this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2023
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Fairphone 4—the repairable, sustainable smartphone—is coming to the US (arstechnica.com)
submitted 1 year ago by CriticalMiss@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] sab@kbin.social 68 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Also interesting that it ships with /e/OS!

/e/OS is a de-googled version Android. Most Google services are replaced with Nextcloud integration, but somehow all apps are still available through a software store that bridges to the Play Store while letting you browse for free apps anonymously. Google Play Services are replaced with the wonderful microG.

I used it on my Fairphone 3 for around half a year, and for the most part it was a very pleasant experience. And whoever doesn't like it can of course (re)install stock Android. :)

[–] tetris11@kbin.social 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

How does e/OS/ compare with Lineage?

[–] Atemu@lemmy.ml 17 points 1 year ago

It's lineageOS + µG + their assortment of default apps, including i.e. their app store thingy.

[–] sab@kbin.social 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The last time I used Lineage it was known as CyanogenMod, so I'm not really in a position to perfectly compare the two. But I'll give it a shot.

Lineage includes many more Google components. As an end user this means that you'll for example be able to use the Google location service, using WiFi and bluetooth to identify where your phone is even when you don't have GPS reception. /e/OS depends on a mostly discontinued Mozilla location service, which would have been amazing had it only worked better. So location data for example inside buildings can be a bit spotty.

/e/OS also has a bunch of extra features to protect your privacy if you should wish, such as messing with your location data so that the apps on your phone will have no idea where in the world you're located.

/e/ also comes with a bunch of FOSS alternatives to the default Google apps by default, while i think Lineage might leave it to the users to fill the phone with apps. You can of course uninstall apps from /e/ and install the Google ones should you wish.

As a footnote: Both its developers, @Murena, and #eOS itself ( @e_mydata ) are present on the Fediverse. :)

[–] Atemu@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Lineage includes many more Google components. As an end user this means that you’ll for example be able to use the Google location service, using WiFi and bluetooth to identify where your phone is even when you don’t have GPS reception.

This is false.

The only thing Google LOS has besides the AOSP is using Google's connectivity check to my knowledge.

LOS comes with no Google apps or play services, you must install those yourself if you want them.

[–] ceeg@lemmy.world 64 points 1 year ago (2 children)

the most sustainable smartphone is the one that you already have

[–] randy@lemmy.ca 41 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Funny coincidence: Fairphone has a blog post titled exactly that. And they say the same thing on their shop page. You're going to replace your phone eventually, but Fairphone is the only phone company I know trying to stretch that out.

[–] ceeg@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

yay!!!

[–] snailtrail@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

This is true. When the original Fairphone came out I didn't get it because I had a working HTC. My next phone was purchased as an emergency when my current phone fell into water, so I had to walk into a phone shop and buy an immediate replacement. But that was the day that I decided to buy the Fairphone 3... Because the phone that fell into water was sealed and glued together, and there was no way to remove the battery or dry it out. It buzzed and beeped to death in my hand taking all of my data with it (internal memory only).

I've been rocking the FP3 since then. Upgraded the camera, replaced the battery twice, and once replaced the lower assembly because the usb3 port got damaged and couldn't hold the cable.

My wife has the same phone now. So I could upgrade to the FP4 and use my FP3 for parts, in case she ever breaks a screen or needs a battery. But why bother? This works just fine.

[–] Voytrekk@lemmy.world 40 points 1 year ago

This is pretty exciting. I wish it would have happened sooner though. It was at the top of my list when I was looking at phones last year, but it was still unavailable when I decided to go with the Pixel 7.

[–] Caligvla@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That's a step in the right direction, hopefully in the future phones will be more like computers, where you can buy parts and build your own. At least that'd be my dream.

[–] Maraval26@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (13 children)

Well not all computers can be upgraded unfortunately. Looking at you MacBooks with SSDs welded to the motherboard…

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[–] Belgdore@lemm.ee 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Years ago google was looking at doing a modular phone. It was basically a frame with modules on the back that contained the battery, storage, cameras, and even the processor. The screen was even replaceable in a similar way. I really want someone to do another project ara.

[–] Caligvla@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I remember that, I liked the idea except for Google being involved. The dream would be a fully modular phone running Linux. I don't ever see that becoming a reality, but hey.

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[–] JoeKrogan@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago

Great news. The more sustainable options the better. Hopefully it will do well

[–] zephr_c@lemm.ee 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I love Fairphone's mission, but no headphone jack equals no purchase from me.

[–] axby@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Does anyone know why they don’t have a headphone jack?

The fact that even they don’t include one actually makes me respect the existing phone manufacturers a lot more. I always assumed that Apple did it to sell airpods, and then the others did it just to copy Apple or sell their own dongles/headphones.

But if even an organization like this chose not to include one, then maybe not including it really does make the phone a lot smaller or cheaper or waterproof or whatever.

That being said, I can’t believe cars don’t have aux ports anymore. Surely the cost and size isn’t significant on that scale.

Disclaimer: both for cars and my phone, I’m generally happy with Bluetooth. But I want the option to use a headphone jack without needing to buy or remember a dongle. It’s insidious because the kinds of things that you would need a headphone jack for are uncommon enough that you won’t get into the habit of bringing a dongle for them (e.g. road trips, full day of phone interviews)

[–] lobut@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

The CEO claimed it's because the USB C port can withstand more than the 3.5mm so it's more sustainable to use that. I honestly don't buy that argument because now you're putting all of that load from 2 ports into 1. Also, if they were truly Fairphone, I should be able to buy a replacement headphone jack if it does break.

I think he eventually admitted it was a mistake, but it turned from a definite purchase to a zero for me.

[–] fabian_drinks_milk@lemmy.fmhy.ml 8 points 1 year ago

I though the official response was that they couldn't fit one without making the phone larger than it already is and that it was a hard decision.

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[–] FakeDentist@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

I have a Fairphone 3 for several years now and if it dies I will probably get another Fairphone. The camera could be better but I'm alright with it. The audio is broken when recording concerts. But I actually like my phone and it's pretty robust too.

[–] BonfireOvDreams@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Like many of you, this was a much desired phone for me. Now I'm just left wondering how soon their next phone releases. Been too long. If I'm focused on eco friendly I may as well also stick with what I've got until then.

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[–] cheeseandkrakens@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago

Dangit Fairphone where were you 6 months ago when I was looking for a new phone.

[–] ghariksforge@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago

I have a Fairphone 4 and I'm very happy with it. Strong recommend.

[–] axby@lemmy.ca 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Has anyone compared this to a PinePhone?

I bought a PinePhone and it works great as a mini laptop to do light programming. But as a phone I don’t think I could trust it, and the interface seemed to need some work. It was cool (though awkward to control) running full desktop apps like VLC though.

Perhaps I should have tried a different OS though. I couldn’t tell how much of it was software vs hardware limitations.

[–] ozymandias117@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (3 children)

This would be a middle ground between a PinePhone and a big standard Android phone

It’s still running Android, but it doesn’t have Google Play Services

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[–] FinnFooted@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

Ohhh, I go between Europe and the US a lot and own one of these. Hopefully this means US companies will offer more support for the fairphone 4!

[–] joel_feila@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

wooo /e/ the worst name for a great os. I use their Murena as my phone and I would love to have it on a fairphone

[–] _Anonymous_Aardvark_@lemmy.one 7 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I'm due for an upgrade from my pixel 3, which I love but the battery life is getting very low. I'm very interested in this, but wouldn't want to spend the money/resources on something that doesn't work well for me. Getting something upgradeable, then discovering the quality is bad and it doesn't last isn't very sustainable.

If anyone has any personal experience with this phone I'd love to hear it!

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[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Fairphone was literally my top choice before I bought my current smartphone, until I found out I couldn't get it. So this is great, hopefully they still sell it whenever I update my phone (which won't happen for a few years). Several other people have already commented something along these lines, but I'm just happy about it.

[–] Yoz@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can we use it for daily use ?

[–] CriticalMiss@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, it's a perfectly usable device.

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[–] falsem@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'd like one of these but I'm not sold on De-Googled

[–] RossoErcole@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago (4 children)

You can also use normal android on it, it does come with stock option too

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[–] BiggestBulb@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Same. In my experience as well, almost all alternatives to Google Maps either:

  • don't have Android Auto support (a must for me)

  • don't have local coffee shops (you'd be surprised how often these apps fail to find 7-Brew coffee shops...)

  • don't actually give you enough time to turn (Waze... Which is also owned by Google btw)

Waze is the closest of these but man it's annoying with that third bullet point. It's also not FOSS.

I can only imagine Magic Maps falls into one of those three categories too.

[–] tetris11@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Organic Maps is surprisingly good. Not fantastic, no - but it can highlight coffee shops or restaurants or gas stations on your route

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[–] Quill7513@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 year ago

If the fairphone had been available I wouldn't have gotten my teracube. I like my teracube and don't intend to ditch it, but it is my impression that the fairphone is definitively better

[–] Metatronz@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Very cool news! I'm looking forward to fairphone heading this way.

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