I bought my Fairphone with Android three weeks ago (I switched to e/OS a week ago ^^) and I’m happy with the product. Knowing that your customer service, about which I’d read mixed reviews in recent months, is taking feedback into account and that a change is underway, is both pleasing and reassuring.
By the way, a quick question for you:
Having purchased my FP 5 on your website with the Android version and manually switched it to e/OS (without any issues), am I still under the 5-year hardware warranty ?
the answer is clearly given in @urs_lesse link above. you must flash=reinstall the fairphone standard OS (for some reason they call it now Android OS instead of FPOS) it was delivered with when you want to claim warranty,
Okay, thanks for your feedback. It’s quite strange and unfortunate because FP also sells this model with e/OS…
I’m not an expert, and if Murena hadn’t provided an easy and almost automatic installer, I certainly wouldn’t have taken the plunge. Resetting the stock OS isn’t that simple because FP doesn’t offer a tool as “turnkey” as Murena. Too bad for me.
FP really needs to clarify things on this subject.
I agree if it’s a software issue. But if I had to claim under warranty for a hardware issue, it should be covered in my opinion.
But I’m no expert. I regret installing e/OS under these conditions because rolling back isn’t easy for me at all (without a simple installer like Murena’s ( /e/OS Installer ) and I find myself stuck with the warranty.
The fact that you sell this phone with both operating systems made me think it was possible. Especially since you reference it in your tutorials. But it turns out it’s not that simple, at least not for a non-techie.
I would say it doesn’t. /e/OS is Murena’s Android OS based on the Android Open Source Project AOSP (same as Fairphone’s Android OS), and Fairphone support are able to handle /e/OS for a while now …
“Android OS” is not a trademark and no clear, viable distinction. Google certification of the OS would be.
But perhaps this can be cleared up real quick …
@anon55787294: Do users have to revert to Fairphone’s Android OS to get support by Fairphone, or is having Murena’s Android OS (called /e/OS) on the phone acceptable, too, now that Fairphone sell with /e/OS preinstalled themselves and Fairphone support can handle /e/OS support?
I also think its clear that its expected to revert to FPOS, this is clearly stated under the link provided above and more important in the legal warranty documentation
If Your Product is operating on a third-party operating system (OS), please contact the software provider for any queries. In case You want Your Product to be covered by this Warranty nonetheless, We will require You to revert back or switch to Fairphone OS. This Warranty covers only the Product as provided by Us and, unless the Third Party Operating System is removed, it will not be possible for Us to assess whether the defect is caused by the Product hardware or by the Third Party Operating System.
Btw. Here still FPOS is used and not the weird new wording “Android OS”
I think you’ve made a great choice like so many before you! So congratulation, not just for your choice (i.e. buying a Fairphone and also freeing yourself from Google for instance) but also for making your first steps towards digital sovereignty, in general.
It probably felt like completely unchartered territory but you still went all the way… and you did great as far as I would say.
Sure I can see why you’ve become a little uneasy with the thought of maybe having to turn it back to how it was delivered. But so far your phone’s working just fine, isn’t it? And secondly you’ve also already found your way to the best support place there is. Where you would find plenty of amazing people not just eagerly willing to help you but also extremely capable.
Furthermore turning a Fairphone back to how it was delivered indeed might be a little bit more tricky but it has been done already numerous times for various reasons by people of most different backgrounds and skill sets… and it’s all documented here.
So for now… Just enjoy your phone… and in case anything comes up and starts troubling you, there’s a good chance people here have already the right answer for it.
Maybe try to reach out to Murena asking for guide how to “undo” the installation. I would not be surprised if they have it already documented. Probably not in as much user friendly way as it was to install e/OS but at least something that will help you not get lost in vast resources you can find online.
Did your Fairphone come with /e/OS out of the box? Then for software issues, please reach out to Murena first. Murena’s Customer Support will be able to help you and answer questions about /e/OS.
We of course can still provide you with help, especially when it comes to the hardware.
However, the self-repair portal allows user to choose e/OS version.
And the same support page gives the following information
Hardware
Hardware can break, no matter what software your phone is running. We can help you with that. Note that you may need to revert to the original OS during the troubleshooting/diagnostic process.
It is just a bit tricky if the original OS was e/OS purchased from FP webshop.
