Weird. Contrary to what one might expect, the Fairphone 6 appears to work more reliably with /e/ OS than with Android—at least, that’s increasingly the (possibly wrong) impression I get from reading this forum. Warms my heart.
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Thank you, but these are minor inconveniences in my eyes, nothing that makes someone to ‚hate‘ a phone, if even possible.
BTW, are you using e/OS or the Fairphone Android?
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Well, the FP6 is a sufficient phone and nothing more. I tried to get off the chinese brands and, as a guy who always likes to repair things insted of replace them, thus a FP is a “must have”. In the 3 months I use it by now, the list of unwanted “features” was filled:
- Automatic screen brightness is a mess. It always tends to go in big steps and ends way to dark to use. I have to adjust the brightness >20 times a day. Very annoying, and I am not alone with this
- Audio recordings are unusable due to muting effects at low levels
- just found out that this is my first phone which does not support Google AR
- as mentioned above, the switch is nonsense if it does not react when the phone is locked
In addition, I struggle with strange camera effects like blurring some parts without any reason (normal photos, no portrait modus). At least the battery lifetime is fine for me. The phone before was a Poco X4 Pro, filled with annoying bloatware which blocks even basic functions (like choosing a message sound), equipped with a horrible bad camera - and a battery that still lasts for 2-3 days where the FP6 needs a daily charge. I used it 3 years as my “daily”. Before - and still - I I used a Samsung S8 for 4 years with an excellent camera (still better than the FP6 one), a similar good battery (after a replace) … the only bad about is the hopelessly outdated Android 9.
Btw: 8 years of updates sounds great to the FP6. As I learned, the FP5 got Android 15 last year, just when Android 16 was released. A16 was promised to the FP6 in 2025. Let’s see how long it takes in the end.
What did I get? A fair butter-and-bred-daily phone to use, not more. Updates which take a lot more time to get than I expect. Some unnesserary annoying issues I never experienced before. A useless yellow switch on the side. And a pure unbloated Android. At least, the FP6 showes me what things I have to look at for my next phone, which, by now, will not be a FP.
When I bought the phone, a Honor Magic Pro 6 was my second choice, I had the chance to get it for the same price. Regarding the specs: What a difference, a actual butter-and-bread and a year old high-end. But I had to assist a friend setting up a Magic Pro 6 and after this, I do not regret my choice.
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Well I’m a heavy listener and if i had known beforehand that i would have trouble with my buds this would have been an knock-out criterion for the FP, so it is kind of a big deal for me.
Even if you’re not listening as much, bluetooth connectivity issues wouldn’t be a minor inconvenience I’d say. Same for the failure of the navigation button or even the missing integration of the voice assistant on the locked screen.
What’s an major inconvenience then - I’m buying the phone to use it, not to be a test subject.
I’m using Android btw.
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Not good endorsements. My other phone on a short list is the Sony Xperia 10 VII. £100 cheaper and I read somewhere software support till 2031 - 4 Android versions and then security.
I have been using my new FP6 for about 5 weeks now (coming from a Huawei P10 of 2017). Apart from the Language bug in the setup (data protection agreement could not be agreed, as the longer translation in non-English language led to the OK button being unusable) the setup went without problems. I’ve had no problems so far, using the FP as my daily.
Connection to the home wifi, to my car via bluetooth (old Fiat blue&me), to my Soundcore open-ear buds, to my Samsung tablet (Quick share and hot spot) work. Calls work on the phone, via ear buds and in the car, with normal volume. Podcasts app and Online radio app in the car work as expected (via a Bluetooth/FM transceiver). GPS/ Navigation work as expected, haven’t done any mapping/tracking for OSM yet, so can’t say anything about accuracy.
Photos are okay so far, even at a Christmas party at half light, haven’t had the chance to really try it out (but also have a real camera for real photos).
The only thing I saw that was unexpected, was a “couldn’t connect” message from the Fairmail app sometime last week, will have to watch that. It did resolve within the next 10 min, though.
So far I’d say: Works as expected, no bugs for me. A good daily workhorse. I was worrying too, reading this forum after buying the phone, but it’s okay for me.
(Location Germany, bought at Mediamarkt ( large electronics store), updated it myself to the most recent Android version of Nov. 25)
Edit: I don’t like the vibration, however :-). It’s very - restrained. I have a fitness watch that relays info about incoming calls and messages, so that is my workaround.
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Hi
It might be possible for you to create such a poll already, please check (certain options are getting activated as users are upgraded in their so called trust levels)
https://forum.fairphone.com/faq
Before creating such, my advise would be to consider whether you want to limit that to FP6 users or open to any Fairphoners. Plus there are more than two operational systems for Fairphoners, and while most are based on Android (e/OS included), that will not be true for all of them. Also, some users switch between various OS.
https://forum.fairphone.com/t/operating-systems-for-fairphones/
As mentioned before, I believe you will get a better picture of e/OS software experience from e/OS forum.
But honestly, if 90% users are happy with the phone and your unique experience is devastating because you can’t make your phone do the stuff you care about, imho this 90% becomes meaningless.
On a final note, there’s been a thing here to ask people about their experience after a year of a phone’s launch, feel free to check
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Wow, thank you, that’s great – I wasn’t aware that there are SO many OS for the FP (& potentially for the 6 as well in the future.)
I checked the /e/OS forum and my general impression is that users there view the Fairphone 6 much more positively. (I had initially asked the wrong question and posted another one today.)
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Same here.
My experience has been good so far. I seem to be using the same apps as you, and everything has been running smoothly for me so far.
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Many thanks to all of you for your truly helpful input.
In the end, I decided to keep the Fairphone 6, as I had the impression that most of the more serious issues described in this forum were either related to Android rather than /e/ OS, or were caused by (relatively rare) hardware problems. Besides, I didn’t see a convincing alternative: all degoogled operating systems come with their own drawbacks.
So far, it seems to have been the right decision - I really like the phone. Setting it up was straightforward, and everything appears to be running smoothly.
I’m happy.
I hope it stays that way - I’ll keep you posted.
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I’ve been using my FP6 for two months now and it does its job. The issues I encountered in the forum (e.g., battery charging, automatic screen brightness) were fixed with the latest update. Yes, in my experience, if you use automatic screen brightness for long enough, the FP6 really does learn the optimal setting for you. (Note: turning it off and on again resets this learning process.)
My wife and I have been using “Gigaset” smartphones from the German manufacturer of the same name. They’re in the lower price range, but the build quality is excellent and in Germany, and we’ve practically never had any hardware or software problems. Since mine is still running Android 10 and no more updates available. I started looking for alternatives, especially since Gigaset has been keeping quiet about new smartphone announcements. However, they have now introduced a successor, but I had already ordered the FP6. 
My main reason for choosing a new phone was to get one also without bloatware or annoying pre-installed manufacturer apps. I also wanted the ability to use SD cards and physical SIM cards.
Compared to my Gigaset GS290, the FP6 has the following advantages:
- + current operating system
- + brighter display
- + faster
- + slightly better image and video quality
= battery life - - sound quality during video and voice recordings.
Okay, the FP6 has two microphones and therefore delivers stereo sound during video recordings, but the audio is distorted during loud concert recordings.
Support:
Gigaset has always responded quickly to service inquiries and also offers fast on-site repair service through its partners in Germany. As I said, the quality is excellent, and I’ve never had a hardware defect.
Fairphone, I have been waiting for a response to my ticket (new IMEI and warranty extension) for 4 weeks now.
The repair of my FP6 (broken SIM card tray) went as follows:
3 days UPS to France
3 days repair by Cordon Electronics France
3 days UPS return to Germany.
The repair was successful.
So far, so good, as they say in Germany.
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On my FP5 I got a cheap headphone jack to USB-C adapter which is great and doesn’t get in the way. I just keep the headphones plugged into it.
With the FP6 I would expect teething problems for new hardware to be fixed, as others have said it depends on the OS too. The community or official build of the /e/OS are particularly easy to install, community one has quicker security updates.
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Note that there are also issues/bugs with the Phone firmware – which can follow across OS.
Getting support/fixes for such issues – from some combination of Murena, Fairphone & other H/W vendors – can be … seriously challenging.
Fwiw, my own current example (well, one of several actually), that’s got me rethinking my purchase is:
FP6 Modem bug; MMI codes don’t exec; Stuck in a support loop – between Murena, Fairphone & Qualcomm
https://www.reddit.com/r/fairphone/comments/1qv7ewo/fp6_modem_bug_mmi_codes_dont_exec_stuck_in_a/
I.e., Caveat Emptor. DO read up on support threads here in the Murena forums & at the Fairphone forums. Not always througoughly detailed, there are certainly real issues.
The biggest general problem – so far, in my experience – is the inaction/non-response from official support channels.
Sure, they claim they’re “resource limited”; might wanna get that worked out before blasting the airwaves with tons of slick marketing and charging $800 for phones …
To be fair, these Online communities can be very friendly, responsive & helpful!
But, as often pointed out, they are not official support – and there’s only so much they can do.
EDIT: latest from Murena on this
"…
We discussed your request with our internal teams. This is an issue that must be addressed by the hardware manufacturer. Our device team confirmed that they have discussed this matter with Fairphone in the past and will contact them again. However, we cannot decide whether, when, or how this issue will be worked on.
… "
Fairphone says it’s Murena’s responsibility, then is otherwise silent.
Murena says it’s Fairphone’s responsibility, and is noncommital.
EDIT:
also ‘updates’, or not, at
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My conclusion after one month: No, ordering the FP6 was definitely not a mistake.
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Everything has been running smoothly, including the first /e/OS update.
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I haven’t encountered any of the issues that seem to trouble some users in this forum - no random restarts, no dropped Wi-Fi connections, no bluetooth headphone problems, nothing of the sort.
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In fact, this is by far the most user-friendly degoogled phone I’ve ever owned: for the first time, everything works, including banking apps.
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Interestingly, based on what I’ve seen in this forum, the degoogled /e/OS version of the Fairphone 6 even seems to be more reliable than the standard Google/Android version. My impression is that Murena’s support team is very active in the /e/OS forum and that the company genuinely tries to stay close to its users, fixing bugs and solving problems as they come up.
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I also really like the bulky design and the flat screen. It’s the first phone I’ve had where the screen protector doesn’t crack or peel at the edges after just a few days. After one month, it still looks freshly applied. (The protective case is a different story.)
So yes — I’m genuinely happy with it and would even recommend it (well, at least the /e/OS version) to others.
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My impression is that Murena’s support team is very active in the /e/OS forum and that the company genuinely tries to stay close to its users, fixing bugs and solving problems as they come up.
Impressions on that certainly do vary …
I do like the phone, though its brokenness (my case, above) needs to be fixed.
And I do like the idea of e/OS.
But Murena’s latest non-responses/excuses in that case make clear for me that a far better option would be a directly, officially *supported* Fairphone + Android OS in the US market (Yes, I’m well aware that Android, or other OS, can be installed … without official support.)
Perhaps Fairphone will get there.
EDIT:
And, looks like they won’t …
FYI anyone considering a FP6 purchase in the US … on this matter:
Last response(s) from Murena & Fairphone on getting attention to documented hardware/firmware issue,
from Murena:
"
- Murena is selling phones, which do act as a mobile phone and provide essential services related to a mobile phone.
- The fact that you don’t like some aspects of how these phones work, does not mean they do not provide these essential services.
- Insisting on having a feature work on your phone, will not make this work. If this issue was easy to solve, it would have been already resolved.
- Murena is not obliged to make this function work. Each company has its own priorities and decides what to spend time on.
- If you genuinely wanted to support a cause like privacy by buying a phone from Murena, why would you now harm Murena this way? "
"
from Fairphone:
"At the moment, we are operating with small, dedicated teams, which means we have to be quite selective about which technical issues we can deep-dive into. Because yours is currently the only report we have received regarding this specific behavior, it is difficult for us to justify a full investigation at this stage similar reports from other users. I have informed the relevant teams about this though, like I’ve mentioned before.
Furthermore, Murena has offered the solutions and support they are currently able to provide, and we aren’t able to extend those options further at this time.
"