Discussing the sustainability of removing the 3.5mm jack

You do realize that your arguments are very onesided? What you find “useless” is somehing others will find fantastic. The reason they removed the minijack has been stated to make the device water resistant, something that will benefit all users regardless of if they use headphones or not.

overall this was discussed already over and over again and is now just a repetion without any new arguments, neither pro nor contra. you will not come to 1 conclusion for everyone, so overall this is going in circles with no outcome that make really everyone happy.

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Yes and no - of course you can’t, but a phone is a device with a speaker, so in theory one could feed the USB-connector with digital input to play it through the speaker, then the phone would act as a speaker.

What I wanted to point out was that I think that not every wish can be fulfilled by Fairphone, while you demanded that every choice should be left to the owner.

Nevertheless I think that dropping the headphone jack is a bad choice of Fairphone, as a lot of people still use wired headphones which they already own.

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I agree it wasn’t the best choice, but the possibility to use wired headphones is there if you use an adapter or headphones that use a USB-C cable - this is a fact.

But this is exactly what I said : if this was for making the phone waterproof, I would have understand and encourage this choice.

But this is not the case : FP4 is still an IP54 device, like the FP3 was.

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I do understand but it’s a Fairphone in terms of mineral extraction and factory works, it’s not a Sustphone.

Sure if both could be achieved it would resolve your problem with the FP4 etc.
Maybe they can come up with a module to replace the cameras one day, but I doubt it. Can you imagine the amount of work for a few special customers.

It may be possible to remove that camera module and make one that fits with two jacks, and then connect it to the speaker output, incorporating a switch even.

That seems more sustainable that asking someone else to do it or expect Fairphone to bow to the whims of consumers.

If I get an FP4 and the cameras go duff I my try it myself. How complicated can it be ~ just time and effort ~ like I will never have anything more pressing to do.
:thinking:

I am an engineer, only a civil engineer, not a mechanical engineer, but due to some lectures in mechanics at least my knowledge is good enough to understand, that plugging in a straight USB-plug into the weak USB-connector might end up in a malfunctioning connector in a very short time, while the headphone jack (90° angle) is much more durable due to the much lower torsional moment.
OK, the USB-connector might be replaceable, but I guess that 10 connectors/year can’t be counted as sustainable.

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I’m doubtful if the ratio would really be 99%, most people I know use wired headphones.

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From what I understand there had been issues with their earlier phones with regards to that:

https://forum.fairphone.com/tag/waterdamage

All my last several headphones and earbuds have had straight connectors, 90° angle mini-jacks aren’t something I have seen very often. You can get 90° angle USB-C adapters as well, but for me it is personally more convenient to have one that is straight, as I will just place it with the cabel coming up from my pocket.

I use straight jacks and have no problem, but using the USB port no thanks, maybe on occasion when it’s resting on a table.
One thing about the jack is that the wiring is simple, find a new jack and could almost replace one myself, rather not do a USB

but have you seen

anything seems possible.

The FP2 have an USB-B port, which is only a 4 pins connector. USB-C is a 24 pins connector. This is still possible to repair, but much, much more complicated.

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Though @Leo_TheCrafter did replace the USB micro with a USB C :slight_smile:

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Most probably, but it’s as fair as your assumption, that nearly everyone needs a headphone jack.

I never made such an assumption

Your argumentation sounds like you do.
Anyway, there is no jack in the FP4 and we need to live with that. Why arguing again and again?

But I guess, that’s not what Fairphone thinks (taken from Our mission - We care for people and planet):

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Yes I take issue with that it’s a fairer future for everyone Someone somewhere is always paying the price for my comforts whether I prefer Jack or Bluetooth.

I’ve used both and will probably continue as long as it’s possible to encourage sustainable working practices. I can sleep a little easier, with less rum to wash away the dirty memories of my exploitations, knowing Fairphone are doing what they can.

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Ideally all products would be priced so that people who source the materials and manufacture the products are paid and treated fairly. I would liken the Fairphone’s higher price to paying taxes, it’s the cost of living in a civilized society. I think it is a fair trade-off for me personally :slight_smile:

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Since more than 5 years I have been using my Fairphone 2 now and only because this buttom module is not available I might have to switch to a new device. I have had a look at Fairphone 4 recently and and have come to the conclusion that I will not buy it. I would be prepared to go and get a new cable for the charger but I will not want to buy a wireless headset, I have never liked them, the need to be charged again and again and I do not like the bluetooth rediation that close to my ear.
So GOOD BUY FAIRPHONE

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