I have been using a Fairphone 4 with /e/OS for awhile now in the US. AMA.
The experience has been mostly good, with a few irritating issues. I still consider it good though, because I had a flagship Pixel previously and had my share of irritating issues also. I don't really miss Google at all.
* Occasionally the keyboard just disappears. Crashes or something. Killing the AOSP (Android keyboard) service restores it. Hopefully this gets fixed.
* The App Store it comes with only shows open source products, or lets you add in Play Store apps without an account.
* Searching in the app store sometimes stops showing results when I search and I have to clear its data to get them to show again. I think it's related to the Play Store interface.
* Moving off Google Maps is a bit of a learning curve (although you could install it probably). OsmAnd~ or Organic Maps are good enough 85% of the time.
* I find if I hold the phone in my right hand when talking that my ear is not naturally on the speaker and I can't hear people. I've never had an issue like this with a phone. Easy to move, but the beginning of most conversations are still a lot of "are you there's?"
AT&T network works great. Verizon doesn't. You might try it like a fool like me and think it does for awhile, but I promise you it doesn't. The phone doesn't support 1 or 2 of the bands Verizon uses, so sometimes you simply won't be able to receive or make calls or texts. Mint Mobile (T-Mobile) gave me some trouble too but I think those ones could have been resolved but I didn't get network coverage at my house despite the maps, so I gave up. Boost Mobile claims you can use the AT&T or T-Mobile network, but they don't give you a choice, seem to have stopped pushing AT&T, and will refuse to give you the other SIM when you ask for it. RedPocket actually gives you a choice when you sign up.
Interesting. I've been using the Fairphone 4 with /e/OS in the US on Mint for about two months, and I have encountered none of those issues.
The issue that's bugged me is occasionally when I'm using Bluetooth audio, the volume "locks". For whatever reason it decides whatever the current volume is, that's the max or min, and I can only adjust in one direction from there.
I’ve a fairphone 3 which had a faulty bottom-part (the microphone/charging module).
After a drop in water, the faulty part was completely broken so I tried to order one from their shop.
This part has been "out-of-stock" for more than two years now. I’ve a repairable smartphone that I can’t repair. Meanwhile, the FP4 and the FP5 replaced the FP3.
So much for trying to "not consume".
I hate Apple but my wife manage to keep her iphones 3/4 years each.
Would you continue to choose the fairphone 3 if parts were readily available? It seems that the modularity/repairability reduces reliability relative to the iPhone.
My iPhone mini 13 is a tank possibly even more than the Nokias that I've had.
Question: did Fairphone do something about the build quality since v1/2? I used to have one (can't remember which) but the back cover broke after taking the protector off <10 times. I'd really like to buy one, but I'm not keen on using it for less than a month just because I'd like to have my phone clean.
I have a FP4 with MurenaOS, no issues with build quality. It is solid.
That said:
- fingerprint reader in on power button and triggers on touch (instead of on press), which means I often unlock the phone unintentionally when moving it. Annoying as hell.
- no audio jack
- a bit too big for my taste
- I miss a led indicator of missed messages
- push notifications or privacy (from Google), pick one
Still, if I lost this one, I would pick FP4 (or FP5 now, I guess?) again, no question about it.
The one thing that I don't understand: for a company that claims to be so focused on protecting the environment, why couldn't they take from the frame.work laptop playbook and commit to 1-2 form factors and just work on releasing new modules independently?
I have the Fairphone 3 and I know that if I take care of it properly I wouldn't need to upgrade the display, but I would like perhaps a new camera if a module with a better sensor came along. If their software support is limited by the SoC they are using, perhaps I would be interested in upgrading the main board, but I could keep everything else after the 7-8 years.
Instead, they are expecting me to hold out for this phone as long as possible and then upgrade to whatever they are selling 5 years from now. Not only this will not happen (as I do not want a phone that does not have a headphone jack), this will basically condemn this phone to the same pile of obsolete-phones-with-perfectly-serviceable-displays-and-cameras that I have on my desk drawer.
> The Fairphone 3+ is the upgraded version of the Fairphone 3. It comes with two new camera modules and audio improvements to boost technical performance, enhance the user experience, and improve sustainability. The new camera modules are also sold separately. This way, you can upgrade your Fairphone 3 by replacing the modules.
Because a smartphone has a different form factor and ecosystem than a laptop. Fairphone existed before Framework did, btw. They were probably inspired by Fairphone.
The only problem with my Fairphone 3 being 4 years old and counting, having survived dozens of drops without a scratch and receiving updates to Android 11 is that I have to hold restrain my consumerist desire to buy a newer gen Fairphone with flashier features. But I guess that's the point!
I found that my Fairphone 2, even after I considered it obsolete for my usage, was an easy trade-in at a price point that could only be explained by the person caring about keeping it around for a good while.
Fairphone promises height years of upgrades (apparently thanks to a contract with Qualcomm which sucks less), compared to the usual 2 or 3 years max in the Android land.
So it's cost per year is probably smaller than other devices if you manage to keep it this long. It being repairable probably helps.
(I don't have a Fairphone, but if I had to buy an (Android) smartphone, I would seriously consider the Fairphone)
Camera meh, a bit slower bc processor is older, but fair production+ 8y of os updates (imo that's even better than iphone, bc many things in android are isolated from os, so even after 8y functionality shouldn't be affected that much. + add 1-2 more years from graphene os
Unfortunately I don't think the team is big enough to support the device specific software at a high level, which is fine for a community project, but less so for a commercial one.
/e/OS is focussed on not (or less) leaking data (-> privacy), especially to Google. Whereas I understand Grapheme OS wants to make it very difficult to hack the device (-> security).
This leads to different compromises.
I would say that /e/ is more normal end user friendly and GrapheneOS enables more security for those who need it, but less Android apps will work as normal.
Is sad how much misinformation there is about GrapheneOS. If you can, just try it. Their sandboxed play services implementation is far superior to any other solution.
Compared to any other mobile OS, there is no compromise software wise on GOS.
Yeah. :( I actually wouldn't mind getting a Fairphone, but a headphone jack is a hard requirement for me. Dongles are not an acceptable substitute, as they are easy to lose and prevent charging.
Engineer tech founders, open source maintainers: please pass these names by a normal person before you decide on them. No normal person is going to understand that "/e/OS" is supposed to be a Unix file path, nor care. They're going to go "why does it have a '/' around the 'e' ?". If they pop it into their browser search bar, they will get an error, because the browser thinks it's a file path or something. When they go to Google.com and search for it, one of the first things that comes up is "what does e OS mean?" In fact, you can just take "OS" out of the name altogether, because normal people don't know what an Operating System is.
It is also difficult to pronounce. I've come to call it slashyslash, but telling other people about it (which is absolutely paramount to it gaining popularity) is annoying. Me telling a friend about this would go:
I use slashyslash OS by Murena. It's forward slash, the letter e, forward slash, capital O capital S. Don't search for it from your address bar, but go to your search engine's homepage first.
The first thing people care about when it comes to the device they use to organise their every day lives with is convenience. If you can't even find it in the first place, what snowball's chance in hell does it have?
Yes, that annoys me too. The original name actually was "Eelo". Unfortunately, it had to be renamed due to a legal conflict. Creator Gael Duval also said in 2020 that the "/e/" name would only be temporary.
The whole point of the fairphone is, as the name implies, that it is fair. That means that all the components/elements are sourced from (where possible) sustainable sources and all labour is paid for fairly (no 'sweatshops'). If you would rather have a flashy screen at the lowest price possible with no regard to the actual cost (human, environmental, etc.) then you can buy litterally any other phone on the market but it is great that the fairphone exists for the people that these kind of issues do concern.
[+] [-] cooperadymas|2 years ago|reply
The experience has been mostly good, with a few irritating issues. I still consider it good though, because I had a flagship Pixel previously and had my share of irritating issues also. I don't really miss Google at all.
* Occasionally the keyboard just disappears. Crashes or something. Killing the AOSP (Android keyboard) service restores it. Hopefully this gets fixed. * The App Store it comes with only shows open source products, or lets you add in Play Store apps without an account. * Searching in the app store sometimes stops showing results when I search and I have to clear its data to get them to show again. I think it's related to the Play Store interface. * Moving off Google Maps is a bit of a learning curve (although you could install it probably). OsmAnd~ or Organic Maps are good enough 85% of the time. * I find if I hold the phone in my right hand when talking that my ear is not naturally on the speaker and I can't hear people. I've never had an issue like this with a phone. Easy to move, but the beginning of most conversations are still a lot of "are you there's?"
AT&T network works great. Verizon doesn't. You might try it like a fool like me and think it does for awhile, but I promise you it doesn't. The phone doesn't support 1 or 2 of the bands Verizon uses, so sometimes you simply won't be able to receive or make calls or texts. Mint Mobile (T-Mobile) gave me some trouble too but I think those ones could have been resolved but I didn't get network coverage at my house despite the maps, so I gave up. Boost Mobile claims you can use the AT&T or T-Mobile network, but they don't give you a choice, seem to have stopped pushing AT&T, and will refuse to give you the other SIM when you ask for it. RedPocket actually gives you a choice when you sign up.
[+] [-] _rdvw|2 years ago|reply
This impacts more than just the default browser as it also provides the WebView Widget used by apps.
The WebView also cannot be replaced by a user as it is directly loaded into the process space of all apps using the widget.
See my https://divestos.org/misc/ch-dates.txt table that compares all the other systems update history.
[+] [-] scns|2 years ago|reply
Are you using the stock keyboard? I allways install Simple Keyboard from F-Droid, Zero problems for years.
[+] [-] VyseofArcadia|2 years ago|reply
The issue that's bugged me is occasionally when I'm using Bluetooth audio, the volume "locks". For whatever reason it decides whatever the current volume is, that's the max or min, and I can only adjust in one direction from there.
[+] [-] Tade0|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] CoUHKT57BSe|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ploum|2 years ago|reply
After a drop in water, the faulty part was completely broken so I tried to order one from their shop.
This part has been "out-of-stock" for more than two years now. I’ve a repairable smartphone that I can’t repair. Meanwhile, the FP4 and the FP5 replaced the FP3.
So much for trying to "not consume".
I hate Apple but my wife manage to keep her iphones 3/4 years each.
[+] [-] JoshTko|2 years ago|reply
My iPhone mini 13 is a tank possibly even more than the Nokias that I've had.
[+] [-] bornfreddy|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tempodox|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] janosdebugs|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bornfreddy|2 years ago|reply
That said:
- fingerprint reader in on power button and triggers on touch (instead of on press), which means I often unlock the phone unintentionally when moving it. Annoying as hell.
- no audio jack
- a bit too big for my taste
- I miss a led indicator of missed messages
- push notifications or privacy (from Google), pick one
Still, if I lost this one, I would pick FP4 (or FP5 now, I guess?) again, no question about it.
[+] [-] kwiens|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rglullis|2 years ago|reply
I have the Fairphone 3 and I know that if I take care of it properly I wouldn't need to upgrade the display, but I would like perhaps a new camera if a module with a better sensor came along. If their software support is limited by the SoC they are using, perhaps I would be interested in upgrading the main board, but I could keep everything else after the 7-8 years.
Instead, they are expecting me to hold out for this phone as long as possible and then upgrade to whatever they are selling 5 years from now. Not only this will not happen (as I do not want a phone that does not have a headphone jack), this will basically condemn this phone to the same pile of obsolete-phones-with-perfectly-serviceable-displays-and-cameras that I have on my desk drawer.
[+] [-] bornfreddy|2 years ago|reply
> The Fairphone 3+ is the upgraded version of the Fairphone 3. It comes with two new camera modules and audio improvements to boost technical performance, enhance the user experience, and improve sustainability. The new camera modules are also sold separately. This way, you can upgrade your Fairphone 3 by replacing the modules.
https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/360047776791...
[+] [-] Fnoord|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nanna|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jstummbillig|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] agluszak|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] CoUHKT57BSe|2 years ago|reply
Not sure if/when that will be available directly from the fairphone website though.
[+] [-] supermatt|2 years ago|reply
Is it comparable, or is it a generation or two behind?
[+] [-] jraph|2 years ago|reply
So it's cost per year is probably smaller than other devices if you manage to keep it this long. It being repairable probably helps.
(I don't have a Fairphone, but if I had to buy an (Android) smartphone, I would seriously consider the Fairphone)
[+] [-] Moldoteck|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lm28469|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tweetle_beetle|2 years ago|reply
Unfortunately I don't think the team is big enough to support the device specific software at a high level, which is fine for a community project, but less so for a commercial one.
[+] [-] malermeister|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] MarcusE1W|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tholdem|2 years ago|reply
Compared to any other mobile OS, there is no compromise software wise on GOS.
[+] [-] neoromantique|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Calamitous|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jszymborski|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Fnoord|2 years ago|reply
[1] https://divestos.org/misc/e.txt
[+] [-] unknown|2 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] _chu1|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bigstrat2003|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] monopoliessuck|2 years ago|reply
Follow the leader never needs this many words and for a niche and ethical brand, this is quite embarrassing.
[+] [-] Fnoord|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Moldoteck|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] qiine|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gyudin|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mhitza|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 0xbadcafebee|2 years ago|reply
Engineer tech founders, open source maintainers: please pass these names by a normal person before you decide on them. No normal person is going to understand that "/e/OS" is supposed to be a Unix file path, nor care. They're going to go "why does it have a '/' around the 'e' ?". If they pop it into their browser search bar, they will get an error, because the browser thinks it's a file path or something. When they go to Google.com and search for it, one of the first things that comes up is "what does e OS mean?" In fact, you can just take "OS" out of the name altogether, because normal people don't know what an Operating System is.
[+] [-] nehal3m|2 years ago|reply
It is also difficult to pronounce. I've come to call it slashyslash, but telling other people about it (which is absolutely paramount to it gaining popularity) is annoying. Me telling a friend about this would go:
I use slashyslash OS by Murena. It's forward slash, the letter e, forward slash, capital O capital S. Don't search for it from your address bar, but go to your search engine's homepage first.
The first thing people care about when it comes to the device they use to organise their every day lives with is convenience. If you can't even find it in the first place, what snowball's chance in hell does it have?
[+] [-] marvinborner|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|2 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] jiofj|2 years ago|reply
Also, LCD screen, really underwhelming.
I was expecting much more for that price.
[+] [-] CoUHKT57BSe|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Fnoord|2 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kiba|2 years ago|reply