My FP3 battery started running down more quickly than usual recently so I stared to monitor it. (I suspected it was likely to be an Android or some other software update but I couldn’t find a culprit.)
It occurred to me today that physically checking the battery might be a good idea - so I did. It seemed OK when I took it out of the phone but I couldn’t put it back, so I did a ‘spin’ test and it is slightly bloated/swollen. I’ve ordered a new battery and I am happy to live without a smartphone for a few days - I still have a landline.
I’m impressed that the FP3 battery lasted for very nearly 5 years and 9 months of daily usage and will only cost me £32.90 in total to replace. (I checked some other battery replacement charges so I could feel smug - iPhone 16 Pro Max £109, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra £79).
My only regret is that it didn’t die a month or two back when Fairphone were offering a discount on spares, etc. Ho hum. (I might put a note on my calendar for May 2031 to remind me to buy another battery.)
I replace my battery every two years. At that point I was having to charge it during the day as well to keep it going to the night. That said I had to buy a case with a battery built into it for my S6 because the battery degraded quickly in it and the price for a replacement was ridiculous. Think I might be a heavier than average user.
Hello, I’m still happy with my FP3 ! I just realized it is 5 years and 8 months old ! The only thing i have replaced is the battery, a few months ago I would love to get that nice 5yo badge before the next one (in less than 4 months). My wife has an even older FP3 with no problem - changed the battery too - and my son’s FP3 is somethig like 2 yo - got the last one from the store ! I still use my FP1 as a secondary phone when travelling… Cheers !
My Fairphone 3 arrived on 1 June 2020, and I still use it every day. It’s now running iodéOS 6.9 (Android 15) and I’m still happy with it. I dropped the phone in water twice, but I only had to replace the battery once and I bought a new camera module.
Before the FP3, I had an FP2 with a beautiful red cover for four years, but it got damaged after heavy use as a navigation device on my mountain bike
My FP3 had its 5th anniversary in July I just read my Anniversary message from the last year and not much changed since then. Still stable and reliable companion in my everyday life. I optimised my battery time a little bit e.g. by restricting background acticity and changing my navigation app (from very battery demanding OsmAnd to Organic Maps). This way I keep using my first battery.
Luckily I wasnt impacted by the huge e/OS/ Server Outage (using their OS without any of their other services).
Only the (auto)focus is behaving strange in the last months. Everything else is fine, so the months are passing by my FP3 and me: Maybe one explanation for my late message .
Done now 5 years with my fairphone 3. And it’s still doing well.
Changed the case multiple times and the battery (one new didn’t work correctly)
A couple of month ago I got the 3+ parts from somebody and replaced them.
Some apps are getting slow, but as I shouldn’t be that much on my phone anyway, I hope that it will last foot at least one more year.
BTW. using the phone for 5 years, is from the point of view of the not really “double impact”, but “half damage”
I would love to get that nice 5yo badge before the next one (in less than 4 months). My wife has an even older FP3 with no problem - changed the battery too - and my son’s FP3 is somethig like 2 yo - got the last one from the store ! I still use my FP1 as a secondary phone when travelling… Cheers !
I just read my 
.
not really “double impact”, but “half damage”
years of Fairphone 
