As the title says, I’m faced with the decision to buy an FP5 or Google Pixel 8.
What will the device be used for?
Making phone calls (yes, it will actually be used for that :-), sometimes in louder environments)
Sometimes writing emails and messages
Taking photos for technical documentation (individual components, detailed shots of components, sometimes also details such as scratches, visible roughness of metallic surfaces if there is faulty processing)
Landscape photography when traveling or hiking (I don’t always take a second camera with me)
Navigation during hikes and bike tours (also multi-day bike tours, but I can usually charge in the evening).
Everything else is small stuff like listening to podcasts or reading the news.
Definitely no games or other activities that require powerful hardware. I also rarely watch videos.
I currently own a device that is a good seven years old with Android 10 and support from the manufacturer has long since expired. In the meantime, the apps here and there are also telling me that a newer Android version will soon be needed. That’s why I now need a new phone. If it weren’t for the slowly emerging issue with the (too) old Android version, I wouldn’t switch. Security concerns aside, they are probably already a very big issue.
My main topic:
What is your opinion on the camera of the FP5 for technical documentation?
My current phone is definitely inferior to current, much cheaper phones.
For my other requirements, the FP5 easily manages it. The long software support is attractive to me because I want to use my electronic devices for a long time. The opportunity to repair it myself is also great, although fortunately I rarely need to do this.
I also think the idea behind the Fairphone is worth supporting. But that doesn’t help me if I can’t use it as described above.
Hi, I have never had a pixel phone. They say that FP5 camera is not the best but it definitely does nice macro shots. You can check the gallery thread for that
For reference, what’s your current phone model? I think you can’t go wrong with either phones. The software quality and security is way better on a Pixel, as well as the camera. But since you are used to an old phone, the FP5 will feel like a huge upgrade.
@Andhrimnir
Following on that, you mentioned you tend to keep the phones for longer time, did you need to change the battery in your previous phone?
Cause ifixit on changing the battery in Pixel 8 gives me a headache, Google Pixel 8 Battery Replacement - iFixit Repair Guide
@Meaghan
Believe it or not, I haven’t had to replace a single component on my current phone (Sony Xperia).
The battery now has a reduced capacity, but this has only been noticeable since my last trip last year. I couldn’t always keep an eye on the battery level and always charged it when I could. The battery resented that.
Points such as wireless charging and storage space are also not a big issue for me and the resolution and brightness of the display will be fine.
Ultimately, there are two/three points that make the decision more difficult for me.
The quality of the photos, especially close-up details.
Possibly the battery life of the FP5. Yes, I know it’s easy to change, but I still think it’s a bit weak for the price if you read the tests.
IP55 is a change from IP68 (what I’m are currently used to).
Everyone has different requirements in everyday use. If I didn’t want to give the Fairphone a chance then I wouldn’t have registered here :-).
I would buy Fairphone, and I am not saying that because we are on FP forum.
Here are main points:
whichever you buy, you will face small bugs, both phones are notorious for small issues
pixel is better for photos but worse for reliability, so many people always have issues with overheating, batteries dead in two years and similar stuff
you seem to like phone longetivity - go for fairphone
last but not least you can have also a good feeling that you picked fair product
@fairtony
You are right. I think I will decide in the next week, maybe I have the chance for a short hands-on with a Fairphone 5? (not yet shure) during the weekend.
It took a while, the dealer had some problems sending the FP5, but now I’m the owner of a brand new FP5.
All apps are installed, now I will see if it works as I need it to.
First impression, it is quite a big phone, but I used a 5’’ phone for many years, so I knew it would be like this.
no difficult decision at all, if your premise is safety and security and immediate bugfixage.
today just another round of google-android security fixage (november 2024) has been published and they contain fixes for two actively abused exploits already as we speak.
i’m an ex-pixel user. will probably go back to it. fp5 is good but the sound on videos has a massive noise filter that just kills everything. The user-help forum is very well-meaning but useless. Fairphone should provide support, it’s not like this phone is so much cheaper than the competition. Now, an upgrade knocked out the always-on time/battery display and they say they did it save my battery. I didn’t have a problem, I want that function back
way to miss the point. let me rephrase it: saving the environment doesn’t mean you get a free pass on customer service. If environment is you USP then customer should be able to assume you are up to speed on other aspects of business - it’s isn’t a trade off.
