174

submitted 6 days ago by Cyber@feddit.uk to c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

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It seems that Fairphone will finally end the Fairphone 3 (and 3+) support in August after 7 years.

I am still using my FP3+ daily - the only thing that has gone wrong with it was that I wore out the USB connector with cheap charging cables... so a new bottom connector (and a spare battery, just in case) and I'm all good again...

... which means, I might not be buying another phone for another couple of years yet, let's see if it'll make 10 years with LineageOS, etc!

I'm sure there's other phones still chugging along...

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[-] Niquarl@lemmy.ml 24 points 6 days ago

While the Fairphone 3’s official journey comes to a close this year, we strongly encourage all Fairphone 3 owners to explore alternative operating systems. Much like we saw with the Fairphone 2, the open-source community provides incredible ways to keep your phone secure and functional for years to come. Switching to an alternative OS allows you to receive security patches and feature updates long after the official life cycle. Community-driven projects such as LineageOS (currently running Android 15),/e/OS (who will continue to support the Fairphone 3 for at least two years more), and postmarketOS are some projects you can look into. We will also be publishing all the development work we have done on Android 14, hoping this work will serve open source communities. By transitioning to an alternative OS, you’re helping us prove that hardware can, and should, last. That’s what Fairphone has all been about. That’s why we’re the one that lasts.

So the biggest risk is the software not being supported anymore and having to really on community maintainers.

[-] Hirom@beehaw.org 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Moving to community maintained OS/ROM is a good idea anyway due to Google closing down Android ecosystem.

Continuing to use an Android OS that has Play Store and Play Protect will probably mean loosing the ability to run a number of (OSS) apps distributed outside the play store.

cf https://keepandroidopen.org/fr/

[-] Cyber@feddit.uk 2 points 5 days ago

I've (manually) disabled most of the google stuff anyway, so the only thing stopping me from changing the firmware is the hassle of reinstalling all the apps and data again...

Give it another year or so and I'll get around to it...

[-] BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 25 points 6 days ago

The possibility to easily change the USB port definitely weight in the balance in favor of a fairphone when I picked a new phone.

Now two other members of my family have a fairphone 5 as well.

[-] Cyber@feddit.uk 6 points 6 days ago

It was the replacable battery that originally convinced me to buy... I'd been using old Nokia's previously and that "5 seconds to full charge" appeal of a 2nd battery was the tipping point for me.

[-] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 3 points 6 days ago

What are You people doing with your phones? I don't have the most recent phone and some active apps on and don't run out until I am going to bed.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for repairability but don't really see the need for swappable. Unless privacy reasons of course.

[-] Cyber@feddit.uk 5 points 5 days ago

It does depend on my day... sometimes I'm travelling, using route navigation whilst listening to my music over bluetooth all miles away from the nearest phone mast.

Sometimes I don't leave the house...

A replacable battery is also smaller, cheaper and easier than a powerbank too. So it's all win:win.

[-] 0x0@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 days ago

Repairability.

[-] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 2 points 6 days ago

That's not what I understand under repairable. A non swappable battery can be changed by opening the phone in a reasonably manner. If that is not possible then I don't call it reparable.

Taking the back of and putting in a new battery on the fly is something else to me.

[-] DmMacniel@feddit.org 3 points 6 days ago

No, a non-swappable battery is most often soldered and glued, and the case is also not easily openable. Popping off the cover and swap the battery with another is a demonstration of repairability.

[-] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago

Depends on your use case.

I only buy phones that have a non soldered connection and the case can be (with reasonable effort) opened.

Yes, phones with a bad repairability score are shit. But a phone without a shell that can be easily opened doesnt necessarily mean that it has a bad repairability score.

As I said in other comments: it's a matter of preference. For me the pros of a closed phone outweigh the cons. For you it obviously is different.

[-] 0x0@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 days ago

A non swappable battery can be changed by opening the phone in a reasonably manner.

I'd say having a swappable battery is way more reasonable, hence, more repairable.

[-] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago

Yes it's convenient regarding fast switches.

It isn't regarding dropping the phone (my shell always went flying)

Or waterproofing (extra ingress possibilities)

Or build optimization (extra structural components to hold the shell, hence more material and thickness)

But it's a preference and it's okay if You like it that way and the pros outweigh the cons. :)

[-] 0x0@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago

I get your point.
I also get that non-removable tends to be the i'll cling to this board with my life variant, involving weird shapes and lots of glue, so... perhaps a middle ground?

[-] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 2 points 4 days ago

Yep, middle ground sounds good. And it has gotten better since the early Smartphone days. Honestly, tht pulltabs to remove the adhesive from under the battery are fantastic compared to the glue before that. I burned my house down. Or I should have with two batteries on fire.

[-] wltr@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 6 days ago

How can you wear a connector with cheap cables? Never thought there’s any difference. I thought the cheap cable can damage your phone via other means, like something to do with the current / voltage / amperage.

[-] JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl 23 points 6 days ago

USB has very tight tolerance standards for USB-C. It means that there is just the right amount of clamp that it stays in while maximizing the lifespans before the clamping mechanism wears out.

If you use cheap cables, they are often made out of spec which can wear out the clamping and make the port either not charge or even fall out. HMD (Nokia) phones had terrible connectors for at least their first 3 generations that wore out, even with certified cables, after 6 months and my cables would literally not charge and just practically fall out.

The safest bet is to choose a USB-IF member as they are certified with the standard.

[-] bonenode@piefed.social 7 points 6 days ago

Yeah, I think the USB c port just wears out in general over time. Maybe its worse if you use different cables, like alternating the use, dunno.

Our laptops at work have that issue too, since we plug and and unplug them multiple times between docking stations and meeting rooms, the USB c ports wear out pretty quickly. Then for some reason you can not connect to mic and video in the meeting room, but the big screen connects fine. Totally bizarre, you connect it via USB a and it all works.

[-] fushuan 1 points 5 days ago

In my case it was just dust and clothing fluff that accumulated after having the phone in my pocket. I had to clean with a pointy thing and it clamps again fine. It might have been clap wear but fluff accumulation might be an issue too.

[-] Cyber@feddit.uk 5 points 6 days ago

Yeah, just as @JustEnoughDucks@feddit.nl mentioned, the cables seemed good origianally because they were such a tight fit, but over time they just wore away the connector.

But, it could have been a "certified" cable and I might have dropped the phone straight on the connector - the point is really, that I can just replace a small component not an entire phone, which is what we (consumers) really need / want. 🎉

[-] wltr@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 5 days ago

Thank you guys for your replies!

[-] ApertureUA@lemmy.today 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

My phone released 10 years ago, runs fine idk lgtm, super fast with native apps but browser struggles unless I stop telegram and shit via the little dropdown (introduced Android 13). I don't even use it as a phone lol, no SIM, just 2FA and osu!stream. I have a few backup phones (including 16 and 17 year old ones) in case I actually want the phone part of them; too bad I can't chat on ICQ and download game demos on these anymore.

[-] brainwashed@feddit.org 5 points 6 days ago

Looks like they are en par with Apple, if you ignore the occasional critical bug fix for way out of date iOS versions. https://iosref.com/ios

[-] teolan@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago

But unlike Apple you can still change individual parts like the USB connector and install custom open-source OS like Lineage and essentially have full support again.

[-] brainwashed@feddit.org 5 points 5 days ago

You can change the USB-C port assembly on an iPhone in 109 easy steps ;) https://en.ifixit.com/Anleitung/iPhone+17+Pro+Max+USB-C+Port+Assembly+Replacement/206397?lang=en

But I get the appeal.

[-] Little8Lost@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

I hope they manage to restock the replacement displays before then. I have two FP3 at home with broken screens :/

this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2026

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