- I don’t think that this is a problem specific to Fairphone. Blame Google Clock. However, I believe this functionality is possible to mimic, for example, using Automate. Or maybe using an alternative clock/alarm app.
- As already mentioned, this requires HW support. I’m not sure if it’s possible on FP4. But you can utilize the proximity sensor (and possibly light sensor or accelerometer) to turn on/off the screen. You can use WaveUp or make your own rules using Automate.
- It’s probably not as disturbing to me, but yeah, I suppose there is a slight jump. But the slider is definitely linear, so I’m not sure if anything can be done to change this.
- You can. But you have to disable EIS.
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I use an option in the display menu: in eOS there’s something like “touch to turn off the display”.
@Razem @noodlejetski Thank you all for your answers.
By the way having a HW issue is maybe a good thing to improve the next device 
With the LG G6 I haven’t the sensation of issue for the battery drain with the double tap to turn on. The screen was really off. You were able to see the difference between a screen on and off and it was darkly off.
@Razem you can switch from wide to narrow angle by disabling the EIS, right I recorded a video about that. But you can’t switching during the record
Yes, you can. Simply pinch to zoom out. I’ve just tried it, it works.
I just received my FP4 and my parents are using it. So far, it looks good. Potential to improve, that could make me switch:
- longer security support (incl. for chip etc)
- better camera software
- 60/120 Hz screen
- maybe a model with a smaller screen (i‘m used to iphones - 3GS, 5S, 7, last one second hand)
I‘d also be willing to pay more, if the hardware were better.
That depends on the chip manufacturer, in this case it’s Qualcomm. But they at least release all the source code, unlike MediaTek.
- https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/03/the-fairphone-2-hits-five-years-of-updates-with-some-help-from-lineageos/
- https://www.xda-developers.com/mediatek-source-code-release-no-plans/
Personally I don’t really care about the stock camera app. I just want access to all camera features through the Camera2 API. Then I can install any app of my choice. This is currently limited (only the main sensor is accessible and it tops at 12MP), but FP is supposedly working on this. (https://forum.fairphone.com/t/fp4-gcam-port/79450/75?u=razem)
60 Hz display isn’t a dealbreaker to me, but yeah, it would be fine to have options. Similarly with OLED. In the end, the phone is modular so it should be somewhat possible.
Yeah, I would also prefer a slightly smaller screen. But I’m not sure it would sell that well. Many people simply prefer larger screens.
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I know, but as someone who uses online banking and many other security-relevant tools on his phone, without being a tech-wizz, I am just not taking the risk of my phone being open to known vulnerabilities after just two years or so. I guess this is also why Apple and Google use their own chips, where they have this under their own control. So I guess, only more market or even regulatory pressure on chip producers to secure their chips for longer is necessary.
For my tech-averse parents, keeping Android up-to-date for as long as FP does (incl. access to apps that ask for new OS) plus the changeable battery where the main reasons, beside the social aspects, that I bought them the FP4. for me, security is a top priority and the fact that I somehow trust Apple more than Google (and more than unknown software developers of other OS). If there were a European champion for mobile OS with a strong privacy focus, checked on by public authorities and NGOs, that would be a huge step though (even with a paid subscription, which I think is the reason why updates keep dying after 2 years). Until then, it remains difficult for me to make the switch and I prefer to just keep my phones for as long as possible (5years+).
I get it that larger screens are great for watching pictures and videos. but I can‘t hold today‘s phones with one hand (eg standing in public transport). so, although my hands are quite large, an FP4 is too big for me. also, i can‘t put it in my trouser pockets.
The size of today’s smartphones (this is not a problem specific to FP) is an example for male-centered product design. Fairphone should consider producing a mini variant or reducing the size for FP5.
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Strange assumption, as I see the biggest phones in the hands of women.
Your anecdotical observation doesn’t change the fact that women’s hands are smaller on average and therefore they are less likely to be able to use a large phone with only one hand. And this puts smartphones in the long row of products that are designed mainly by males with average male users in mind, see this article for more examples.
This is of course not only a problem for women but also for people with disabilities .
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Maybe a lot of women are not keen at all to use a smartphone with one hand, but like to look at at the Internet content on a larger screen?
I can’t see a male-centered product design here.
funny you should mention that, I remember reading about the first Galaxy Note (a behemoth by that era’s standards) being initially predicted to be used by women, because they carry their phones in their purses.
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can really relate to the volume button issue, haha. the duoble tap to wake up would be nice but it’s not necessary. used it on an older phone and turned it back off bc I was often accidentally turning on the screen in my pocket. also I think the main problem for me atm is the camera software. it should be more transparent. it’s not really clear what I have to do for example to get wide angle in videos (solution mentioned by Razem). so either a bigger tutorial/manual would be nice or more user friendly ui on the camera
EDIT: the alarm thing I find pretty nice as is. I would never get up from bed if it would be that easy to turn off the alarm 
Yeah, same here. I realized I could set an action on my smartwatch, which would snooze or cancel the alarm. But I can never do that as I would just snooze it indefinitely and never get up.
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I dont own a FP4 and I’m not quite sure I understand why you need power or vol buttom to turn off alarm? On every phone I own or owned (FP2+FP3+Iphone 4+7), the alarm pops up on the lock screen and I can choose what to do (snooze or stop) by sliding or tapping. Is the FP4 really that different or is the app just missing rights/settings for corresponding notifications?
Those are the settings
And this is how it looks like
On every phone I own or owned (FP2+FP3+Iphone 4+7), the alarm pops up on the lock screen and I can choose what to do (snooze or stop) by sliding or tapping.
It requires opening the eyes to visually look at the notification and make a choice.
Pressing a button can be done whilst half a sleep
Just so everyone knows what we’re talking about. This is what the alarm screen looks like on the Fairphone 4 when the phone is locked. If you (accidentally?) press the power button to turn off the screen while the alarm is ringing and then press it again to wake the screen, it still looks the same.
It doesn’t get much easier to turn off. If you can’t turn it off with your eyes closed you’re probably pretending, like those people in infomercials.
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That made me genuinely laugh out loud.
But yeah, I think @Flo_Wolfapp’s point was that it’s impossible to stop the alarm without touching the screen when you’ve already set the action of volume buttons to snooze.
Thanks for this post. All topics are a good choice.
My favourites are
1 Turn off the alarm (I am also used to the swipe function) and
3 Improve the volume incrementation
(For me the lowest volume setting is too loud)