Slightly better camera (future tests will tell how much better)
120 Hz display
More RAM and storage (although I feel that the previous 6GB/128GB option was also sufficient for most users)
WiFi 6E Tri-Band (however you will likely never need this speed)
Bluetooth 5.4
Slightly larger battery
Con:
Backpanel now requires a screwdriver
Display has less resolution/PPI
Performance of processor will likely be nearly identical to predecessor (however it’s more efficient and modern)
Downgrade to USB 2
600€
My conclusion:
Overall the improvements are ok, however just releasing the Fairphone 5 with a newer SoC might have been the better/more cost effective choice.
Sacrificing display resolution for 120 Hz feels also quite wrong.
600€ is very pricy for a phone like this. Cutting some premium features away like the 120 Hz display or a bit of RAM and storage (that you can extend anyway with an SD card) might have saved enough to get the launch price down to somewhere near 500€ which would make it accessible for a wider audience.
Lol nooooo, I’ve been trying to get rid of all mine! Of course since I’m an IT guy that really just means they go to the box of bygone cabling standards, but still. I want them out of my active cable stash lol
In order to make the device more affordable, we explored how we could best balance our spec choices with the least possible impact on user experience. Going from USB-3 to USB-2 was one of them.
I also found out a few other things that have changed:
They now use Torx T5 screws
The backcover and battery are now fixed with these screws
The battery uses a dedicated connector
Parts of the backcover now require a pick
SIM/SD now sit at the bottom in a dedicated slot and don’t require the removal of the backcover.
The volume buttons got replaced by the “moments” button and are now on the left
IMHO this is kind of a downgrade in repairability as you now need custom tools (not everyone has a T5 screwdriver at home).
Moving the volume buttons to the other side is also kind of weird and unexpected as most (non Apple) phones have them on the right…
Regarding resolution, I’ve been using my S21 Ultra at FHD quality (2400x1080) since I got it and it has a significantly large screen. I don’t see a point in higher resolutions but I definitely appreciate higher refresh rates. Makes it feel smoother and more responsive.
Compared to the Fairphone 5 it has some improvements but also a few downsides:
Pro:
Con:
My conclusion: Overall the improvements are ok, however just releasing the Fairphone 5 with a newer SoC might have been the better/more cost effective choice. Sacrificing display resolution for 120 Hz feels also quite wrong. 600€ is very pricy for a phone like this. Cutting some premium features away like the 120 Hz display or a bit of RAM and storage (that you can extend anyway with an SD card) might have saved enough to get the launch price down to somewhere near 500€ which would make it accessible for a wider audience.
What the fuck?
USB 2? What a stupid choice that appears to be. Did they have any reasoning behind that?
Use for all your old usb 2 ables lol
Lol nooooo, I’ve been trying to get rid of all mine! Of course since I’m an IT guy that really just means they go to the box of bygone cabling standards, but still. I want them out of my active cable stash lol
https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/24463093338898-The-Fairphone-Gen-6-FAQ
Thanks for the link. I can’t necessarily agree that it’s low impact, transferring files at 2.0 speeds is brutal.
I also found out a few other things that have changed:
IMHO this is kind of a downgrade in repairability as you now need custom tools (not everyone has a T5 screwdriver at home). Moving the volume buttons to the other side is also kind of weird and unexpected as most (non Apple) phones have them on the right…
Regarding resolution, I’ve been using my S21 Ultra at FHD quality (2400x1080) since I got it and it has a significantly large screen. I don’t see a point in higher resolutions but I definitely appreciate higher refresh rates. Makes it feel smoother and more responsive.