As a tech leader,
JUST
FIX
MY
FRICKIN’
PHONE
(caps to get over the obvious tone deafness)
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The contents of this topic concern me. The tone of the messages is just simply toxic (and, by the way, off-topic).
I am a Fairphone customer. I have bought things from this company. I want them to be better (although, in all fairness, I am very satisfied with my /e/OS FP4). But that does not excuse being rude or just creating an environment of negativity, in my opinion.
Let’s look at some facts (and please do correct them if they are wrong), that we can then each discuss the meaning of:
- Fairphone designed an entire new phone from scratch, with the original FP, and have designed multiple phones from scratch since then.
- This includes hardware design, and a very specific one: completely repairable
- Fairphone has taken sold shares (I am not sure if from venture capital or not), but this is a company that lives or dies by its product sales, and not by billions of Euros in debt or stock market speculation
- Resources are not infinite. People-hours have to be allocated. Priorities much be chosen (and of course, they can be called into question)
- Fairphone has built, with no margin for doubt, the most sustainable smart/modern phone accessible to the general public. Not only ecologically (and of course we can call into question if any smart phone is actually sustainable…) but also socially, with the concern for fair working conditions.
So, to be completely honest, if you come into a community forum to complain about “your rights as a customer”, accusing people of “virtue signaling”, etc. then you have a simple choice: leave. If you work by simple capitalist logic, then follow it, and go buy the better products next doors. Buy an iPhone, or a OnePlus, or NothingPhone, or whatever you want. Who’s stopping you?
But you have another choice: understand that not everything is about you and that, unfortunately, having given money to a company (which is just a group of around 150? people working together) doesn’t suddenly turn you into the centre of their attention. Relax. Go listen to some music, go to a park. But, of course, keep sending feedback, keep asking for help. Just don’t assume that Fairphone can suddenly solve all problems at once. And, again, if you don’t like their choices, leave.
I do think that much of this frustration is out of care. People here care about Fairphone. They want to see it succeed, because they believe in its original mission. But, in that case, why not organise community meetings around you? Why not contribute to the source code? Why not apply to work there (yes I do know it is the Netherlands)? Why not start a competing business, using all the knowledge that is public that Fairphone created (like blueprints, code, supply chain knowledge, etc)? It seems like you channel your frustration by being negative here.
To end on a positive note, here is my personal recommendation for a great setup with Fairphone, that has given me very, very little problems:
- Fairphone 4
- Android 14 (15 is not available yet)
- /e/OS (version 3.4)
- OLauncherCF (which I just learned is archived, but that shouldn’t matter, to be honest, it’s working perfectly)
- Two batteries, to swap in and out if I ever need twice the energy in one day
- Wired earphones (USB-C) for day-to-day simple use — I had some durability issues with the original TWS Earbuds, and I got tired of charging earbuds.
- The original Fairbuds XL, whose cushions are not very durable, but whose sound is perfectly fine for me. I use these for special occasions where I really want the better sound quality
I recommend this setup. I have very little issues. The phone works for what it is: a phone. It texts, it calls, it goes to websites, it reads emails, it reads QR codes, it plays music. I can’t think of one thing it does poorly, except, maybe, the camera, which I don’t use anyway!
Hopefully we can have nicer conversations around this very special company. I do believe they are trying their very best. Let’s give them some motivation 
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On this planet caucasian white humans are a minority, so please stop this virtue signaling.
You are allowed to be white, as every other minority is allowed to be itself nowadays.
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Fairphone is a company, not a cult.
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Well, I’m relieved to see a positive post in this thread, too. Nevertheless, in my opinion, the truth is somewhere in the middle. No matter if it’s Fairphone or not, if a phone is not functional while people (have to) rely more and more on those devices you need some quick support. And while I don’t have first hand experience with the support (with 3½ Fairphones on our household) lately, we can take as granted that it didn’t work quite well in the not so long ago past. And don’t think that everyone who criticizes this should immediately go and open his/her own business. We need people in other businesses, too. Nevertheless I see people who take every opportunity to shout against Fairphone - and that’s not good for sure, either.
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I’m aware I’m not an overall saint when it comes to tone, so I’m a bit reluctant to speak out, but bear with me, if you can.
It’s clearly on Fairphone to fix things in order to get a different response in substance, but I really have to wonder about the approach and tone of the response right now.
If in your perception you are indeed “just” doing what you do, please know and accept that there are other perceptions available, and not at all positive perceptions at that.
Here as well as at Fairphone we are humans, we aren’t perfect, and we err.
There’s a choice of how we want to openly present our conduct in dealing with that.
And again, it’s clearly on Fairphone to fix things in order to get a different response in substance.
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yeah, society is odd, isn’t it? fairphone is 150 people working partly to pay the rent and partly because they think they can improve the world with the work they do. Being people, they are not perfect, they sometimes doubtless think about things they did in the past and are sad that they couldn’t think of a better way to act at the time.
I find it a bit sad that if someone says “i’m worried about how my actions might not always be as positive as i hope they are”, others are in so much pain, that they try to paint this as something negative by finding a prejorative term for it – ‘virtue signalling’.
yepp, society is a bit of a mess (of course it always was). people in so much pain but rather than saying that they are in pain they say ‘the problem with you is …’ 
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It’s not very clear whom you’re addressing right now. Me, Fairphone or somebody else? 
Anyway, concerning myself, I admit my tone in this thread is very polemic and aggressive. Through the years and disappointments I’ve slowly changed from a staunch Fairphone fanboy and evangelist to somebody who doesn’t trust them anymore, and all those years Fairphone has dutifully tried to confirm they’re indeed not to be trusted.
It would had taken them very little effort to keep me (and others) satisfied and friendly, just a little less arrogance and some more consideration for others.
I admit there are still people who still believe in the “mission” and “fairness” of Fairphone, and who don’t want to understand that a company which doesn’t care about its customers is unlikely to care about some faraway workers they’ll never meet. Ergo, it’s all just a marketing shtick, and Fairphone’s marketing has proven again and again that they are not above twisting truth a little (I still remember the FP4 description on their website…).
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Of course you are, since you don’t have to suffer Fairphone’s shortcomings. There is nothing inherently wrong about their phones’ hardware, it’s the software which is a bug-ridden mess.
So of course, people who don’t use Fairphone’s OS don’t have anything to complain. It’s like saying “I’m using a Samsung and are quite satisfied which Fairphone”… 
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Reading this message, and most of your other comments, I am genuinely wondering why your are still here. There must be something about FP that makes you stay after all, and I am curious what that is. Otherwise, why waste time on something you clearly don’t care about anymore?
Personally, I’ve had zero problems with my FP4 (with the stock FP Android) in four years. Both the hardware and software have been working without problems so far. I suspect this to be the case for most users, and that it is only a small and loud group, who keep on echoing that this is the worst phone ever.
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I think the virtue signalling aspect comes in when Fairphone chooses to post what is ultimately 30% AI slop:
Instead of acknowledging the battery issues, making an announcement about the Always on Display for the FP5 (are they bringing that back or what?) or any of the other issues plaguing the fanbase. This issue alone is a device killer if you ask me:
Communication has never been Fairphone’s strong side, and we never really got an explanation for why they are choosing to neglect that side of the company. Hence the virtue signalling accusations. These blog posts are posted to make the company good look. Even if it means producing them using an AI that is depleting the world’s water in the process.
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I think my basic point is that using terms like “virtue signalling" diminishes the chances that other people will want to help you. However this is how we are taught to communicate in our society - if something happens that you don’t like, this is an opportunity for you to insult others and try to establish that you are better than them.
It doesn’t help.
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Because I bought a FP4, and are since struggling to keep it functional (late security updates, bugs, and so on)?
Note I’m very happy for you that your FP4 is working as expected, but the fact you have been lucky doesn’t mean the unlucky ones should just accept their fate, does it. Fact is, as time passes there are more and more problems. I remember the forum back in 2022, when it was mostly about how to use your phone. Almost no problems. Now 99% of posts are about something not working as advertised. Draw your own conclusions.
So there is the (unreasonable, I admit) hope that Fairphone might eventually realize they might be some space for improvement in their way of handling their customers’ issues. Squeaky wheel and all that. Which explains why people come here to complain, where would they do it else?
And no, people without problems saying that there is no need to handle problems isn’t helping. It’s just provocative, causing even more anger, that’s how you can make a slight irritation end up in torches and pitchforks.
PS: Oh, the topic has been put in “slow mode”… The usual Fairphone answer. 
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I wonder whether having an “extremely active DEI committee” is the right allocation of resources for a company as small as 150 people. Maybe having regular meetings with customer/community representatives would be more fruitful.
Okay, it’s good to hear you’re trying to keep your phone alive as long as possible. But still, if it is (apparently) making your life so much harder, wouldn’t it make sense to just forget about it and buy a different brand that suits you better? I don’t really think that you believe FP will improve, do you?
but the fact you have been lucky doesn’t mean the unlucky ones should just accept their fate,
I never said such a thing. And talking about fate, in this case it’s easy to take fate into your own hands and ditch the FP.
And no, people without problems saying that there is no need to handle problems isn’t helping
Who said that? Problems need to be solved, and complaints should be raised. Maybe it’s just that I don’t believe it’s very effective to keep repeating the same thing over and over again like a broken record.
BTW, I’m seriously trying to understand people’s motives to stick to a problematic phone for such a long time. I know, long life is one of the main reasons for most here to buy a FP, and it is admirable to stick around even with all these issues. But if I had problems such as discussed on this forum for more than a year, I’d be long gone.
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That’s been my take away from the blog posts for over a year by now. Man, time flies. To quote myself from a year ago:
The last two announcements reek of “CEO trying to show the board he’s making a difference” to me. And this announcement in particular smells like “could have been a tweet or a section in the FAQ”. Tone deaf is what I would call it. This is the type of announcement that is typically done at the same time as a bigger, more exciting announcement.
Meanwhile it’s been 7 months since they said nothing has been decided about the always on display. That could have been an announcement. Or an announcement on the FP4 Android 14 situation. If they wanted to frame it they could frame it as Qualcomm being the bad guy when it comes to Android development, and it probably is.
I just find the priorities of this company strange. They should strive to improve on their mistakes, IMO. It’s impossible to beat Big Tech when it comes to raw performance, but they can beat them when it comes to building a tight community, built on the idea that you don’t need a flagship as an average user. And you really don’t. All you really need is to deliver a solid experience and to keep your promises.
And what has happened since? Basically nothing when you break it down.
It’s pretty telling that one of the top suggestions on the forum involves flashing a custom ROM to fix issues. Wild times.
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I don’t think buying a phone should be a belief system. A phone should simply work, and the main responsibility of the producer is to make sure that it does.
Of course, Fairphone is special — that’s why we were all willing to pay twice the amount a comparable phone would have cost. However, if some customers are frustrated and are asking Fairphone to listen to them, maybe we should actually do exactly that instead of lecturing them or telling them to get lost.
(By the way: I am very, very happy with my FP6. No reason to complain whatsoever.)
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It probably would, but I’m very stubborn. As I said I bought a Fairphone specifically because of the promised long life, and I intend to keep it as long as I initially planned to (i.e. till January 2028).
No you didn’t. I was just addressing the usual arguments we hear from those who “try to be positive”, or just drop in to say they personally don’t have any problem so everything is fine.
As I said, I’m stubborn. I don’t want to admit I was wrong to buy a Fairphone, and as I’m an optimist, I keep some hope Fairphone will eventually wake up, fire their C-Suite and start acting like a consumer goods company.
But mostly I don’t want to write off those 660€ as wasted.
Hope that answers your question.
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Plenty of users have definitely left over the issues. Several Fairphone Angels aren’t even active on here anymore and I can remember at least one buying a Google Pixel instead.
I guess the ones that are still here are the ones that believe that Fairphone is 5 minutes from being a great choice, if they make the right decisions. We’re still waiting for them to make said decisions instead of just ignoring any and all software problems their customers might have.
When they released a FP5 update that bricked the phone for some users and they didn’t instantly pull the update they defined themselves in my eyes at least. Even Google pulls such updates.
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It does. Thanks for taking the time to answer, and stay positive 
!
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