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I want a phone I can actually fix, and Fairphone’s record growth shows the world does too
(www.androidcentral.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
With all respect, I still think an iPhone is a better chance at having spare parts many years ahead. I am confident I can find some spare parts of iPhone 4S. Would that hold for FairPhone or a similar phone? If not, the benefit is an illusion. Unless, I think, you can produce that part yourself.
First party spare parts or third party sketchy spare parts?
Spare part availability comes partly from the popularity of a phone, and iPhones were pretty popular.
Fairphone is just starting to get some steam, so third party spare part may start appearing in the future. same for used parts.
Fairphones got a lot better lately. I got both the 4, 5, and now gen 6, and the latest one feels like a good phone, unless the FP4 which is a brick in comparison. Still lacks several Flagship feature (wireless charging, amongs other), but as a mid-range phone it is quite good.
And the repeatability is great. I repaired my FP4 once (usb-c port), and it was easy as heck.
It’s great to hear, thanks for the feedback!
I meant any spare parts, so in your terms they are sketchy spare parts, I guess. Yet, it’s better than nothing though.
My primary concern is the software part though. I have plenty of phones that never broke, but all of them hit the software wall and it was just easier to buy a newer model.
With unofficial parts you can get anything, from very good parts to outright dangerous ones (especially batteries).
The problem with IPhone is their association system (which is illegal in the EU BTW). Understandable with those dangerous part on the market, but far too overcharging. They could just warn you during boot or something like that.
As for the software wall, it is where Fairphones shines. Even when the official support ends, the custom ROMs keeps updating for a while. IPhones are great on that aspect too, Samsungs are OK, but can't say for other brands.