my country you can get an oppo find x6, find x5 pro or a xiaomi 13 pro for cheaper/same (£500-700, this is generally for 12gb and 256gb storage too plus full speed chargers and a case).

                            Dunno why you'd touch the recommended devices.

                              the main camera photos look very natural, both in day and night. It's better than the competition, dare I say.

                                The speakers and cameras are pure trash, phones from 300-$400 can sound better and take better photos,

                                But overall, I gotta say that its a really pleasant phone with great benefits both to the user and to our enviroment as well 💕

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