I have long loved the idea of owning a Fairphone, but it wasn’t until the latest generation that I decided to make the switch. Unfortunately, shortly after placing the order, I realized this phone wouldn’t quite live up to its promise of being fully repairable. In some areas, it is just as vulnerable as any other phone.
If I drop the phone and it gets scraped, I will have to live with that
An ugly dented corner is still an ugly dented corner
The first place I damage any phone usually isn’t the screen. It’s not the charging port, nor the camera lens—all of which you can easily replace in minutes on a Fairphone 6. No, it’s the frame. The phone either slips out of my pocket, or I absentmindedly knock it off a table, and it falls onto its corner, leaving an unsightly gash.
In this way, the Fairphone is as vulnerable as any other device. While I can swap out everything from the battery and USB-C port to the selfie camera and earpiece using the single included screwdriver, the frame does not make the list. If I want to replace the frame, I need to send my phone in for repair. That means if I drop my phone on the asphalt on the way to my car and that scuffs up the entire side of the device, there will be an ugly reminder of my shame for the foreseeable future.
To be clear, this is a problem that most people solve by putting their phone in a case. I could do that, and I probably should, but I prefer to use my phones naked. I quite like the feel of the Fairphone 6. It’s a throwback to plastic phones in an era of aluminum and glass. This plastic makes the device feel lighter than it is, and I don’t want to add any bulk. Besides, I’m not sure if the case I’d get would actually be any good.
Pay attention to the volume rocker
The buttons on the side may be the Achilles’ heel
I’ve never had a volume rocker break on a phone. It doesn’t even cross my mind as a part that can break, but it is a physical component nonetheless. After ordering the phone and doing the rounds on Reddit, this is apparently one component that has broken in the past on Fairphones. Whether this issue is common isn’t the point. The point is that if it does happen to me, that’s not a repair part that Fairphone (or Murena, since I live in the States) will simply ship my way.
This isn’t the only button that might be susceptible to damage. The Fairphone 6 comes with a slider above the power button. By default, sliding this switch down activates a Fairphone Moments feature if you have a regular Fairphone 6. Moments is an alternate launcher of sorts that briefly turns your smartphone into a minimalist phone. The restriction can easily be overcome simply by sliding the switch back up.
On my Murena Fairphone 6 running /e/OS, this switch defaults to disabling the microphone and camera but can be set to other functions. I currently have mine toggle the flashlight. I enjoy the tactile feel of a switch, but it’s yet another movable part that can break, and this is not a part that I can simply visit Murena’s site to reorder a spare for.
You can still fry your mainboard and wiring
A shock to the system can’t be fixed with a screwdriver
The most terrifying incident I’ve seen on the Fairphone community forum has been the number of Fairphone 6’s that suddenly stopped working. Since the battery is removable, some owners have taken the battery out and checked its voltage directly, confirming that even with a full charge, the phone still won’t come on.
Some have wondered if this malfunction is due to damage leading to the wires connecting the USB-C port to other parts of the phone. Others have noticed burn marks on the mainboard. The issue seems to be damage caused by a glitch related to overvoltage protection when using fast chargers.
If these wires or chips get damaged, it doesn’t matter that you can swap out the battery or replace the USB-C port—that’s not where the problem lies. Customers who have fallen victim to this issue still end up having to send their phones to Fairphone for repair or a replacement model.
I’ve still decided to keep my Fairphone
The Fairphone 6’s perfect iFixit score left me with dreams that this would be a phone I could confidently keep running for as long as I want. The truth is a little more complicated. There are still ways this phone can fail, just like other phones. Yet even with that being the case, I would rather have the option to replace my own battery, screen, or USB port than be forced to take my phone to a shop. Some repairability is better than no repairability, and a Fairphone 6 remains a very repairable phone. The Murena version, with its emphasis on open source software, is one where the software adds an extra degree of ownership as well. Holding this phone feels like a paradigm shift—enough that I’m willing to give up my beloved phone that folds.
- Display
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6.31 inch P-OLED LTPO
- RAM
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8GB
Powered by /e/OS operating system, the Murena Fairphone (Gen. 6) protects your data at all times, while at the same time protecting the planet. Made by 50% fair and recycled materials, in fair conditions and with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the market.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
