I think this is a great decision that goes well with the spirit of Fairphone. Ultimately, the ideal would be to be able to have the same phone until it totally broke down, after having repaired it and exchanged some modules, and then end its life by recycle parts and components of it. It should be possible to keep it going several years to come.
That’s fantastic news and really so much what Fairphone - to me - stands for!
I share that ideal and I intend to live it as well, even if it - at some point - might mean to no longer receive security updates and/or updates for the apps I am running.
Fortunately with Android 7.1 that time is even further away.
That is great news for the Owners of a Fairphone 2 but a bit less good for me… I am currently using a Smartphone from 2014 running Android 4.4 and I feel that I need soon a new phone, as some functions start acting up (spontaneous reboots, mobile internet not working until I reboot, …)
I was hoping that there would be new Hardware on the horizon as well, since I intend to keep my Hardware as long as possible… Since the hardware of the FP2 is outdated, it would be an argument against the purchase of a Fairphone at this time. And as you state in your post an update to Android 8 is an “entirely new levels of complexity from Android 7, far more different than 7 was to 6” I am afraid that such an update is rather unlikely. I feel like the time to buy a Fairphone 2 has passed… I hope that my current device lives long enough to make the switch to a Fairphone 3 or otherwise I will have to find an alternative which is as well designed for a long lifespan…
Keep up the great work…
I hope to see soon a timeline for a FP3
Understandable point of view, but not neccessarily the only one.
I have to admit, that I never took the time to really dig into Android and the differences between all the new versions. Therefore I really don’t know if it’s essential to have Oreo (Android 8).
What I know from my Windows laptops is, that I am still not on Windows 10, as 7 professional is running smooth and - from the experience on my office computer - 10 really failed to convince me.
I have no idea, what I might be missing, that Oreo could offer me. But then …, if I ain’t missing it, it can not be really worth thinking about.
That’s why I would state, that Android 7 Nougat will be surely doing fine (even 6 does) and as it will be supported longer than Android 6, it’s in fact a reason Fairphone 2 still can be deemed a worthy smartphone in the market.
Right now nothing… But what about in 3, 4 or 5 years…
I am now running Android 4.4 and there are some apps that i can not install or update anymore since they need a newer Android version… so that is an important point for me… Since the FP models can be easily repaired I am planning of using it 5 years and more… depending on the usability in 5 years! I don’t need the fastest processor or the newest mobile or WiFi standards, but I want a device where I can run all the apps that I need and that is partially limited by the final Android version…
I agree that Android 7 is already great for a device from 2015, but how will it look like in 2023?
I think the Fairphone Team is doing a great job in maintaining the FP2 but after 2 or maximum 3 years i belief that a newer model should come out in order to guarantee again a lifespan of at least 5 years from the time of purchase… that is what keeps me from joining the club of FP owners and aswell from advertising it to my family and friends…
Just got back from jogging in the heat … knowing some Fairphoners’ “patience”, I sense the urgent necessity to insert the world “calendar” in front of “summer” in Bas’ blog.
definitely FairPhone is not playing marketing-bullshit-teasing game
few announces, small but important improvement.
GREAT JOB FAIRPHONE !
switch to Android7 is important in terms of compatibility with latest apps and security patches.
Performances improvements is mainly a Google-fakenews
my only concerns regarding FP2, it’s his price ! 530€ in mid2018 for such Hardware…
It’s hard to recommend anyone to buy a new one now…sorry
FP3 is planned for end-2018…should be ok to wait for those who want to join the community…it worths it
if only, FP could develop some solutions to improve FP2 battery life (new OLED screen, lower consumption components, better soft integration, etc…)
Yes, I agree it is a lot of money, which can make it hard/impossible for many people to buy.
However, I think there is a valid reason for this. In this case it is us the consumers that pay the price, whereas in other phones it might be a lower price for the consumer, but a higher for workers and people in the production chain as well as the environment, and a rather hefty one sometimes.
Hopefully, this could be reduced if Fairphone gains traction, without increasing the price for people and environment.
Perhaps even the #LineageOS version for the Fairphone 2 will get better, as the released code could as well be used to polish it further :). I’m a little sad that LoS wasn’t chosen as the base OS.
I guess it’s not coming in May, is it?
