However I would like to physically remove / deactivate both microphones from the Fairphone 3, not 2. I also wanted to know, whether I would really need a heat gun / soldering iron.
This teardown seems to have the most detailed pictures regarding the inside of the phone: Fairphone 3 Teardown - iFixit
The top and bottom modules contain each one microphone. From the pictures alone, I cannot tell which components exactly are the microphones and how they are fixated. But I really am no expert, hence why I would prefer a solution without soldering iron etc. I do not care, whether the microphones survive the procedure
I am aware that there are the Pinephone and the Librephone with dedicated hardware switches, but from what I have read those are aimed at early adopters.
How much are you not an expert? I think I won’t teach you this can be really dangerous.
I believe in any case you will need heat. I can’t tell you how to solder them away, I never managed (I tried once on my FP2).
What I can tell you from the picture of the top module is that the microphone is located here:
I don’t know for the bottom module. It should have a similar shape though.
Since the integrity of the mic is unimportant.
Perhaps a sharp wire cutter/nipper might do the job as well?
Something like this (also available in an ESD version).
Don’t be irritated; the page the link leads to is an english version. :
As probably for the creator of the linked old thread the reason for me is a more “guaranteed” privacy. For phone calls I would simply connect an external microphone.
Well, I am no handyman and normally do not do any stuff like this. If the only solution is via soldering iron or something similar, I probably won’t do it, despite the availability of videos of how to do this for other smartphones.
Actually yes, I would prefer an easy method like snipping the microphone off. Do any of you have an educated guess whether this would completely break the smartphone or work as intended?
Before cutting off the microphone, make sure to check, that the external microphone is working with your FP. Otherwise you will have a non-phone, until you find a working microphone.
I think Alex has correctly marked the position of the primary microphone. However, it is not clear if the microphone has already been removed from its position in the photo (looks a bit too flat for a microphone). iFixit’s teardown (step 8) photo might provide more clues (also on the bottom module).
I have marked all spots RED that seem relevant to me here (double-click for detail view):
Just my guess: The primary microphone might be sitting in the little square-sized black housing in my biggest red circle. The secondary microphone (on the bottom module) might be the little “silver box” in my most right-hand red circle – looks harder to remove without damage.
Before no one mentions it: To open the top and bottom module, you will need a Torx T5 screwdriver and probably something (“opening pick”) to pry open the module once the Torx screws are out. Opening the modules themselves is not covered by Fairphone’s warranty.
@anon9989719’s suggestion is very good – a free spare part that you can disassemble without worry is the best option
Secondary It was the microphone if the top module I was indicating.
I don’t think they would have removed the microphone, iFixit teardowns rarely solder away components.
Also, it doesn’t seem too flat, the microphones on the FP2 are about the same size.
No, I doesn’t seem to me. I would tend to say the primary microphone is the silver flat little box on the right and the secondary the golden box, as indicated on this image:
Right, I confused primary and secondary microphone.
I’m keeping that mistake in my text though to avoid too much need of change in your (Alex) reply etc.
So, I had a little time on my hands, a compatible Bluetooth as well as a wired headset, and all the required tools (see iFixit list & ESD gloves & the ESD variant of the suggested Knipex nipper BertG suggested (64 62 120 ESD, EAN: 4003773025085).
I disassembled the Fairphone 3, which was staggeringly easy even down to the bare circuitry of the top and bottom modules (except for a handful stubborn Phillips screws). I have not done anything further yet, because I was a bit surprised when inspecting the bare top module with the secondary microphone. If one flips the bare top module, one can see a silver box which looks a lot like the one on the bottom module. The silver box on the top module is “pretty much exactly” positioned on the other side of the golden chip, which Alex.A marked as secondary microphone.
What do you think:
• Are both these components part of the secondary microphone?
• Only one of them? And which one then? ^^
I assembled the FP3 again and await your feedback By the way: I intend to test the microphones after the “operation” with the integrated check up tool in the developer options, which I found via this thread:
For me the mic tests so far had no feedback, probably because it is improved as was suggested in that very thread.
If I remember correctly, the microphone hole on the top of the phone is slightly offset with regards to the audio jack, which should clarify on which side of the PCB the microphone is found.
Probably, yes, if the two silver boxes are very similar
That would indicate it is the golden box, as I have shown in my previous post. But it doesn’t exclude both parts are connected and are both the microphone. I doubt the golden box only could be the microphone.
Update: The “operation” seems to have been successful. Both microphone checks via the integrated check up tool failed (as intended ^^). Only a single slight “pop” sound is played back at the beginning and nothing else. I opted for both silver boxes, which actually were covers, as you can see on these pictures. I was not able to put the covers back on.
I simply cut off the most protruding elements and then scratched off less prominent features, until I no longer dared for fear of damage to the whole board. I do not think it would have been possible to cut off the whole component without major risk of damage to the rest of the board. I was wearing protective gear and was inside a well ventilated space.
I am using the phone now for two weeks, mainly with a Bluetooth headset. When called, I simply take out my headset, activate it (/connect it if using the wired headset) and it automatically connects. Of course this takes a few seconds but I find it acceptable.
Thanks again for all the input.
Off topic question: There is not a thread like for the FP2 yet which lists compatible headsets, correct? (✏ List of compatible Headphones and Headsets for FP2) If not, I could start one in a form that not a single “maintainer” is needed, e. g.:
Everyone could simply copy the list in the latest entry and add their own product in the alphabetically sorted list as a new post. Disadvantages would be the length of the thread, that one would always have to skip to the end for the newest list and of course human error / malice But there would be no need for a single person to do all the work. Do you think this is feasible and reasonable?
AFAIK there is indeed none, so please feel free to create it, and then tell me or another moderator when it’s done so that I/they can make it a wiki.
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