Well, thanks for taking time for an answer and forgive, that I’be neither time nor motivation to read thousands of comments before…
When it comes to Android: One of the most epic fails and a still existing threat is the fragmentation in the Android universe. The reason is obviously on one side a lack of binding licensing terms to the manufacturers. On the other side the still ongoing idocracy to modify Android with vendor specific additions to create some kind of unique branding. But to be honest, I wouldn’t buy a Smartphone because of it’s wallpaper or launcher - i would buy it strictly by tech data, design and some other factors. Maybe, I’m alone with this… Having all these vendor bloat in the Play store and let customers choose would be very fine as it would make it much easier to reduce fragmentation and keeping devices secure. Even the older ones. And the vendors can still advertise with THEIR stuff - but in a different and more customer friendly way…
So I wouldn’t see it as an advantage. I see it as a massive threat. Also that you have to fight to get Android 7 to the phone. It’s a shame. But maybe not you’r fault.
Regarding the memory: You shouldn’t care about my money. But it would be nice if I could choose more memory, if I want. I purchase every 2-3 years a new smartphone, because I do not get updates for longer (the only reason) and I always purchase biggest memory available. Just because I USE my smartphone and I have made the experience that SD cards die much faster than build in memory. On the other hand: If I purchase a SD card it also costs me money… So don’t know what’s the point. My last phones had a high 3 digit price - far beyond 700 EUR. I don’t care about - for others a more affordable entry version maybe fine…
So we can come to another point:
Money is not the reason to buy a Fairphone. It’s the fairness. And this may cost a few bucks more. Really, I do not care if the overall package is fine. And if it guarantees that I can use it for 5 years (but than it mus be really top notch at the puchase time) than add additional 100 or 200 bucks and I’m fine with it, because it still saves me money on the long term.
And I’m sure that it would even more fair and ecological full of sense if the modularity will be taken to the next step - why not offering also modules with a new SoC and maybe a driver package? What about an module with more onboard memory? What about a better display…
That way you do not have to design all the time whole new smartphones but modules and this would mean less garbage and less wasted resources. I really know that this is written much more easie than it could be done - but it could be the first really big innovation in the market for about a decade. Especially if the overall design is fine and could be also changed with new cases…
Well, if you write it was designed two years ago, it might have been a nice and good choice at this time. But I’m sure you want to sell as much devices as possible - even if you do want to sell it to the same persons that often. So it is IMHO important to keep the specs up2date to ensure that even people finding you TODAY think it’s worth to consider buying a fairphone. This could be achieved if you take modularity to the next level and if you just always have the SoC and Memory modules separate from the “driver unit” - so it would be easy to reduce stock and keep the lineup on a high level…
The update to the camera is somehow nice. But to be honest, a SoC upgrade and a memory upgrade would be much nicer and would ensure longer usage - while you add some more revenue, which is important to keep you alive.
Dissatisfied existing customers would probably not buy again. And unimpressed potential new customers would also hardly buy a now outdated device with old Android and the knowledge that it might be unlikely to see Android 8 or 9 on it…
So maybe you have to jump into the jet pack, order a barrel of red bull and start designing the next generation of moldularity - this generation which doesn’t suck with ugly design and which allows you and the customers to keep the gear up2date if required…
Why throwing away a full smartphone if you’r satisfied with the screen, the case, the battery, the camera, but the memory doesn’t fit the needs for the camera or the SoC sucks with lagging or incompatibility to latest greatest Android…