The Fairphone was quietly put on pre-order last year for an initial European-only run of 25,000 units. It promised to break the cycle of exploitative manufacturing processes, make pricing transparent, and focus on user features rather than planned obsolescence of most consumer electronics Thou Shalt Consume: The Story of Consumer Electronics [Feature] Thou Shalt Consume: The Story of Consumer Electronics [Feature] Every year, exhibitions around the world present new high tech devices; expensive toys that come with many promises. They aim to make our lives easier, more fun, super connected, and of course they are status... Read More . At €325 (around $450) off-plan, it’s about the same price as a Nexus 5 in the UK (we have silly taxes, remember). Is it any good though?
To find out, we paid for one. Now that we’re done with our review, we’re giving it away to a lucky reader!
Putting Social Values First
I must admit, this post-CES time of year is both exciting and depressing for me. On the one hand, we hear about a huge range of exciting new technology that probably won’t ever be made. And on the other, it makes me look back on all the worthless devices that did make it to market last year – yet more convertible tablets and technological tat that no one really needs nor wants – the majority is which is now sitting unused in a closet or sent to landfill.
It’s depressing because I think about all the resources that went into building those worthless devices. The lives that were exploited to mine the precious metals. The overworked Chinese labourer paid 5 dollars a day, fighting to keep their job because there’s a queue of ten more people desperate to take it from them. The children who live in the village that breaks down old electronics, now sick from the toxic fumes and polluted water supply. All we see is the shiny shrink-wrapped box at the end: the actual production costs are externalised and hidden. It’s a disgusting, shameful industry, and I’m as guilty of over-consumption as the next. If anything, I’m more guilty since I’m the one sitting here telling you to buy this crap. For that, I apologise.
But the Fairphone promises to break that cycle, or at least offer a significant improvement. “Putting social values first”, its mission statement decrees. What exactly is “fair” about the Fairphone then?
- Conflict resources.
- Fair wages.
- E-waste solutions.
- Open and future ready design
- Transparent pricing.
Before we begin, a little disclaimer: my Android experience is thus far limited to an HTC One X How To Unlock, Root & Install a Custom ROM On Your HTC One X How To Unlock, Root & Install a Custom ROM On Your HTC One X I can't say I've been entirely happy with having switched to Android - poor battery life, lack of system updates and general bugginess of my HTC One X being my main issues - but I... Read More . I hated the thing and quickly switched back to an iPhone 4, but have since destroyed the screen on that, so I’m back with the HTC for now. I’ve rooted it and tried all manner of replacement mods, settling on Cyanogen. It’s not particularly bad performance-wise – the interface is snappy enough – but bear that in mind during this review if I make some heinous mistake when talking about the Android OS.
The Fairness Of It All
The Fairphone costs €325 — €257 of which is the actual sales price minus various taxes. €185 of that goes on the manufacturing of the product, €45 on operations, and €22 on so-called “interventions”. Interventions is a list of social care programs and initiatives, like the e-waste recycling program. You can read a complete breakdown of the costs here.
While I appreciate the transparency, digging into the report, it seems clear that actually the production process itself is much the same as any other phone:
As we’re working with Changhong on a very outsourced model (i.e. they handle a lot of the work), it makes sense to have a fully blended price per phone for the initial production. However, this way we do not have a detailed breakdown, for example how much is the labor cost for the actual production.
Without sounding pessimistic, you’re paying for the usual Chinese manufactured handset under dubious conditions, plus a premium for social equality programs. Fairphone claims to be in the process of running an investigation into workers wages, but it seems like this is something they really should have done first. Especially given how they later claim “At Fairphone, we put social values first“. A Facebook post also claimed that the workers actually get less than the widely criticised Foxconn, but this may be unsubstantiated.
€4 of the intervention money is also diverted toward “open source development” on the operating system and Fairphone software, so only 18 of the 22 Euros is actually being spent on social initiatives – I feel this is a little misleading, inflating the value with a cost which might otherwise have been included under operations. It’s still more transparent than any other phone out there though, for which I can only applaud the Fairphone team. I suspect we would be appalled if we saw what percentage of an iPhone sale is pure profit.
Design and First Impressions
The box is adorned with stamps from various part of the world – conceived in The Netherlands, made in China, with resources from Congo, and software from Portugal. The plain “carton box” packing gives the impression of an unabashedly natural product. The packaging looks recycled, appealing to a generation of hipsters for whom white plastic is almost toxic.
This is Marketing 101 – and you know what? It works. I already feel a little better inside for owning this thing – I must be doing something good for the world.
In terms of hardware, only the phone is included in the box. There is no charger (since everyone probably already owns a micro USB cable), and no headphones. The only other items in the box are a number of postcards (including one for a Chongqing hotpot recipe); and a thick getting-started manual.
The Fairphone’s design is nothing innovative, just simple: it has a white rim, with a metallic black body and aluminium backing plate. The 4.3-inch screen is neither too small nor too large.
On the front and rear is a simple Fairphone logo; the rear is also adorned by “First Edition”. At 170 grams, the Fairphone is firmly on the side of heavy.
The battery cover is simple to pull off, revealing the two SIM slots (standard “mini” SIMs, so you’ll need an adaptor if you have the more common micro or nano sizes in recent phones); a replaceable battery; and an SD card slot for external storage.
Technical Specifications
- 540 x 960 pixel resolution screen, 240 dpi
- 8 megapixel rear camera
- 1.3 megapixel front camera
- 16 gigabytes of internal storage
- MT6589M 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU
- PowerVR SGX354 GPU
- 4.3″ Dragontrail glass screen
- 2000 mAh battery
The Fairphone is dual-SIM, enabling you to use more than one carrier without the annoyance of carrying another separate phone or switching SIMs when you go abroad. You can configure either for use as the data network, and assign specific contacts to each SIM – helpful if you’re a frugal type with free minutes to certain networks.
The screen is a new technology called Dragontrail – similar to Gorilla Glass, it’s engineered to be lightweight and scratch resistant. After lying face down on a stone table, and testing light scratching with a key, only superficial marks occurred which went away with a through cleaning. It also appears to be fairly smudge resistant: my greasy fingers resulted in a noticeable smudge on my HTC One X, and only a small mark on the Fairphone. I don’t have a Gorilla Glass device to compare to, but if your current phone is prone to smudges you’ll certainly notice a difference with this device.
It’s worth noting that the Fairphone is not 4G/LTE-capable. Though this doesn’t present a huge issue for me right now since there’s only a few overpriced carriers capable of it, further roll-outs are expected later this year. If I had a 4G-capable phone, I would be automatically upgraded (along with unlimited internet) to 4G speeds. Ao as a phone designed to be somewhat future-proofed, this is disappointing to say the least. This may be a huge factor in your decision.
The rear camera is decent enough but nothing to write home about; the front camera is fine for video chat. Here’s a sample image scaled down:
Operating System and Performance
From what I can tell, there’s very little difference from a standard Android OS – and that’s a good thing. It’s immediately familiar without any overly heavy UI change as some manufacturers are guilty of. On the second home screen, there’s a UI widget for last used and most used apps; and dragging in from either side of the screen reveals a quick launch bar.
The only real complaint I have is the software keyboard and touch sensitivity of the screen – it seems almost too sensitive, such that hovering over a letter causes double or triple entry. This is probably something you can adapt through prolonged use.
Due to licensing terms, Google Apps needs to be installed separately. Curious, but not a huge issue – there’s a huge button to do that right on the home screen, though you will need to grant super user access to the Fairphone app.
There are a few unique apps that come pre-installed. Peace of Mind is an timer that kills all notifications and enters airplane mode until the countdown finishes. It’s designed to give you a break from the world, and it’s a nice little app I think you’ll like. iFixit is also included, a gateway to the catalogue of instructions on how to fix various devices.
Refreshingly,the phone comes pre-rooted with no lock to the OS – you’re free to hack away and install whatever you want. It’s not clear at this point how frequent updates will be, but their blog gave some indication:
Realistically at the moment we can’t give firm dates but it’s a good estimate that Kwame hopes to get an Android release something like a month after Android’s own update.
In terms of performance, the Fairphone appears reasonably snappy enough that I’d be quite happy to use it on a daily basis. Antutu benchmarking gave a different story though: despite the upmarket price, raw performance is decidedly low end to mediocre, ranking at 13,500 – just between Galaxy S2 and Nexus 4. For comparison sake, my two-year old HTC One X running Cyanogen gets 17000. I think this is fault of the GPU: Fairphone is equipped with a PowerVR SGX, compared to the high performance Nvidia Tegra; but I’m not an expert in Android hardware performance so if you think otherwise, do let us know in the comments.
The generous 2000 mAh combined with some power saving OS tweaks apparently – gives fairly good battery life. While my 1800 mHa HTC One X needs recharging at least once a day, the same usage pattern lasted the entire day with a little left by bedtime. The OS also features a live background which changes colour depending on battery usage, blue being the lowest, orange being the highest – so you can see at-a-glance whether you should kill some apps. Though the battery is replaceable, it seems you can’t actually buy a replacement yet – the online shop is expected to open later this month.
If things go wrong, there’s a support forum and European phone number you can call, but since this is such a small production run don’t expect to find hundreds of other phone users with tutorials or advice.
Should you buy the Fairphone?
It’s easy to be skeptical about the Fairphone – performance is mediocre considering the price, and it feels more like a charitable donation than a manufacturing revolution I was hoping for; the “fair” aspect may just be largely marketing. The lack of 4G/LTE support is also quite disappointing, limiting it’s lifespan.
On the other hand, dual-SIM slots and a removable battery alone make this one of a rare breed; combined with a relatively standard UI and unlocked system should you wish to hack away, and you’re onto a winner. It’s early days yet, and the Fairphone team ought to be applauded for their work.
If you’re looking to buy one, you may register your interest for a second production run. Otherwise, you may get your hands on one right now through our giveaway.
How do I win the Fairphone?
You may enter by submitting your name and email address. You’ll receive one entry simply by doing so.
After that, you’ll also be offered various methods to earn additional entries. They range from sharing a link to this giveaway on social networks; to commenting or visiting a specific page. The more you participate, the higher your chances of winning! You will receive 5 additional entries into the giveaway for every successful referral via your shared links.
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This giveaway begins now and ends Friday, February 14. The winner will be selected at random and informed via email. View the list of winners here.
Send your products to be reviewed. Contact Jackson Chung for further details.
the cost appears to be 529 Euro now. what happened?
I think most of you are forgetting this is a dual sim phone which is essentially two phones in one (America is still catching up to this). Very hard to find one with an up to date processor, or one that is not a Media Tek. Still, they work fine unless you are a gamer or Internet addict.
That said, the phone is pricey, even with another version of Gorilla Glass, and an average to below average screen resolution even for dual sim phones.
After half a dozen different phones, this is the first time I'm proud of having one, and I hope it will last a few years.
Both my son and my wife now have a Fairphone, having come to it from Nokia and Samsung phones. Both are very pleased with the device, and would recommend it. They use it in very different ways - my son very heavy on texts, games and internet, my wife for voice calls, skype and texts - and in both cases the phone is standing up very well indeed.
Seems like it
Seems not exactly. I also had high expectations from what I had heard, but the info in this review only shows it is a somewhat more standard device. Being already rooted and without most manufacturers custom UI is a + however.
I don't think so
I think so.
I don't think so. It is a mediocre phone for a high price. The camera is just below average. The processor is MediaTek. The screen is only 4.3 with low resolution and no Gorilla Glass (which actually gets scratched easily by the way). No LTE, no HDMI and no extraordinary features.
It may still be good, but you can get Nexus 5 or MotoX for almost the same price if not cheaper. These definitely have better specs and better support (I meant with Motorola, because Google is known for being the worst in customer support ever, and I have two personal experiences myself). Or for a bit more, you can get any of the flagship phones which are way way better, in terms of everything.
Again, I'm not saying it's a bad phone, but that's the kind of phone I'm expecting to pay $200-250 for it.
Sorry if I offended anyone who supports this project or is enthusiastic about it...
Yes, I think this phone is really awesome!
Yes.. definitely!
I liked the social contribution. But I thought the price should have been more reasonable.
At best maybe.
Mission accomplished
It's a very good attempt and hats off to them
Oh yes
I say yes
Yes yes and Yes.
Yes it had done it. I think the phone is really cool
One word: Yes.
I think so. They're showing OEMs that you don't have to cut corners to cut prices...especially since most of them aren't cutting prices to begin with.
Seems like a decent phone, though I guess one could accomplish the same thing by buying a regular phone and donating $ to similar causes.
Yes, totally!
Better than the rest, I guess.
Nice phone for everyday use
Yep, I think so
Aside from the lack of 4G support, the Fairphone is worth considering.
i think so yes
It seems like it has
Yes. Absolutely
It seems to, but I'd have to try it to find out.
Yes. They are selling "guilt" for a "fair" price.
It didn't, they had all the time to meet the expectations of the people and they failed for this. It seems to be like just another mobile making company.
It looks like a no nonsense phone, exactly what I am looking for
It's a good concept for sure.
I think it actually does.
It seems to have met the objectives!
Yes it did would be great since i travel alot
I applaud them for trying--it will raise awareness, and may start more progress.
Sure yes - and certainly SOME is better than none at all.
Could have been better, but it's a start.
I do believe it did!
i think is does
OFCOURSE!!!
yes!
I believe it has.
Yes
I think it did!
Yes it sure did!
I have no idea. I'm a novice when it comes to these things.
Obviously it did.
It is getting there but really needs 4G/LTE to make it marketable
Wow! Yes this is a amazing phone for sure
i think yes! and i love it.
It Tried its best and it will Succeed
For what they are going for, yes it did.
Yes it does!
A corporate step in the right direction
I think it did but, it's also a good start. I'm sure that if this type of manufacturing and marketing starts to catch on, there will be more corporations that will jump on board.
Yes I think it did.
Yes it does.
I'm not sure.
One thing I like about it is, yes you are right, the packaging! Love it.
yes
Yes it sounds good.
Sure!
It's pretty disappointing that the "conflict free" and "fair wage" aspects are barely addressed.
But I love the initiative and I'd hope that the company can blossom and improve their offering.
Eagerly awaiting v2!
My phobe is on the fritz..i need a new one.
I would say yes it did.
Only way to find out is to win this phone.
Almost
Looks pretty lame to me.
mostly
Looks like a good phone
Hell yes... it sure did !!
yes, it looks like that
Yes. It means business right from the word go.
Looks like it.
Yes It did!
I would say so
YES it does
yes of course it did
Love this phone would love to have one
Yes It did!
Yes, nice phone.
yes :)
yes
Yes,it accoplish in fact.
Thnk you for this lovelty giveaway!
Crossed fingers!
It seems like it has.
Yes, for android.
I Think so, yes
yes!!
It seems to me like it did
While it might not be a raging success (yet), it's a good step in the right direction and at a minimum it might raise some questions that usually get ignored
Yes!
So far, yes.
I think it did.
Goodbey apple
so awesome
I think they did. It's just the first step!
It always seemed like an interesting idea, and they are well on track to truly accomplishing their goals!
yes it does.. Good job!!!
I am sure it did. It opened the eyes for those who care and it takes the first step into the right direction!
Yes
it kinda did
yes. indeed!
It does...for now. Lack of 4G is a deterrent in a fast-paced world.
Affirmatively Yes!
I believe it does. :)
I suppose it does, but since I don't have it, I can't say for sure.
I think it accomplished its goals
I think it has!
yes..it almost did it
Definitely it does.
I believe it did.
I believe it has except for gamers.
fingers crossed!!!
I think it does, and wouldn't mind having one to do a full breakdown and review.
Yes and I love the project behind it.
Yes think it sounds good, let me have it!
I would say that they definitely set out to accomplish what they meant to do. I honestly believe that their primary goal was to determine the possibility of a fairly sourced phone while raising awareness of the issues that plague the tech manufacturing industry.
Yes, It does
Not quite, but a good start and I particularly like the dual sim feature & the replaceable battery.
I guess it is a good alternative...
I think the idea of the smartphone is great, not sure they're successful
I think so, but it's a little pricey.
Yes.
Yes. Added bonus is that it is great explaining the idea behind it.
I don't need to spend that much for what I need.
Absolutely! it is a project worth supporting, and i don`t have one as i was too late to order the first edition! i think they`re an example for other companies out there (big brand names)
No. As you mentioned, it should have done all those research stuff before coming up with this phone, considering they put values first. Additionally, maybe they could have saved extra money by eliminating that 2nd SIM slot and the microSD port, so that they could put more money into their social causes. It's a nice gesture, and a decent device which I would be happy to purchase, but it's still lacking in certain areas.
Yes
Yes, it's made to be social conscious, that's great. It's an average phone, is far better than being a junk phone.
not really, but trying
yes mainly
Great idea, needs to be cheaper
Oh, yes.
I'm pleased with mine. It just works, with no fuss, and the neat little widget that gives up to three hours of silence and then quietly reverts to normal is excellent for Quaker Meetings!
i think so.
No.
Yes. but it is very expensive!
Price should be cheap.
Yes it did, but the actual phone itself does not seem to carry that message loudly.
Yes, they do raise awareness about phone production and they produced quite a nice phone. I would love to use it.
Yes, but I dont think consumers will follow. needs to be cheaper somehow.
Yes they accomplished their goals but, consumers don't care. How's the phone?
Yes, but I think the price must be cheaper.
Yes, but the price must me much cheaper. :)
Yes,i want this phone because is nice and useful!
I really really need a I new phonce :( I would love to win this one.
Sort of a yes :)
I think so.
I believe it's heading in the right direction for it's stated goals, although many more phones must be purchased by the public before those can be totally accomplished. But - good for them - trying to be socially responsible and offering a fairly decent quality item in exchange!
seems great, i should like to try it and see if it meets my expectations
With so many competitors out there I think they still have some work to do. I read a post about them aiming to be ethical and I think that is excellent, by not supporting unjust mining for violence. Compared to their competitors they are trying to be eco friendly. In terms of its functions, I only use dual sim phones also I love the camera (my opinion). Yes, I think fairphone has a way to go, but they are accomplishing their goal of being a part of the android market.
I think so!
Yes I think it was accomplish
It looks like yes... But you know gotta try it first to be 100% sure:)
Not really
They definitely did, now they need to make people now about it. I'm ok with the price point, just wish some network in my country subsidised it.
May be not because of some nexus phones cheap phones are not the first choice and now we also have The MOTO G.
Probably it will!
Yes, Most of them.
I think yes :)
Yes, but I dont think consumers will follow. needs to be cheaper somehow.
May be yes, may be no. I have to see it first. So, let me win!! :)
We'll see.
Yes. It accomplished :)
I believe so. It accomplished what this Fairphone needs to do. It looks very promising though.
Thanks for superb giveaway! I will definitely say Yes! Because it owns beautiful style, wide screen, 16 MP camera, Wifi, dual sim, OS., good ranking.. everything makes it best :)
Yes, it does make strides to that end.
yes for my needs
Yes, but I hope it will be more better in future.
A small yes, as they have not yet completely achieved their mission, but they are certainly getting towards it!
i need it to say right answer
Maybe not completely, but I guess they're going a better way than many (any?) other producer
never judge the phone by it's housing or review - have to try it to answer it
Yes
a big yes!
A medium "yes". Not yet a 100% minimal harm to people and planet (as in the company's mission) but it's getting towards it.
yes
Yes! i want this phone please *_*
I think yes.
yes
Hope i win
Sure it did.
I think so!
yeah
I think it did!
yes
yup
Yes, the Fairphone is really an awesome answer to the conflit minerals problem in Congo !
yes!
more than fair in most ways
I like that its pre rooted
Yes, nice one.
looks like it from the review.
from what I read, YES
Yes I think it did. It looks like a really nice phone.
It appears that it probably has.
For it's price, not really. The Huawei Y300 is much more rounded on it's features, only lacking in camera specs.
It looks good...Not sure having my hands on them, but there are lots of great android phones out there.
seems like a great phone but needs some improvements in some areas. the 4 g features could be improved but over all I thinks its a really good phone.
Yes, given the small-scale of the project so far...
YES as Far as I Read
Considering the price, I'm not actually sure. It would seem at this pricepoint it would include 4G/LTE technology, and the camera's would be better. Still it seems like a good phone.
Nice phone
I would think so
It has accomplished that.
Think so!
I appreciate the analysis of this product, looks like there may be some areas for tweaking, especially the lack of 4G feature.
I liked what I read
It has all I need and more for any phone
sure
Nice phone and nice price!!!
Although they are donating a small portion to charity, the phone itself seems lacking.
Works for me!
Anything that is free is good to get. I would like to test it out.
Fair is a good term for marketing purposes, but the concept sounds better than the concepts of established competitors.
Would be very good for me, yes
I believe it did
I really like this since it is small and cool. I like your pages since it expliques alot about different products. Thanks
Majority is pretty fair
yes
A very good effort!
If it cost a bit more and sent a bit more money to the "social initiatives" then it'd be better, $18 isn't exactly a lot at the end of the day. It's a start I guess.
I think it did, but is still a fair amount expensive considering that price translated into USD. I'm guessing the higher the production goes, the better it will become though.
I think they did a pretty good job
From the description, it seems the "FAIR" bit is more hype that substance, but then I wouldn't volunteer to pay a "good cause tax" on a piece of Chinese built tech
It's a good start. Definitely refreshing to see someone come up with an initiative make a more socially aware product.
I think it almost made it
Yes, its good for me
Well , YAY for the cause :)
Indeed fair enough
yes
It certainly took a step in the right direction, which is a good thing. I hope the people at Fairphone will address some of the issues raised before producing the second batch.
I like the heart of the makers of this phone.
Yes
Yes, it looks good to me.
yes, more makers should follow
They should look into becoming certified to SA8000 orgetting SEDEX audits from their suppliers.
Yes. I think it's great. I was unaware of all the stuff that goes on with the manufacture of cell phones.
A good phone and a good idea about "fair" strategy.
Yes!
Yes
yet i think so it will work much better than its competitors
yes absolutely!
Good start in that direction but I think they've got a ways to go!
Not yet , people are still not aware of its cause and its name.
I think they did.
If the goal was to be expensive and yet get slammed for not even being close to good, then yeap.
Yes, I agree it is a good phone :)
I think it did, yes.
Well ,yes, and it'a good cause
Yes!
it is a good phone
Of course it has :)
yes
very interesting phone! lol! ;)
Let's see when I get my hands on it.
yes it did
I think it's a step in the right direction, but the statistics are very superficial.
Good specs would love to have it.
Yes, it is good, decent phone for decent price.
not really
Yes,it did.It looks like it's not bad phone at all.Would really like to have one.
fascinating
It's a start of what it is trying to accomplish, but a well done start.
Well, I certainly hope so, I mean it looks great.
yes, i think it is good choice
We'll have to see
yes, it achieved its goal
Id say yes
It will once everyone knows it's purpose
I really need a new phone
yes
Kool phone
Yes it was successful
Yes,It was successfull.
Yes, I agree it is a good phone.
As long as they allow to do us what ever we want, its a keeper.
it moves the right way. but overpriced a bit.
it is a good initiative.
The initiave is absolutely to be supported, it is a starter.
Yes. Wish the specs were better though. It would entice more people to buy.
I'm not sure it accomplished what it set out to do, but it took a step in that direction. If they continue to refine that direction, they will eventual achieve their goal. I support initiatives like this, because they represent the right way to do business. Money mongering has its flaws and we're seeing the rampant effects of that everywhere today. It's not good for anyone.
yes, i think
yes it did. I hope to get it real soon cuz it's an awesome phone
Yes it aims to be more transparent and fair. The makers should be congratulated and encouraged to develop even fairer manufacturing processes.
Yes.
Looks great, and I'm not too concerned about the performance - still seems like it's plenty powerful enough for most tasks
I think the Fairphone is on the right track. More to do but at least there some alternative.
Yes, good telephone.
Yes. Very interesting phone.
It's the biggest step in the right direction by any producer so far. There's room for improvement, but it's a huge achievement!
Yes. Definitely useful.
I think so but we can always work to make it better
yes
I believe so...although, there's always room for improvement.
Yes
dual sim accesory is REALLY attractive !
Yes!
Definitely worth it for me, I just have a basic phone !! Still back in the old days!! Thank you for this contest!!
Yes, i believe it did
no technology moves too fast to be equitable
yes it does
yes
Yes
Yes it does! I am quite impressed!
Yes!
I sure did. Startup companies always bring new and useful products to the market. And I do hope they remain successful for their future launch and upgrades.
Maybe, that's why I need to try it out ;)
I think so.
yes
Probably, yes.
maybe not completely. or not yet at least..
It sounds like they have but until the public try and test it we will not truly know.
Decent attempt but will only succeed if masses go for it.
Yes
Looks quite promising and I reckon if developers support it, it'll turn out just what they wanted it to!
i guess so.
Yes. It adds more competition to the market.
Yes, they did make the pricing more transparent, so they succeeded in one way.
However, I'm not sure a MediaTek CPU is really a progress in the fight against planned obsolescence : Mediatek is known for not releasing source code, and without open pilots, there will be no custom roms for this Fairphone. And in the Android world, the only way to give a second life to an unsupported phone is installing a custom rom.
For sure
Yes, 4G is a must for the 2nd edition & i think the screen size is perfect.
Probably yes. It doesn't seem much different from the phone I use and it's nice to do some good without it being at all painful.
I should try it, probably yes
Maybe yes
I think yes if social media is its first priority.
maybe yes
I can't tell if it accomplished things it wanted to until I use it by myself.
I'm doubtful that they've accomplished what they've set out to do. As you noted, they haven't actually investigated the workers' wages yet. Also, for the features, the price isn't at all competitive, so the purchasers will be limited topeople who are willing and able to spend a large premium for the social responsibility aspects.
Yes, I think so.
I'm not sure but worth a try to see it for myself.. ty for chance to win!
YES IT DID
Yes!
Yes
I can only tell if I get one ;)
I'm not sure if it has or not?
Maybe
Perhaps
Yes.
May be
i hope win it
Yes
It's very difficult to answer the question
looks nice
It would meet my needs for a second phone.
Most everything.
Thanks a lot!
Maybe
No but certainly with some more improvement, it can achieve that.
Perhaps.
I think yes
i think so
Mostly, do hope will
Nope, but they seem very close to reaching it.
Yes for the most part.
I'm more of a Phablet guy, but it's amazing to support this kind of projects
I think it has accomplished what it set out to do...
Dont know
Yes
Yes
I'm not sure
I have no idea
no idea
Enough with the social diatribe and tell us if it's any good or not! Cry on your own time!
If a product makes social claims in its primary pitch, any review has to touch on that. Don't you think?
Yes indeed
Yes
If not, they came really close.
Sure it did.
no but nice thought
I think so
Yes
yup
Sure seems like they did!
Fairphone fairs Ok in my view.
Not having seen one yet, and not seeing much exposure to it, I would say they have accomplished what they wanted based on your review and what I could find on the net about their purpose.
Too early to say if it has achieved it's potential.
I don't think that Fairphone has accomplished what it set out to do - yet. You cannot move a mountain overnight, and I think that Fairphone have made a good start. If they carry on producing phones, they can make a little more progress with each manufacturing run.
Yes...
Closer than any of the other devices on the market, I think. It is my experience that what a company says it does and what actually happens behind closed doors are 2 totally different things.
As far as I can see, it did.
i realy dont know!!!
any change as to come from the buyers side....people tend to focus in Aplle but almost every company in any market uses the same tactics!
Yes, i guess so. But I think much people need to have a charger, it's weird the FP doesn't have that.
I think the article is little harsh and skeptical in places. Their site clearly states where they are getting the materials from, who is supplying them, that they are conflict free, and their blog details the work they've put into choosing the manufacturing plant and guaranteeing the workers better working conditions. I've found their blog very interesting over the last 6 months and this level of transparency is unprecedented. By making it in China, perhaps they can bring about change in a country where workers rights are few and working hours are long.
The phone itself for the price is pretty decent. Its no iPhone, S4, One or Z1 but it doesn't aim to be, and its far cheaper. Do a search for quad core / dual sim / 960x540 or greater / bluetooth 4.0 / android 4.2 / removable battery / microSD and see what you get. You'll see the Acer S1 Duo and Huawei G700, for about the same price as the Fairphone. So much for an upmarket price. I wonder if people will be bothered by the benchmarks. If you say the interface is snappy and you'd be happy to use it on a regular basis. It sounds alright to me!
its a good smartphone so yes it did
I think Fair phone acommplished it.
looks like it did.
Yes it did.
yes. pretty much.
Yes
Yes, but since the mobile phone market changes so fast, Fairphone has set an unattainable goal for itself.
it's a great all around phone for normal use
I have not followed news of Fairphone, so I am only basing my reply on the information given in the review: it does sound as though Fairphone--at this time--is more about marketing than actual, progressive and socially conscious production practices. Fairphone has taken some small steps toward "fair-er" production though, and hopefully those steps will continue. And perhaps that is enough to make supporting them worthwhile.
It's too soon to tell yet if the Phone's Manufactures what they wanted to do.
I think it's too early to tell if it accomplished its purpose. Anyhow, I think it's already a fad here in Europe.