Fairphone 5 (6GB + 128GB) Review | 197 Data compared

Sam Thursfield’s review of the Fairphone 5 highlights its exceptional modularity, ethical manufacturing, and an industry-leading 10 years of software support, making it a sustainable choice at a €700 price point. The phone is lauded for extreme repairability, featuring a user-replaceable battery that takes seconds to swap, alongside a "clean" software experience with minimal bloatware. However, the device is criticized for its large, potentially uncomfortable size and a Qualcomm IoT-focused chipset that, while ensuring long-term support, results in only "good" rather than top-tier performance. Additional drawbacks include a finicky fingerprint sensor, an inefficient 90Hz display mode, and a camera that struggles in low-light conditions. Despite these hardware and performance compromises, the review concludes the Fairphone 5 is a "perfectly cromulent" device for users prioritizing ethical production and longevity over raw, high-end specifications.

According to a review by Kaarel Õunapuu, the Fairphone 5 stands out due to its modular design allowing easy component replacement and a commitment to 8-10 years of software updates. While featuring a modern 90Hz OLED display and a durable Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset, the phone has drawbacks including its bulkier size, lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack, average camera performance, absence of wireless charging, and decent but not class-leading battery life. Despite a high price for its specifications, the cost reflects ethical labor and supply chain practices, positioning the device as an ethical choice over a performance leader.

The Fairphone 5 is described as a significant advancement in sustainable technology, prioritizing durability and repairability over cutting-edge features. It features a 6.46-inch OLED display, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a design that allows easy replacement of ten modular parts. A key strength is its software longevity, promising at least eight years of security updates and potentially a decade of support, facilitated by its industrial-grade Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset. However, the phone's ethical focus results in some drawbacks, particularly its €699 price which is higher than competitors with better performance and cameras. The dual 50MP camera system is considered average, and battery life is mediocre. The device also lacks wireless charging, a headphone jack, and is only splash-proof with an IP55 rating. For more details, visit Engadget.

The Fairphone 5 is positioned as a choice for users prioritizing sustainability and repairability over raw specs, featuring a modular design that allows users to easily replace components with a standard screwdriver. It includes a vibrant 90Hz OLED display, near-stock Android 13 with minimal bloatware, and an industry-leading eight to ten years of security updates. However, compromises include a Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset that can feel sluggish and may not perform well over its promised lifespan, cameras that fall short of rivals like the Google Pixel, and a higher price point relative to its technical specifications.

The Fairphone 5 is positioned as a significant advancement in sustainable technology, featuring a 6.46-inch 90Hz OLED display and unmatched modularity allowing users to easily replace ten different components. It utilizes a Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset which, while offering mid-range performance, was chosen to support 8–10 years of software updates and at least five major Android OS updates. Although the €699 price is high for its specifications, reflecting ethical sourcing and a five-year warranty, the phone is considered a niche success for environmentally conscious buyers despite average camera performance and the lack of premium features like wireless charging.

According to TechRadar, the Fairphone 5 represents a significant step up for the brand, balancing its ethical focus with modern hardware. Key advantages include industry-leading longevity with extended software support, a highly repairable modular design, an improved 6.46-inch 90Hz OLED display, and a clean Android experience. However, its high price of £649 puts it in a difficult position against competitors, and it suffers from a mid-range processor, a poor ultra-wide camera, an unreliable fingerprint scanner, and a bulky design.

The Fairphone 5 is characterized as an imperfect phone with a noble cause, excelling in ethical manufacturing and unmatched repairability, allowing users to replace ten components with a standard screwdriver. It offers an industry-leading software commitment with updates promised until at least 2031. However, the device suffers from significant compromises, including disappointing battery life, a camera system that underperforms compared to cheaper rivals, and a 90Hz OLED display that lacks sufficient brightness for direct sunlight visibility. The €699 price makes it more expensive than mainstream mid-range phones that offer better specs and water resistance, positioning it as a niche device for those prioritizing sustainability over technical performance.

The Fairphone 5 is positioned as an ethically conscious, long-lasting device featuring up to 10 years of software support, a five-year warranty, and highly repairable modular components. While praised for its 90Hz OLED display and sustainable design, the phone offers only mid-range performance and a camera that struggles in low light compared to competitors. Despite a higher price tag of £649 and a lower IP55 water resistance rating, the device is highlighted for its superior repairability and environmental,,, credentials.

The DXOMARK camera test of the Fairphone 5, which achieved an overall score of 108, shows significant improvements over its predecessor due to software optimizations. It excels in bright-light conditions and landscape photography, providing accurate target exposure and natural white balance. However, the device struggles in low-light with color casts, and exhibits weak video stabilization and limited dynamic range in high-contrast scenes.

The Fairphone 5 prioritizes sustainability through its highly modular design, allowing for easy, user-led repairs of key components like the screen and battery. The device guarantees up to eight to ten years of security updates and features a notable upgrade to a 6.46-inch, 90Hz OLED display. However, performance is hampered by an industrial-grade Qualcomm QCM6490 processor that causes lag, and the camera quality is described as average. At a price point of £649/€699, the phone offers a 5-year warranty and clean software, but faces criticism for its lackluster battery life and high cost relative to its performance.

The Fairphone 5, reviewed by Science Focus, prioritizes extreme sustainability with an industry-leading modular design allowing user-swappable components, a five-year warranty, and software support promising longevity until 2031-2033. Key upgrades include a 90Hz OLED display, though the device is notably heavier and bulkier than competitors, and its industrial Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset offers only mid-range performance, occasionally lagging in high-end scenarios. While the 50MP cameras excel in good lighting, they suffer from over-processing and poor low-light performance, paired with average battery life. BBC

The Fairphone 5 is a unique, mission-driven device that prioritizes ethical sourcing and longevity over raw technical power, representing the company's most refined, yet "mediocre" in terms of performance, effort to date. Standout pros include unprecedented, user-repairable modular design, a five-year warranty, up to ten years of software support, and a vibrant 6.46-inch OLED display. Notable cons include a high price-to-specs ratio, lackluster camera performance, a bulky design, and the use of a mid-range Qualcomm QCM6490 chip that can lead to sluggishness.

The Fairphone 5 is lauded as a highly repairable and ethically sourced device designed for long-term use, featuring modular components that allow for easy at-home repairs and a 5-year software support commitment. It utilizes an industrial-grade Qualcomm QCM 6490 chipset to ensure longevity, prioritizing sustainability over cutting-edge performance. While the device offers exceptional repairability, its modular design results in a heavier 212g build with a lower IP55 water-resistance rating and non-standard, sometimes uncomfortable button placement. The phone also features a 90Hz OLED display and a competent, though sometimes slow, camera system. Priced around 700 Euro, the Fairphone 5 is positioned as a sustainable alternative to the traditional, fast-paced smartphone upgrade cycle. It appeals to environmentally conscious consumers willing to accept slightly lower specifications for a device designed to last up to a decade.

The Murena Fairphone 5, reviewed by What's The Best, is a highly sustainable, modular smartphone designed for privacy, featuring a 90% recycled construction and a 6.46-inch OLED display. Key strengths include an "impeccable" battery life lasting over a week, solid performance from the Qualcomm QCM6490 chip, and capable 50MP cameras for detailed photography. However, the device suffers from weak, tinny speakers, a flimsy plastic backing, and an e/OS interface that can be difficult to navigate.