Fairphone (Gen 6) review: Sustainability done the right way

Greatest Costs In the present day: Fairphone (Gen 6)

There are a couple of smartphone corporations on the market that tout their eco-friendly credentials however the Fairphone (Gen 6) is the one handset that basically goes the space.

As a lot because it pains me to confess, it does really feel as if environmentally pleasant practices from smartphone producers simply aren’t taking centre stage in the way in which that they had been even a handful of years in the past. Positive, Apple has made a push with its carbon-neutral branding, however key components of sustainability equivalent to the benefit of repairing a cellphone have undoubtedly fallen by the wayside, until you’re employed for Fairphone.

The Dutch firm has made a reputation for itself by making sustainable tech the main target of its model identification, and with two years having handed because the launch of the Fairphone 5, the brand new Gen 6 mannequin is right here to reiterate its core objectives while bettering total usability, and I’m right here for it.

At £499, it offers an inexpensive, sustainable and repairable different to the likes of Samsung, Google and others.

Design & Construct

• Eye-catching color profiles
• New modular system
• Simple to interchange core elements

Proper off the bat, I really like the design of the Fairphone (Gen 6). There are three colourways obtainable, Horizon Black, Forest Inexperienced and Cloud White, but it surely’s the 2 latter choices that basically stand out in a stunning method.

I’ve had the white model in for assessment and in comparison with the pretty bland OnePlus Nord 5 that I needed to hand, the Fairphone (Gen 6) is only a lot nicer to have a look at, notably in how the recessed black digicam sensors sit in distinction with the remainder of the chassis.

The cellphone feels nice within the hand, too, and because of the moderately sized 6.31-inch show, it may be used comfortably one-handed as effectively. There’s Gorilla Glass 7i on the entrance of the cellphone to forestall scratches from showing, and the cellphone itself is IP55 rated to assist it face up to a splash of rain as you’re taking a name.

All of this could assist keep the Fairphone (Gen 6)’s integrity over time, however you’re given further peace of thoughts with a five-year guarantee in your buy.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

Having that prolonged guarantee is strictly the kind of customer-first characteristic that proves the Fairphone firm needs you to have this gadget for a very long time, and never merely be swept up within the yearly replace frenzy. In fact, this isn’t simply the one key side of the Gen 6’s design, it’s additionally very simple to take aside.

There are two small screws on the again of the gadget which could be taken out with a selected screwdriver. It’s just like the CMF Cellphone 2 Professional, however the emphasis right here is on repairability.

As soon as they’ve been eliminated, the backing simply slides proper off and also you’re completely at liberty to take away the battery, which feels otherworldly in 2025. It’s additionally potential so as to add considered one of a number of modular equipment that are offered individually, just like the CMF.

Fairphone was type sufficient to additionally ship over the entire mods which might be presently obtainable, together with the finger loop and the lanyard, and it’s all very simple to swap them out and in. It’s an ideal choice to begin, and I’m desperate to see what else Fairphone is ready to drum up right here (a backing that provides MagSafe compatibility can be pretty).

Circling again to the design, nevertheless, one factor that did catch me off guard barely is the location of the primary buttons. The ability button and the quantity buttons are additional down than you’d anticipate finding them on most telephones these days.

Nonetheless, after a few week of use, my mind lastly tailored to recollect the place the buttons are, so it’s not a serious subject.

Display & Audio system

• Sooner 120Hz refresh fee
• Stereo sound
• Auto-brightness is a bit unreliable

Regardless that there’s solely been a slight uptick in value, the Fairphone 6 has lastly made the leap to a 120Hz LPTO show, offering a sooner refresh fee than the 90Hz cap on the Fairphone 5.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

There’s a slight trade-off in that the display screen is now a smaller 6.31-inch panel (beforehand 6.4-inch) however I’m content material with the change. Perhaps it’s the results of utilizing the usual 6.1-inch iPhones for therefore lengthy however I a lot want telephones which might be simpler to make use of one-handed because it by no means requires Olympian-level hand methods to succeed in the top-end of the show.

The height brightness rings in at 1400 nits and I’ll say that it’s an easy display screen to learn when out in direct daylight. I used the Fairphone (Gen 6) to doc my progress on a current 25K charity stroll and I had no points with taking footage and importing them (other than stumbling over the occasional rock). Sadly, the identical can’t be stated for the auto-brightness characteristic.

I don’t fairly perceive why, however the auto-brightness, a minimum of in my time with the cellphone, would virtually at all times dip to 1% to the purpose the place I couldn’t actually see something. In the long run, I simply disabled the characteristic and now handle the brightness manually, but it surely’s a problem I’ve actually by no means had with one other cellphone earlier than.

In relation to music playback, you’ve bought stereo audio system on the Fairphone (Gen 6) and so they do a decent job. They don’t get fairly as loud because the audio system you’ll discover on different telephones, however they can spotlight the vocals in a given monitor; simply don’t anticipate to choose up on a lot (or any) element close to the bassline.

Specs & Efficiency

• Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset
• Efficiency lags in opposition to the competitors
• Gaming continues to be respectable with sure titles

When you’ve already learn our assessment of the Fairphone 5, then you definately’ll know that one of many key issues that held the cellphone again was its chipset, and it’s a really comparable expertise this time round.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

The chipset has modified, fortunately, leaping from a Snapdragon QCM6490 chip to the extra highly effective Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, but it surely’s hardly a large leap. On condition that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is already beginning to present its age, the 7s feels positively historical compared to different mid-range picks across the identical £499 price ticket.

I continuously bumped into slowdowns as I moved by means of menus, to the purpose the place I simply anticipated it each time I switched on the cellphone. App efficiency is a bit higher, however you’re prone to see that slowdown in your approach to opening your required app.

Gaming continues to be potential with sure titles. Diving right into a spherical of group deathmatch in Name of Responsibility Cell, there was a good bit of stuttering because the map and the gamers loaded in, however as soon as the sport began, every thing ran easily and the gameplay was by no means affected.

One other side I seen is that, regardless that the newest Fairphone does have 5G compatibility, the gadget would usually go for a lesser connection often called 4G+. I can solely hope that that is a part of a power-saving tactic on the a part of Fairphone itself as a result of I’d hate to see any points going ahead as 5G turns into extra important with a higher diploma of protection.

Nonetheless, any trade-offs within the efficiency division really feel like a good compromise in opposition to the emphasis on sustainability that this cellphone brings to the desk. No different handset on the market can allow you to exchange every thing from the battery to the digicam sensors in fairly really easy a vogue, and that in itself must be applauded.

Maybe Fairphone ought to make a ‘Professional’ mannequin for these wanting extra energy, although.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

Fairphone 6 benchmarks

Cameras

• Wider aperture on the primary digicam
• Some pictures can look a bit washed out
• Selfie digicam works rather well

There have been a couple of adjustments to the cameras within the Fairphone (Gen 6), and sadly, it’s led to a little bit of a blended expertise. There’s nonetheless a 50Mp most important wide-angle lens, however the aperture has been elevated to 1/1.56″ to permit extra gentle into every shot. The ultrawide angle sensor has seen its megapixel depend drop from 50- to 13Mp, so that you received’t be capturing anyplace close to as a lot element as earlier than.

When taking pictures throughout that aforementioned 25K stroll, it was potential to nab some nice footage below the correct circumstances. At one level, we discovered a physique of water that genuinely felt like an oasis amidst the summer time warmth and the ultrawide digicam did an ideal job of capturing its pure magnificence.

Talking of pure magnificence, a portrait shot of my brother, who was diligently strolling the route alongside me, turned out nice. There’s a softness to the image that jogs my memory of the portrait pictures you are inclined to get on mid-range Google Pixel telephones, which is not any dangerous factor. Sadly, pictures like these weren’t precisely the norm.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

As a rule, the pictures I took ended up wanting somewhat washed out in apply. You may see as a lot from a 2x zoom shot of a pair of horses that we got here throughout. The color of the horses themselves is misplaced within the shade, and the sky doesn’t look proper in any respect.

I seen an identical drawback when taking an ultra-wide shot close to London’s Southbank because the composition leaned somewhat an excessive amount of into the gray of the sky.

Battery Life & Charging

• Strong, lengthy lasting battery
• Two-days of use is feasible
• Quick charging

Regardless that you may swap out the battery on the Fairphone 6, I can’t think about that you simply’ll need to anytime quickly because the included battery fares fairly effectively already. It’s a 4415mAh cell which the corporate claims can get you as much as two days of use at a time, and below the correct circumstances, I’m inclined to agree.

On most days, I’ve discovered myself attending to mattress with round 50% or above left within the tank, however that has been the results of utilizing the cellphone principally for checking social media and responding to textual content messages.

If that appears like your common day then it’s best to get on positive right here. When you’re a heavier consumer, then you definately’ll undoubtedly need to search out an influence outlet on the finish of the day.

when it does come time to cost, you received’t be ready round for lengthy

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

When actually placing the Fairphone (Gen 6) by means of its paces with utilizing it as a hotspot for an hour, taking plenty of footage, scrolling by means of Instagram for about 40 minutes, a number of NFC funds and utilizing Google Maps a couple of occasions to trace down a location, the cellphone made it from 9:30am to 11:30pm with 24% remaining.

That’s not too dangerous in any respect for a battery this dimension, though for including the rest into the combination, like gaming, I’d suggest holding an influence financial institution in your individual.

Somewhat brilliantly, when it does come time to cost, you received’t be ready round for lengthy with the newest Fairphone. It will probably cost at 30W wired (there isn’t a wi-fi charging), which in our standard 30-minute check took it from 0 to 55%.

Utilizing a 65W quick charger, I used to be in a position to take the Fairphone (Gen 6) from 10% to a full battery in simply an hour and quarter-hour. It’s value noting that it reached 85% after simply 40 minutes of charging, which is lots to get you thru the day in the event you’re in a rush.

Software program & Apps

• Fairphone Moments is a game-changer
• Barely any AI options
• Clear tackle Android
• Whopping 8-year software program assist

One of many issues the Fairphone (Gen 6) actually has going for it in its value vary is the corporate’s hands-off method in terms of Android. There’s no gaudy overlay right here, actually the expertise feels similar to inventory Android which you’ll discover on the perfect Google Pixel telephones.

There’s no bloatware to talk of, which is virtually unprecedented within the mid-range class because it’s a standard apply to offset manufacturing prices. The one app to be included from the bounce is the Fairphone app, and that is used to examine your guarantee, order spare components when wanted, and watch tutorials on the best way to exchange elements. It’s a effectively designed app and throughout the context of the corporate’s ambitions, it’s a welcome one too.

Not like most producers these days, Fairphone appears to have little to no real interest in AI, and I can’t precisely blame the corporate for that. Personally, I’m sick of half baked AI options which might be used to complement real upgrades that I’d wish to see, and given the environmental issues concerning the usage of AI, it might be a weird battle with the model’s mission if Fairphone did indulge the present AI craze.

There may be Google Gemini right here for getting fast responses to questions, however there’s no Circle to Search.

By way of software program assist, Fairphone makes a daring declare of 8 years assist

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

As an alternative of happening the AI route, Fairphone has moved in the wrong way with a extra conscious method that encourages spending much less time in your cellphone. Probably impressed by the rise of dumb telephones just like the Gentle Cellphone III, Fairphone Moments is a cellphone locking software program that may be toggled immediately by flicking the yellow swap on the aspect of the cellphone. Doing so then brings up a brand new homepage whereby you solely have entry to 5 apps at a time.

That is good for if you’re attempting to give attention to work and also you don’t need to be distracted by the attract of social media, plus you may create a number of ‘Moments’ which have totally different apps obtainable. For instance, in the event you’re out with the household and also you don’t need to be distracted, you may tweak it so you may have fast entry to your digicam, Google Maps for instructions, and so on.

There’s simply one thing so satisfying about activating this software program by means of a bodily click on, though this toggle could be modified to carry up totally different options just like the torch or flight mode, however I feel it’s finest paired with Fairphone Moments.

By way of software program assist, Fairphone makes a daring declare of 8 years assist (to 2033) and this consists of each safety patches and OS updates. That is the longest you’ll discover anyplace, outpacing the 7-year promise of Google and Samsung.

Worth & Availability

• Slight value hike over the Fairphone 5
• There’s just one 256GB storage choice
• Comes at a value within the US

Not like the earlier Fairphone, there’s no 128GB mannequin with the Gen 6 improve, however slightly a single 256GB choice with 8GB RAM that now comes in at £499/€599. That’s only just a tad more expensive than the £479 cost of the 256GB Fairphone 5, so it doesn’t feel like that much of an uptick if you do decide to go for the newer model.

While the Fairphone (Gen 6) can be bought directly from the Fairphone if you’re in the UK or most of mainland Europe, as well as retailers like Amazon and AO, the cellphone is simply obtainable by way of third-party retailers in the event you’re shopping for within the US, and there’s a better price ticket of $899 in addition.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

There are three color variants obtainable (Cloud White, Forest Inexperienced and Horizon Black) and there aren’t any value variations between them.

Regardless that the Fairphone (Gen 6) does sit throughout the mid-range cellphone market alongside the likes of the Google Pixel 9a, Samsung Galaxy A56 and the Xiaomi 14T, I don’t suppose it’s fairly comparable provided that the main target right here is on sustainability, so if that’s your main concern in terms of shopping for a smartphone, the Fairphone (Gen 6) simply has a bonus that the opposite telephones don’t.

Do you have to purchase the Fairphone (Gen 6)?

I am keen on the Fairphone (Gen 6) and I solely want that extra corporations embraced the idea of a tool that’s simply repairable. Regardless that the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset leaves a bit to be desired in terms of on a regular basis efficiency, it’s a good trade-off when you think about simply how simple it’s to interchange each a part of the newest Fairphone, and the truth that you’re getting a five-year guarantee in addition in addition to class-leading software program assist. 

The brand new modular equipment are an ideal concept as effectively, and I can’t wait to see what Fairphone is ready to obtain right here over time. Throw within the splendidly tactile swap that toggles Fairphone Moments and also you’ve additionally bought a tool that lets you prioritise your psychological wellbeing as you may keep away from spending hours doomscrolling with only a click on.

I want that the primary digicam was higher, as pictures do look washed out below sure circumstances, however it could possibly take a stable portrait, and the selfie digicam does seize a beautiful quantity of color and element that makes it nice for social events. Equally, the battery life can go the space and the cellphone is extremely fast to cost, which I at all times like to see.

If sustainability, repairability and longevity are necessary to you, then the Fairphone 6 suits the invoice.

Specs

• Android 15
• 6.31-inch P-OLED show
• 120Hz refresh fee
• 1400nits peak brightness
• Gorilla Glass 7i
• Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset
• 50Mp 1/1.56″ most important digicam
• 13Mp 1/3.06″ ultrawide digicam
• 32Mp selfie digicam
• 256GB storage
• 8GB RAM
• 4415mAh detachable battery
• 30W charging
• IP55
• 156.5 x 73.3 x 9.6mm
• 193g
• Eight years of updates