Fairphone has introduced its newest repairable smartphone, almost two years after introducing the last upgrade. The brand new Fairphone 6 is smaller and 9 % lighter than its predecessor, however it features a bigger 4,415mAh battery — simply replaceable by eradicating simply seven screws — that may energy the telephone for as much as 53 hours on a full cost. It’s additionally extra modular than earlier variations, with new equipment like a card holder and finger loop that may be connected to the again of the telephone.
The Fairphone 6 is offered now via the company’s online store and different European retailers for €599 (round $696). There are black, inexperienced, and white colour choices. However as with earlier variations courting again to the Fairphone 3, the brand new mannequin will solely be accessible within the US via Murena, and supply is anticipated someday in August. As an alternative of operating commonplace Android, the Murena model of the Fairphone 6 will characteristic a privacy-focused and de-Googled version of Android that the company calls /e/OS. It’s accessible for preorder now for $899.
The Fairphone 6 has a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 cell processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage that’s expandable as much as 2TB utilizing an SDXC card. It additionally encompasses a 6.31-inch LTPO OLED show that’s barely smaller than the Fairphone 5’s 6.46-inch display, however with a refresh fee boosted from 90Hz to 120Hz.
On the again, you’ll discover a 50MP principal digicam and a 13MP ultrawide digicam, whereas the entrance has a 32MP hole-punch digicam for selfies and video calls. That’s a major step down from the Fairphone 5, which used 50MP sensors on all three of its cameras.
The Fairphone 6’s bodily design is just like the earlier mannequin, though the lenses on the again are now not situated on a small digicam bump and as an alternative sit immediately on the again panel. That panel is extra modular now, permitting the decrease part to be eliminated utilizing simply two screws and changed with alternate options that add extra performance, like a pockets for holding playing cards or a finger loop for extra securely holding the telephone with one hand. The thought is just like the swappable equipment Nothing gives for its CMF Phone 1 and Phone Pro 2, however how helpful it’ll really be is determined by what number of equipment Fairphone makes accessible.
Repairability remains to be a precedence for Fairphone, and its new telephone carries ahead the identical modular design of previous variations. The modular side permits you to entry and swap 12 totally different components — together with the display, battery, and USB port — utilizing only a single commonplace screwdriver as an alternative of specialised instruments.
To additional prolong the Fairphone 6’s lifespan, the corporate features a five-year guarantee and guarantees eight years of software program assist via 2033. However the draw back to not having all the pieces contained in the telephone being glued in place and sealed tight is that the Fairphone 6 nonetheless has a restricted IP55 score for mud and water resistance. It could possibly get splashed and even blasted with a jet of water, however it received’t survive an unintentional submersion.
Other than efficiency enhancements and the brand new modular equipment, Fairphone appears to be staying the course with its newest smartphone, however it’s introducing one further new characteristic on the software program facet: Fairphone Moments. Activated via a bodily change on the telephone’s facet, it’ll allow you to “toggle between a full-featured smartphone and a minimalist expertise.”
We don’t know precisely what Fairphone Moments can be minimizing, however because the firm describes it as being “a conscious solution to have interaction with expertise, placing homeowners in management, not their notifications,“ it feels like an alternate mode that reduces distractions so you’ll be able to concentrate on particular duties.