Our phones have a woefully short lifespan. Batteries die before they get old, compatibility is temporary, software support is ending, and minor upgrades deemed essential are coming soon. It’s an insidious model — and one at a time Fairphone is turned upside down.
The Dutch startup this week released a phone that sets new standards in terms of sustainability: the Fairphone 5. To their credit, the company expects the device to last for ten years.
The modular machine is designed for ease of repair. Not only can you replace dying batteries, you can also replace nine other parts, including the screen, USB-C port, and speakers.
To change them, just grab a screwdriver and follow the video guide. (After inspecting the system during the IFA Berlin (Messe can tell TNW that it’s as simple as it sounds.) As a further commitment to durability, the Fairphone 5 comes with a five-year warranty.
On the software side, the protection is even longer. Fairphone offers at least eight years of operating system support – but is aiming for a full decade.
“We promise by 2031,” Miquel Ballester, co-founder and head of product management at Fairphone, told TNW. “But we’re pretty sure we can extend it to ten years.”
It’s a destination that has no equal among Android devices. To set the benchmark, Fairphone has opted for a chipset built for industrial applications: the Qualcomm QCM6490. Since the processor is designed for hardware and devices with a longer lifespan than phones, the software support cycle can also be extended.
In a world of expensive phones that only last two to three years, support and repairability are obviously attractive to the consumer. But the biggest benefit goes to the planet.
Fairphone’s approach to sustainability starts with the materials our phones are made of – and the people who make them.
The social enterprise started as a campaign against conflict minerals, which are widely used in smartphones. Armed groups often use forced labor to extract these minerals.
In 2013, Fairphone evolved from mobile phone production campaign. The company is now trying to source materials that are both conflict-free and sustainable.
To maximize social impact, Fairphone has identified 14 materials that have high potential for supply chain improvement. With the Fairphone 5, over 70% of these materials are fairly mined or recycled.
Ballester is particularly proud of the battery supply chain. The The lithium it contains comes from a single IRMA-certified mine in Chile – the world leading standard for industrial mining.
Steps have also been taken to reduce the harm from cobalt, which is often mined through child labor. By using cobalt credits, 100% of the mineral in the battery is replaced with cobalt produced under improved working conditions in artisanal and small-scale mines. For the first time in the industry, the people assembling the battery will also receive a living wage bonus.
“We’re pretty confident that this is the fairest and most sustainable battery in the world,” Ballester said.
The benefits of sustainability also benefit the consumer. According to Fairphone, the battery lasts more than 1,000 full charge cycles.
Other features of the Fairphone 5 include a 6.46-inch OLED screen and a Triple 50 megapixel camera system. Overall, the device has the features that can compete with the mid-range smartphones of the market leaders. But Ballester is more focused on inspiring the giants than competing with them.
“Fairphone’s mission is to transform the industry from within,” he said. “Everything we do, we publish. We are trying to create a model that other companies can copy, replicate, extend or join.”
So far, industry response has been mixed. On the environmental side Ballester has seen some positive changes, but improvements in workers’ lives have been “extremely slow,” he said.
As long as it stays that way, Fairphone will stand out in the market. Ultimately, consumers still need to push the industry for change.
“I think from a technical point of view there is no reason to buy an iPhone when you can buy the Fairphone 5,” Noud Tillemans, Fairphone’s interim CEO, told TNW. “And with every additional phone sold, we can make a bigger impact.”
The Fairphone 5 is now available for pre-order in Europe. Prices start at €699 in the Eurozone or £619 in the UK. Shipping begins September 14th.