correct that by releasing a bottom module with >3.0 and display altmode
Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think just the bottom module would do. You’d have to change the motherboard too, no?
And if that is the case then releasing a Fairphone 6.1 would bring along a sh#tstorm from early adopters.
So I think that ship has sailed.
And sunk for me.
Who knows, perhaps give it a year …
A Fairphone 6+ is a real possibility, as there’s precedent (Fairphone 3+). It could reintroduce Desktop Mode together with more RAM and storage. It would cost more, but the 6 could be kept available, too.
And Fairphone would have the heightened media presence generated by a launch of something next year, too, with a phone (sorry to all accessories, but it’s just not the same, they are Fairphone).
The chip used definitely supports USB 3.1, so for USB 3.0 it could be just a matter of a few resistors here and there.
I asked what it would take. Apparently the connectors (to the motherboard) would need more more pins, and the module would need to be be larger but there isn’t really the space for it.
Well I still have all those, too heavy, too big to hold in one hand etc. pp in my ear and now we are here.
What ever they do, some group will always be unhappy 
Thanks for asking and relaying the Info. Seems like they didn’t connect all the lines then, So unless somebody is willing to solder additional wires directly to the cpu/gpu, this is not gonna happen. So not even upgradable in future. That’s a shame …
Normally when I read those many complaints about things missing or having changed I tend to understand the decisions that where made and led to a certain result. For FP6, after all those leaks, I could finally sympathize very much with what was about to be released, accepting a few shortcomings. I was quite enthusiastic to order the phone as soon as possible.
But the USB thing is really… I can’t get over it. Since Windows Phone is was fascinated by the idea of connecting the phone to a monitor. While having my FP3 (5,5 yrs now) I thought so often about this and even considered changing to another device (Samsung) just to be able to use a desktop mode. And then finally Google started implementing a proper desktop mode in Android 15, which was finally delayed to Android 16. And even a new Fairphone was announced when my FP3 was slowing down more and more! A perfect timing!
… That’s what I thought. How on earth can you decide to downgrade this feature just to save a few euros? Was it really the will to make the 599 possible? This is not only about a performance increase which is behind expectations. This is really about taking away a feature which is exactly now starting to evolve! Miracast is not really an alternative way to do it in my opinion.
Now I really have to reconsider my purchase. I want a new phone now, money is not the limiting factor. So I have to weigh up functionality against idealism.
would you consider FP5 then?
I really dont think this decision was made to safe money. It was rather made to listen to those complaining about size and weight.
Edit: seems the “want is smaller group” was louder than the “we love and want real desktop mode group”. Maybe this would have been the chance to celebrate and express wishes in this regard and as this didnt happen the decison was made to listen to the other group
It’s nice that the new phone is slightly smaller, but a few micro sized resistors and traces would hardly have been noticeable in the design. 
The headphone jack had an actual physical size and cost to it, so even if you disagree you can understand why they got rid of that.
But this! USB 3.0 is such a microscopic thing to implement, so the absence of it is befuddling. The chip supports it after all, whether it’s used or not.
This has nothing to do with size as the port is the same. It’s all about a few extra bucks. Or as Apple would call it: “Courage”.
While I understand that this decision is not understandable. I guess non of us ever designed a phone, so I personally cant say: its so small it must always fit irrespective of the rest.
Actually in their FAQ Fairphone say:
“In order to make the device more affordable, we explored how we could best balance our spec choices with the least possible impact on user experience. Going from USB-3 to USB-2 was one of them.”
The fact that they have listed the question means that they are reading here. But it’s still a shame.
Tbh buying the FP5 would feel a bit odd. Especially considering that 2 years of the device’s lifecycle are already over - a device which I would normally buy to keep and use it as long as possible. But yes: FP5 unexpectedly found it’s way into a short list of smartphone options. 
They should consider the wording as affordable goes to financial aspects, or give more details about this. The current statement is rather saying nothing really helpful to make the decision understandable
I think the spiel is that the full warranty is five years after you’ve bought it.
Indeed we are not phone designers, but at the very least I’ve read up on the USB protocols to implement USB in some personal products. And the fairphone 4 schematics are available…
5 lanes. 5 extra microscopic lanes that are length-matched in pairs, and a few passive components like resistors.
Apparently display out is separate and requires a slightly larger switch component, but it is still quite small.
Credit to Fairphone, as far as I can tell people are resoundly pleased with the rest of the design. Cheaper, smaller and better, it is rare to get all 3 these days. For the fairphone 4 and 5, they were resoundly overpriced if you were a person that didn’t believe in Fairphone’s mission.
This one gives you so much more for the money that some of those tech-focused people can now at least give some thoughts to buying a Fairphone. Fairphone should be very proud of what they have accomplished.
(Granted, there are still very vocal headphone jack cultists, but considering almost no other phone on the market contains that anymore and that USB C is “ok” for connecting your headphones to, they should probably move on.)
So it’s literally just that inexplicable choice to downgrade something miniscule (in size and cost) that some of us are mystified about.
If you’re ok with an older processor and waiting for a few weeks for a new phone, but you want Desktop mode and USB 3, then a Shiftphone 8 is still a valid choice.
I asked the support if this is possible, they told me:
At the moment, we do not consider this type of change possible either with a repair or with DIY.
