This refreshingly innovative smartphone brand has entered the US
The US isn't the most competitive smartphone market, but that hasn't stopped a notable mobile manufacturer from entering the country.
It's Fairphone
Thank you.
You're welcome
The company isn’t debuting with its Fairphone smartphones, though, as it’s choosing to launch the Fairbuds XL repairable headphones as its first product in the country. This will be sold in the US as part of a partnership with Amazon.
Honestly, I'm glad they did the Fairbuds first. Just the XL is a little disappointing, since I was hoping for the regular Fairbuds, but I'm sure it makes sense for them to do it that way.
A lot of people aren't fine with buying a phone that's a bit behind whatever the newest, flashiest, highest-end phone is, but they are fine with buying headphones that might not please an audiophile, but will be perfectly good for everyone else. Especially if they can replace the battery, cables, speakers, ear cushions, headband, and speaker covers for a price that's downright reasonable. (20 euros for a brand-new battery, for example)
I've wanted the buds, so no phone and just the XL is very disappointing. I might buy it if I have extra cash and the price is right, but I'm kinds fine with my current over the ear headphones. Good ear buds or the phone itself is far more in my interest.
Oh, fun.
K, but you can buy the Fairphone 6 in the us now.
They're bringing the actual brand to the US? I suppose that's something. Murena has been selling Fairphone devices here for several years now.
For what it’s worth, Fairphone handsets are currently sold in the US via partner Murena. These particular phones come pre-installed with Murena’s /e/OS Android software, which promises a deGoogled experience. However, Fairphone devices elsewhere come with Google services out of the box. So US consumers would finally be able to get their hands on a Fairphone handset with Google integration.
Well. That's certainly a choice. Hopefully we have the option of not using Google services from the factory.
Fairphones allow for bootloader unlocking as well as relocking.
There's nothing stopping you from installing a supported custom ROM.
I wonder if Graphene plans to support them because then it will absolutely be my next device
They won't. I love Fairphone but hey have dogshit firmware. The fairphone 5 had a bug for quite some time where it showed that it had a audio jack. It doesn't. GrapheneOS seems to want to focus on supporting one kind of device and supporting it well. They also plan to partner with a big OEM, which Fairphone is not.
It is annoying seeing the more hardcore GrapheneOS users that only ever answer people that ask about using a custom ROM act like it is an actual option for people who can't justify getting a whole new phone (though I want to say that I am not saying that is what you are doing, just so many comments on other threads). I am waiting for Google's anti-user stuff to eventually hit Pixel phones. If Graphene only bothers with Pixel and doesn't try to help with getting other devices working. Then all their effort will be made pointless whenever Google further locks things down.
Though if the Graphene folks do somehow make a major deal with an OEM (and keeps all the user control on the devices). Then I will be more than happy to eat my crow. At that point, I just hope that the devices are as flagship as the current Pixel phones. Having mid to low tier phones will be nice too, but I want to get something that doesn't feel like a downgrade out of the box (or a few months later). But I will need to look more into their efforts to partner with OEM(s) to see how that comes along.
I really want to have them be a real option to consider whenever I get to needing a new phone. I can deal with lack of wireless charging (I haven't used it a lot on my current and last phones). But the downgrade of USB to 2.0 seems really odd. Would be less of an issue if they made parts like that able to use ones from older ones to get both more options for modding and for not wasting parts already made. Would also be great if they had some of the sandboxing that I hear Graphene folks talk about for being able to have Play Store apps but not give up being able to sideload apps that won't be enrolled in Google's BS new system (wishful thinking).
Not currently needing a new phone (hoping to get two more years minimum from my S24 Ultra I had to get to replace my broken S23 Ultra in January). So there is plenty of time to see what they release over the coming years. Would love to see if they can manage to get options for higher IP ratings while still being able to have self-repair. Even if they have to be really really clear about not being able to guaranty the rating if opened. I already tell people that even with iPhones that I fix using Apple's official/certified process, that they shouldn't trust the water resistance is 100% the same as out of the box (even then I get freaked out if my phone or my friends just jump into water lol).
In the end I just really want to see them and other OEMs that go out of their way to support real open bootloaders and self-repair be real options. My Samsung phones over the past 8 years have been great for at least useful features and at least being able to sideload apps (like all Android devices). But I haven't been able to try custom ROMs since their efuse tripping would mean I couldn't use Samsung Pay if I wanted to go back to their stock if I didn't like (or needed to revert back from) the custom ones.
I'm confused. You can already buy fairphones in the us. I'm using one now.
You can import them from outside the country off the internet. You can't go to the local Best Buy or phone seller in the mall and pick one up in person.
Ahhhh gotcha. I was wondering.
Love this! Since google is stupidly cracking down on android and fairphone is able to run Ubuntu mobile os. Now we will have an alternative to android and iPhones in the US
