this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2023
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Two years after the Fairphone 4 and following the release of some audio products like the Fairbuds XL, the Dutch company is back with a new repairable phone: the Fairphone 5. It looks and feels a lot like the Fairphone 4, but it adds choice upgrades across the board, making it the most modular and also most modern-looking repairable phone from the company yet.

The design is largely unchanged compared to the Fairphone 4, but the improvements that the company did make go a long way: The teardrop notch and the LCD screen is finally gone, with an ordinary punch-hole selfie and an OLED taking its place. Otherwise, you’re looking at an aluminum frame, a triangular camera array, and a removable back cover. Here, the company brought back its signature translucent back cover next to two black and blue variants. The dimensions and weight has been reduced ever-so-slightly compared to the predecessor.

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[–] DTFpanda@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago (9 children)

It really does surprise me how so many people (at least on Reddit and Lemmy) care so deeply about a headphone jack.

[–] HidingCat@kbin.social 24 points 1 year ago (3 children)
  1. No internal battery means it's not a product with a built-in obsolence period (which is fairly short, 3-5 years)
  2. Most of the better audio gear are all wired
  3. I mean, it's simple economics: Not paying for all the extra stuff to make it wireless means you get better value for audio quality
  4. Many people here are enthusiasts in tech and hardware, we likely have more than a few devices. Switching between devices with BT is a fucking PITA.
[–] NENathaniel@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Speaking as an audiophile, you can buy a USB C dongle for like $10 that even has a good DAC. Only issue is if you're regularly charging and listening to wired buds simultaneously

[–] meta_synth@yiffit.net 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Dongles are pointless e-waste. They constantly break, get lost, or are forgotten when you need them the most. They are not a solution.

[–] NENathaniel@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

You can easily leave them attached to your headphones 24/7, which helps avoid losing them

I've had headphone jacks on phones break and thats a lot harder and more expensive to fix than buying a tiny dongle (that creates negligible amounts of waste)

I'd argue they're actually a very good solution 🤷 (aside from arguably on iOS with their dumb proprietary port, but thats easily fixed with USB C)

[–] astral_avocado@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Interesting, got any recommendations?

[–] T156@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Wired also doesn't drop out if there are too many people in an area. Like if you're listening to music whilst waiting for the train.

And they're cheaper, since you don't need batteries, radio, and audio processing hardware on top of that.

[–] 970372@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 year ago
  1. Newer devices are very clever and will auto switch when music is playing and of course both devices are turned on.
[–] osbo9991@lemm.ee 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Most of the issue stems from annoying dongles that wired headphone users typically don't want to carry.

The situation with fairphone is especially infuriating however, as omitting the headphone jack goes against the whole point of fairphone IMO.

Bluetooth headphones, as convenient as they are, have integrated lithium batteries, which are harmful for the environment. They also have a very short, finite lifespan. Despite these issues, fairphone removed the headphone jack on the fairphone 4 and 5, while simultaneously releasing true wireless Bluetooth earphones that are not repairable. Their whole brand is based on creating ethically sourced, repairable products, so offering an inherently unrepairable item for sale is rather disappointing. I am aware that they offer over ear headphones that are repairable, but I think they shouldn't sell true wireless earphones until they come up with a real repairable design.

In contrast, there are wired headphones from the mid 1980s that are still functional and still sound amazing, even if they aren't as convenient to use. There are also modern wired headphones and IEMs (In-Ear Monitors) that have removable, standardized cables. This is great since the cable is what breaks on wired headphones 99% of the time.

[–] lud@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

At least their Fairphone XLs are repairable.

There are also modern wired headphones and IEMs (In-Ear Monitors) that have removable, standardized cables. This is great since the cable is what breaks on wired headphones 99% of the time.

You can also replace the cable with different kinds of wireless adapters to make them either true wireless or (even better) semi wireless. I haven't done it myself, but it's pretty neat.

[–] Sabata11792@kbin.social 17 points 1 year ago

I don't want to buy more shit I got to remember to charge when I already have a few nice 3.5mm headsets. I know its going to be dead every time I want to use it. I got to pair it every time I switch devices. It works on everything that has the right hole even if its older than your parents.

Its just extra work unless its your daily driver.

[–] algorithmae@lemmy.one 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use a headphone jack daily, it is a must for me. Not going to do a stupid Bluetooth adapter or dongle cable that can get lost or damaged

[–] sirfancy@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

For the record, you know you don't have to take the dongle off if you exclusively use it for that device, right? It's not as much of a hassle as people believe it is, they just haven't used one yet.

[–] lobut@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 year ago

I use my headphones on my computer and phone which requires the removal of the dongle. It's not a hassle to you, but it can be a hassle to others.

[–] knobbysideup@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

I'm fine with bluetooth, but I think a problem for usb-c is that it comes out the bottom of the phone, so awkward to use the phone with headphones. Also, can't charge and listen.

[–] Sethayy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

Samsung even has some stupid specifications for which adapters are "supported". Its pretty hard to say its not just a money grab to keep Bluetooth on all the time

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The only way I can play music from Spotify or youtube in my car is through a headphone jack, I value it very deeply because of that. It's much cheaper to buy a phone with a jack than it is to replace my car

[–] danwardvs@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago

Not being able to listen to wired audio while charging is a dealbreaker. And not needing a dongle is convenient.

[–] silvercove@lemdro.id 6 points 1 year ago

it's useful. I use it.

[–] And009@reddthat.com 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can't charge and use iem together

[–] Dremor@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

You know that combo adapter exist?

Like this one from JSAUX: https://a.co/d/iuZvmO6

[–] at_an_angle@lemmy.one -5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Even when I had a headphone jack, I hated it. That wire tangled up everywhere.

Bluetooth came out, and that was that. Never went back to wired.

[–] Ataraxia@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

I used to break all my 3.1 earbuds but usbc doesn't seem to break no matter what I do to them. But I do listen to most of my music and videos with Bluetooth. I haven't missed the headphones jack even though I totally thought I would.

[–] severien@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago

Wireless headphones have been my biggest tech revolution since the smartphone.