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Cellphones United States

You Can Finally Buy a Fairphone In the US (wired.com) 91

Posted by BeauHD from the stateside-debut dept.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Wired: Your iPhone, SamsungGalaxy, andGoogle Pixel have a 1-year warranty. Unless you cough up extra dough for an extended service plan, you'll pay a hefty fee if you damage the screen and need a replacement (around $329 for an iPhone 17 done directly from Apple). But it doesn't have to be this way. What if you could order the part from the manufacturer and do the repair yourself? That dream is finally being realized for American consumers, thanks to Fairphone.

The Dutch company is bringing its repairable and sustainably built Android smartphone -- the Fairphone (Gen 6+) -- to the US. Each one comes with a screwdriver. A replacement screen from Fairphone costs just $90. A new USB-C port is $20. A fresh battery is $40. In all, there are 12 modular elements you can swap yourself. It remains the only smartphone series with a 10/10 repairability scorefrom iFixit, not to mention an unmatched 5-year warranty and software updates through 2033.

The new Fairphone (Gen 6+) is a small upgrade over the Gen 6 that the company launched last year. It has a newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor and double the RAM at 12 GB, but is otherwise largely the same device (hence the "plus" in the name). It now comes in Cobalt Blue, a nod to the miners who extract the cobalt used to make phone batteries, and the company's efforts to improve working conditions in mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The new Fairphone is available on Amazon and at Fairphone.com for $650, and it's officially certified to work on T-Mobile and AT&T's networks. While this will mark the U.S. debut of its flagship smartphone, the company first entered the stateside market last year with its repairable earbuds and headphones. It also plans to launch its next-generation Fairbuds 2 wireless earbuds later this year.

You Can Finally Buy a Fairphone In the US More | Reply

You Can Finally Buy a Fairphone In the US

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  • That's sounds fair.

    • â The new Fairphone is available on Amazon and at Fairphone.com for $650â

    • A $1200.00 phone, that's sounds fair.

      That would be a really good deal for an iPhone 16 Pro (>$2300) but if If you don't want to get an iPhone, you don't have spend that much money In fact, you can get a Fairphone for $650.

  • Very happy with my Fairphone (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Bruce66423 ( 1678196 ) on Tuesday August 18, 2026 @03:07PM (#66295188)

    Though as barely a power user in mobiles, that's not hard to achieve. But I do love the commitment to repairability etc. Let's hope big Android vendors start to take the same approach.

  • Thanks (Score:5, Informative)

    by medusa-v2 ( 3669719 ) on Tuesday August 18, 2026 @03:12PM (#66295194)

    Nice timing. Yesterday I was looking at de-googled variations of the plain 6 from Murena but the old version didn't support my carrier. This one will.

    Maybe the important detail is that for folks who want to dump google, you can also go that route at https://murena.com/america/sho... [murena.com] : I guess that makes me a shill but I'm just in it out of a general sense that google went traitor back in the day.

  • Not compatible with all 3 carriers (Score:5, Informative)

    by Powercntrl ( 458442 ) on Tuesday August 18, 2026 @03:23PM (#66295208) Homepage

    The Fairphone's carrier compatibility page [fairphone.com] lists carrier compatibility as being quite a bit lacking, unless your carrier is T-Mobile postpaid, AT&T postpaid or a T-Mobile MVNO.

    I jumped ship from T-Mobile to Visible because of T-Mobile's recent price increases, and this phone may as well be a brick as far as Verizon's network is concerned.

    • Why distinguish postpaid from prepaid? If a phone supports post paid should it not also support prepaid?

    • My mind is being blown that "carrier compatibility" is a phrase that needs to be used in 2026. I remember phones advertised in the 90s with different frequency radios, including "tri band" which also work all over the USA.

      Like WTF is carrier compatibility? What makes carriers incompatible with a phone these days?

      • I had the exact same thought. Maybe they're called "cell phones" in the US because they live in some sort of jail?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      That is "official" carrier compatibility. In actual reality, most phones work with most carriers. The problem is software updates. But for a Fairphone these come from Fairphone anyways and not from the carriers. Some carriers will not list phones that do that because they cannot put their own branding on the software. My Fairphone 4 was never listed as compatible here (country in Europe), and never caused any problems at all. I did check online whether somebody else that had tried it with my carrier before,

  • battery door more or less is an big thing!

  • No! (Score:3, Funny)

    by Locke2005 ( 849178 ) on Tuesday August 18, 2026 @03:39PM (#66295240)
    I ain't givin' up mah Trump Phone! MAGA! /s

    • You jest, but the Trump Phone (actually a rebadged HTC U24 Pro) is $150 cheaper. Probably because it will never see another Android OS update. Hardware spec wise though, the T1 actually has a bigger screen, more storage, and the same amount of RAM as the Fairphone. Plus it's got that Goldmember vibe going on that you just can't get from the Fairphone. From what I've seen, the T1 also ships unlocked and the preinstalled Trump-related apps can be uninstalled, so technically it doesn't have to be used on T

      • Thanks for the reminder of the other reason I buy Pixel phones: Google does a pretty good job of shipping updates for the Pixel phone. Samsung seems to consider Android updates a cost center, not a profit center. Google is probably just letting Pixel owners beta test their latest improvements. As far as the Trump phone, yeah, why not just buy the HTC U24 without the gaudy gold spray paint the screams "Look at me, I'm an attention whore!"

        • Samsung seems to consider Android updates a cost center, not a profit center.

          Samsung has matched Google's update policy on their flagship devices, and matched Google's security update policy for all devices. That said you won't get the latest release on day one because Samsung do test the OS update actually works with their customisations (OneUI) before release.

          If you want to be a beta tester a Samsung phone is not for you.

          And honestly these days the distinction between security and OS updates is insignificant. Virtually no one (including myself) can name a single feature of an Andr

          • Have I mentioned how I can no longer use the Samsung Galaxy Watch I paid good money for, because Samsung refuses to ship the software that supports it, rendering it useless once the phone I orginally installed the software on stopped working?

            • And that is relevant to their current policy matching that of the Google Pixel how? I get it, you're burned and have a jaded view of the company. Don't buy from them. All I'm saying it that currently Samsung's support policy matches that of Google. It wasn't always the case, but it is their official position now. Companies do change (including Google as well).

              Nothing is certain. Oh except my watch. There's a reason I wear a mechanical one.

      • You jest, but the Trump Phone (actually a rebadged HTC U24 Pro) is $150 cheaper.

        Oh it's much cheaper than that. The HTC U24 Pro I mean, not the Trump grift which jacks up the price of a low-end phone.

  • According to Fairphone's site, the Gen6+ features a "Brilliant 120Hz 6 foot, 3 inch [fairphone.com] OLED display".

    • It is right after the hertz number, so it is probably a minute sign. 6 minutes, 3 inches sounds about right.

    • According to Fairphone's site, the Gen6+ features a "Brilliant 120Hz 6 foot, 3 inch [fairphone.com] OLED display".

      So this is what they meant by designed for the US market. It will fit perfectly in the back of our pickup trucks!

  • "It now comes in Cobalt Blue, a nod to the miners who extract the cobalt used to make phone batteries"

    Thanks for doing the toxic work, miners.

  • Not sure I understand (Score:3)

    by roc97007 ( 608802 ) on Tuesday August 18, 2026 @04:22PM (#66295364) Journal

    You don't have to buy a particular phone, you can buy parts NOW to repair your phone.

    I ran over the Galaxy 10+ with the truck. Took it to a third party, had the screen replaced for $90 and when I discovered the finger sensor no longer worked, brought it back and had the sensor replaced for cost of parts. (He regretted not doing both at the same time and gave me a break on labor.)

    Now that I write that, I have a dim memory of Apple using some kind of DRM on their parts that prevents third parties from replacing the screen. So maybe they do have a point, if you have an Apple phone. The only one I ever used was the one issued to me by an employer.

    The point being, anyone adept with tools can already replace the parts on existing phones, or if they're not adept, hire it out to a knowledgeable third party. And if it violates the warranty, so what? If the warranty was still in effect, you'd use that. If you're using a third party, the warranty has run out pretty much by definition.

    Screens are commodity items.

    • Most people don't understand. All of Slashdot clamours for a "repairable" phone where they don't need to throw away their phone because the battery is getting old. But *EVERY* phone is repairable. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Not a phone on the market should ever end up in the trash for battery related reasons. Batteries have always been available, and phones aren't that difficult to open with rudimentary tools, and even if you don't have those tools you can pay someone to do it for you while you wait (takes about 15-

      • Totally agree. I break screens more often than I wear out batteries, but if I have to open the phone for any reason I have the battery replaced just on general principles. The price and turnaround are both reasonable.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Compuser ( 14899 )

      Hmm, my main reason to replace a phone is usually a worn out usb-c port. I am not sure how one goes about replacing that on a regular phone without some serious soldering kung-fu.
      Not saying Fairphone is the solution (6+ apparently does not support USB-C video output or DisplayPort Alt Mode so it is useless junk to me, personally) but being able to easily replace a usb port would be a nice feature.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by ceoyoyo ( 59147 )

        I am not sure how one goes about replacing that on a regular phone without some serious soldering kung-fu.

        It's not that hard, though there is some skill involved. Find something to practice on that's not your phone. Or pay a competent repair shop less than the price of an oil change to do it for you.

    • you can buy parts NOW to repair your phone

      Sure, but "repairability" is a continuum: some are really easy, to the point where almost anyone can do it; others are just awful, requiring special tools, skills, and experience.

      • Yes, true. But like I said, there are third parties who have the tools and expertise. It's not rocket surgery.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by ceoyoyo ( 59147 )

      Now that I write that, I have a dim memory of Apple using some kind of DRM on their parts that prevents third parties from replacing the screen.

      A bunch of manufacturers, Apple included, had an awkward period where they used too much glue and were assholes about hardware changes in the name of security. Various laws seem to have pretty much cleaned that up.

  • I mean it could be worse but 8 has been out for a while now and it has a substantially improved modem which is why I bought a phone that has one. The difference between my old Media tech and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is pretty enormous. I can actually get text messages now.

    The only thing I can think of is cost cutting because of the stupid price of ram right now

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      The CPU is one (small) aspect of what a phone is. And by far not the most important one.

  • https://brax3.braxtech.net/pro... [braxtech.net] would be my choice

  • A snapdragon 7 based phone should be like $400. Paying $650 for one doesn't make any sense unless you're constantly breaking small components.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      That is a bit too simplistic to describe the situation. That generic "snapddragon 7" phone will not come with a battery you can swap in 30 seconds, have much worse hardware, will not get long-term updates, including Android major versions, etc.

  • Software Updates (Score:3)

    by Luthair ( 847766 ) on Tuesday August 18, 2026 @10:16PM (#66295920)
    Its worth noting that they while they claim 7-years of software updates they're releasing 2 major Android versions behind. 7-years of security updates is quite a bit different claim.

    • That used to be worth noting, but is it really relevant now? Quick without looking it up, no google searches, what's the current release Android version number, and name it's flagship feature that didn't exist in the version before it (do it two versions deep to emphasise the point).

      We are long past the days where OS updated introduced some mind-bending features like multi-touch or copy-paste, and even longer past the days where they introduced APIs which caused software to have backwards compatibility issu

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      Well, yes. But unlike some others you get those major version updates. My Fairphone 4 has been on Android 15 for a while now, via the regular updates. I do not see any issues with that.

    • I'm not sure where you are getting two versions behind. The tech specs says Android 16 at launch. Android 17 is the latest and only came out a couple of months ago. They are one version behind but would likely be latest version of the phone was being released in a few more months.

  • I purchased their Fairbuds as my first BT headphones. They were a big disappointment: switching between devices was a hassle, charging was unreliable, but the biggest problem was that if they ran out of battery or otherwise switched off, they would play a blast of noise at full volume, i.e. much louder than the music I was playing. I found that unacceptable so I stopped using them after that had happened 3 times in 3 days.

  • According to Fairphone's carrier compatibility, the Fairphone 6+ doesn't do RCS on AT&T.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      That can mean two things:
      a) It actually does not work or
      b) It works, but AT&T will not assure you that.

      Could be as simple as that the Fairphone gets its software updates from Fairphone, not from the mobile provider.

      • I don't know what you're saying about the source of updates.

        From what I've read, it's AT&T not provisioning the phone for RCS. Access to RCS services isn't enabled, as neither is Wi-Fi calling nor IR.94 video calling.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by gweihir ( 88907 )

          AT&T cannot provision the phone for anything. AT&T provisions the SIM card or rather the account on the SIM card. They can only artificially block RCS if they find certain IMEIs. WiFi calling is not even under their purview.

  • Wow , Fairphone is catching up! Compared to my Samsung Galaxy S22 (26 too), the only things that I have on my requirements list that the Galaxy has and Fairphone doesn't are: ip67, zoom camera and USBC DP mode.

    That last one is negotiable, I used that mode quite a lot at my previous job, not so much at the current one.

    Then, the Fairphone has some great features on top of the repeatability, such as the card slot. And degoogleability. And if that's not a word, you say, it is one now, and a perfectly cromul

  • Why do you have to actually screw the battery in?

    Not a big deal (given the alternatives today), but I remember swappable batteries, and you just had to pop the cover off, pop the old one out, pop a new one in.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      Where do you see that you have to screw in the battery? My take is that screwdriver is for replacing other components, like the USB port. At least that is how it works for the Fairphone 4.

      • A video on their website. Looked like even with the battery cover off, there was a thingie you had to screw to fasten the battery in. Again, not a bit deal at all. Didn't look any more (and probably a lot less) onerous than the screw for a battery cover on a children's toy. Hm, maybe I just answered my own question ...

  • Battery replacement takes 30 seconds, anything else takes a bit longer. Mind, this is not a device you brag with, this is a device you _use_. If one of your main uses for a phone is posing, get something else. My Fairphone 4 is still perfectly fine (2nd battery).

  • The primary benefit of Verizon is their VHF 5G band, for a "call 911 device". Probably not important in cities.

    In the meantime I got an unlocked Pixel 8 for $220 so I need to replace that 3x to make repairing interesting.

    I am not good at screen replacement - busted two Pixels trying that.

  • Looks like a nice phone. If it had a TRRS port and instead of AMOLED an IPS display without a camera hole punched thru it I would be interested.

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