Thank you so much for sharing your thesis about uneven pressure on the pins. It makes a lot of sense.
And thank you to others on the forum for the helpful discussion.
I’ve had my FP6 for six months. In the last week, my phone has gradually developed a similar issue - but with the ‘up’ volume button rather than the ‘down’ button. The ‘up’ volume button has a broken pin at the top and is hanging off the phone. Currently, it seems to be still loosely attached to the phone with its bottom pin.
I have sent Customer Support a request for assistance but - having read this thread - I don’t really expect any meaningful help from them.
I’m going to buy a protective case (Tudia DualShield) which covers the buttons and will hopefully hold it all in place.
What’s the point of exchanging emails with Customer Support, possibly being without a phone for weeks, only to end up with a replacement phone which has exactly the same vulnerabilities? I suspect that this problem will be affecting all FP6 phones whose buttons aren’t protected by an additional case.
Arrived here after I noticed my volume down button missing last night after no obvious impact or incident. Looked around for awhile before I found it in my pants pocket from the day. I don’t own a protective case and the phone is maybe nine months old. The dislodged button has one tab loose and partially broken it seems, doesn’t stay in place anymore.
@ rien333 Someone has removed the marketing photo of the FP6 - “ergonomic design that’s built strong” - which you had linked to, in your message in December.
That photo is back now, so maybe it was just a glitch with this website loading it.
In any case, I think Fairphone has a potentially MUCH bigger problem than its lack of direct Customer Support. I think they need to take control of the volume button situation right now - or I could see the complaints snowballing.
My suggestion to them ( if they were to ask), in the very short term, would be to include the matching colour, protective case with each new FP6, free of charge, and to encourage customers to use them. Personally, I don’t like the FP6 case but at least it would offer some protection for the volume buttons. The alternative for Fairphone could potentially be the return of hundreds (or even thousands) of phones under warranty.
And, yes, I would personally accept the offer of one of those covers right now.
This would be financially doable for Fairphone to adress if they just order a batch of buttons printed from a stronger type of plastic? Or with slightly increased thickness of the breaking points?
The “unnecessary” screw hole is for the case back. Screwing something in there without the case back inbetween will allow it to go too far, especially if using too much force.
Don’t apply too much torque with fine screws, the included screwdriver has a small diameter handle for a reason. Same with the Framework laptops and their included screwdriver (which also happens to use the very same torx bit).
I registered my warranty case now and will be sending back mine. Very disappointed. I tried to reproduce this problem with my Samsung S5 Edge (which I need to dispose off soon) and I couldn’t break off the volume buttons even with tweezers or small pliers. So the FP6 is less well built than a phone from 2013. Oof.
@Fairphone_CM I believe there should be at least some communication from your side to inform your customers about the fragility of the buttons. I believe in your mission and liked my phone so far. Please consider officially acknowledging this as a known defect of this model.
Hello
They are not user-replaceable generally, I would suggest sending the phone for repair and perhaps considering using the case (I am sorry if that sounds too much).
There is a thread where users comment and test other options (like self-printed replicates). So I moved your post here.
They are not user replaceables? Much of the reason why I was buying the phone was the promise of being selfrepairable and long lasting. Not even a year and I am left with a phone without volume buttons, screenshot ability. This is not keeping your promise.
I understand the disappointment.
Certain parts of the fairphone were never offered as user-replaceable which led to some frustration but I would imagine it is not possible to offer a self-made phone. You may study the support pages to find out more about your device.
It should be possible to find workarounds for screenshots and volume management (when sailing I put my device in a waterproof box and I have to manage without access to buttons). However if you want your phone repaired, you need to contact Fairphone and prepare to send the phone away.
I’ve also just had the ‘volume down’ button fall out of my phone. At minimum I think an official available .stl file for a replacement would be in order - quite disappointing for a repairable phone. I’d been having similar thoughts about what happens if the main case ring breaks.
(I got the phone for christmas so it’s still pretty new)
I have an anormal decrepitude on my Fairphone 6, after purchasing it less than a year ago.
The volume buttons are broken.
The upper button is broken : it started being loose, then it just fell.
The down button is broken too, but differently… It has sunk, and cannot be used, under ther threat of shutting down the phone, followed by a serie of different black errors screens.
I have then to try to retrieve by nail the sunken button, then use a pin to use the broken “+” button, to select the right error screen to now turn it on again…
I cannot use the phone normally. I need a repair or a replacement.
UPDATE: Well, Fairphone are currently offering (as a very limited promotion) a free phone case and screen protector with each new purchase of FP6.
It has been six weeks since I made a formal request for help to Customer Support about the broken volume button on my FP6 but I still haven’t had a response (apart from the automatic reply email). I hope they will offer ME a free phone case, as I really DON’T want to have to return my phone and be without it, and then to have to start again with a replacement.