I'm excited for this. Still don't like that they didnt include AUX and FM radio support. Otherwise seems like a great device. The camera especially has gotten a big improvement. I'm still rocking my Fairphone 3 and the camera on that has been pretty poor. I'm on vacation atm so I'm taking a lot of photos so the poor camera has been a sore spot for me.
While the price is steeper than before, I think they are making the right move by positioning themselves as a more premium product because they can't compete with the cheaper phone makers like Huawei and Xiaomi. If they can implement Klarna or something like that to make the higher price easier to manage, I think they could do great things here.
Still though, would like to see return of AUX, FM and maybe more support or even a full launch in US? Those are my wishes for them over the next few years tbh. I don't think asking for AUX and FM support is too much to ask at this price point. I know its not as popular or as cool, but should still be a fundamental part of what this device offers.
Yeah nah, hard pass. The €470 for the FP3+ was already somewhat above my personal limit for a smartphone. Especially given that I install custom OS' any way to remove even more Google crap, so their extended support is irrelevant to me.
Extended support actually matters no matter what OS you use. Firmware update can only be pushed by the manufacture, not even fairphone themselves can update the chipset firmware without Qualcom, let along lineage or calyx.
This is also why security-focused OS, like graphene and calyx, put phone in extended support after the OEM drops support for the phone. Although they can keep android up-to-date on the surface, the underlying firmware will no longer be supported with security updates.
This is why fairphone 5 picks a industrial chipset with very long support terms. So that your phone can stay secure for longer period of time.
The SOC used in the Fairphone 5 will receive 5 years of support from Qualcomm this will also benefit custom OS'. And the FP5 isn't just about longer support it's also about repairability, sustainability and good working conditions. Yes it's expensive, but so are other high-end smartphones that are even more expensive and only last 2 to 3 years.
The improvement over the 4 seems very minimal? I don't understand what justified this new version, it's just better specs without fixing or providing a different solution to notable issues like the size (a smaller version would have been great, the 4 is huge) or the absence of jack (didn't expect it, but could have been a pleasant surprise). Seems like a financial decision similar to any other phone maker and not very aligned with the sustainable values.
I think simplifying the design thinking that most of their non-nerd ecolo customers have moved passed this archaism. Eventually it was the main grudge against the FP4.
I'm a solutely happy with the phone.
The camera ist perfect for me and I got a clear case (non-fairphone company).
I don't know what you mean by 'strange'?
Last I checked Fairphone doesn't support US networks. You could order one shipped from the UK but it might not work outside of large cities, or at all.