Hey,
I would like to buy a used FP4 for my work. Otherwise I buy a cheaper one from Motorola as I can use CalyxOS there as well.
Can you still recommend the FP4? How much would you pay?
If I have a look at Ebay-Kleinanzeigen there are many new devices sold for up to 400€. I think half a year ago FP sold them for 400. I think thats quiet a lot for such an old device and as the software support might end in 2026 (beginning or end?).
It shall be used for messaging, videocalls in Teams/Zoom, phoning and maybe making some videos/pictures and social media. I don´t expect anything very good. Just fluently usable for the next view years using CalyxOS.
I also write this here on my FP4.
I still can’t see any real reason to replace it with a new phone and I would not even expect a significant peformance boost with any other/newer device. The FP4 just works and Android 15 should be coming later this year.
For me the biggest problem is the battery usage using mobile internet. This was introduced with A13, seems to be a kernel driver related problem, and is still not fixed while being very annoying at the same time.
400€ for the FP4 sounds a bit too steep in my book.
A refurbished device from a professional seller is 340€
And there are even sellers on the OTTO marketplace who sell (off?) new FP4s at 370€
Personally, I’m on a FP4 myself and totally fine with continuing to use it (the “small” model with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage).
But I have to admit, spending 350+ € on a device released 4 years ago would be too much for me. I couldn’t say what I’d find to be an appropriate price.
I could definitely still buy a used FP4 for a reasonable price, if I didn’t already have one. Given the pricing of the new FP6 at 600 € with 8 years of software support, estimated remaining lifetime for FP4 softwarewise of 1-4 years and lower specs and battery life etc., I would price a FP4 at 200-250€ depending on age and state of the device. Anything more than 300 € seems unreasonable, especially if there isn’t a 5 year guarantee anymore.
Just out of curiosity, was the software support better before the FP5 came out? If so, did it slowly get worse after the FP5 launched or did it happen suddenly?
As for what I would personally pay, I’d agree with @CyclingEngineer. I would also argue that the sustainability argument for a second hand FP isn’t as strong anymore, since reusing any other phone (i.e. buying it used) is also goof for sustainability.
The software support was more frequent when the phone was new, with security updates monthly and major updates annually. It got less frequent with the release of FP5, basically to bimonthly security updates. It hasn’t been perfect at any point, though, and albeit the less frequent security updates nowadays and problems with getting the new Android release working, I find the software much better than it originally was, with the camera updated and basically all major bugs I can remember fixed.
I did buy the FP4 right when it was released.
And I love the Idea. The hardware is good. The software is not.
Sadly I would not reccoment buying the FP4 specialy not for work.
GPS is nit working propper. Cam is better than it was at the beginning, but not good (slow shutter).
The support got the feedbac on the GPC issue twice. Once at the beginnig and once just a few months back.
Both times they pretendet not to know about it. Both times I know they did.
Nothing changed yet.
Not to mentiom, that the wanted to upgrade to Android 14 months ago.
So hardware is good.
The fair mission is awesome
The software is not good
Akd the support bad.
Just my 2 cent. So you may are lucky as some seem to be. But just beaware, that not just a few are struggeling and maybe already moved on.
oh so that’s what it is. I remember having great battery life on an Android 11-based ROM, and it tanked in newer versions. I even bought a new battery last year thinking the old one was degrading, and while I got a liiiiiitle bit better battery life, it still doesn’t seem to last as long as it used to.
Also writing this on my FP4 (had it for 3 years+), and concur that battery life is the biggest gripe I have at this point. I don’t know how relevant software support is if you’re going for CalyxOS, but from what you mentioned, the hardware should still be quite suitable – if you can add a power source around lunchtime of your workday
I’ve had severe battery issues in the past, but after completely reflashing my phone a few weeks ago (still running CalyxOS obviously) those are completely gone. I charge my phone once in the morning and when I plug it back in the next day it’s usually at ~25-30%, and that’s with ADHD screen time (so a lot).
My family member’s FP4 doesn’t have issues at all, neither on vanilla FairphoneOS nor on CalyxOS now, that’s with lighter usage though.
For my FP4 I completely reflashed CalyxOS (to go from an unlocked to a locked bootloader safely), without touching stock in between. The phone hasn’t been running stock since Calyx got released, so over 3 years at this point.
My family member’s FP4 was on stock up until the previous release and then got moved to CalyxOS.
Both have 2 congstar SIM each, the whole setup is very comparable. What differs is mostly the usage, and only I had battery life problems (we’re talking charging necessary multiple times a day, significant heat), those are gone, at least for now
So my two cents on this (I’m running an FP4 for two years now and it is my first android phone):
I was “lucky” compared to what I’ve read here in the forum and elsewhere. Would I recommend buying it now? It depends on the price, as pointed out previously, the software has its issues. And looking back, I regret not flashing another OS(probably I will switch soon to /e/OS), currently battery time is bad. But ultimately, I think I would recommend it, as long as you don’t need the features of a newer phone.
I looked on Willhaben And there are 3 Devices. One for 300, one for 350 and one for 280. I think 400 is way to much for a used FP4. One of the three is only used for 2 weeks
Thanks for the response
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