Fairphone brings a much better device to market with better cameras, a better screen, likely a better chip, open hardware specifications and modularity,
a completely unlockable bootloader (with likely support for CalyxOS and other ROM's shortly), and up to 8 years of software support(!), but people say they won't get it because no headphone jack...
MFW people have their priorities extremely mixed up... That's been the world now for 6 years, it's time to get over it. Letting perfect be the enemy of good is how you decide to throwaway something as good as what Fairphone seems to be offering. Sony still offers Android devices with headphone jacks, just don't be upset if you don't get another Android version pushed to your device.
Yeah, it's not available in my region. But, if it was, I would consider getting it. Snapdragon 778 level performance should be sufficient for most people.
Yeah, I hope the FP5 will come to the US officially too. I know the FP4 could work here, but it apparently did have issues with a carrier or two, or something.
Hopefully the 5 will bring true support for US markets.
For me it's the camera. If the best camera I have is the one with me then the one with me is going to be the best I can buy (within reason) if they could get Samsung or Pixel quality (or iPhone I guess) that would be awesome.
Yeah it was a real slap in the face. Especially when they debuted their branded Bluetooth headset at the same time. It's like gee you guys just charge more money for the phone if you want to make more money. Don't make me suffer
Ugh. Looks like they may never release a device with a headphone jack at this point. I'm fine with my FP3 but it still comes off a bad move.
Can they please just bring back the project manager that oversaw the FP3? Since the departure the company has made very questionable design choices and decisions (FP4 without headphone jack, and the unrepairable first gen Fairbuds)
But that steals a port used for charging :/
I thought I didn't mind when I bought my phone that doesn't have it at first, but it really sucks having to reach for a dongle when I want to use my good headphones on the phone. If USB-C is really so superior for audio, then that would be a good argument to make 2 USB-C ports, don't you think?
Yet barely any manufacturer does it, I only ever saw it on some niche gaming phones. Even if they did that, the jack still has a place IMO, because it's still so ubiquitous even newer midrange headphone releases use it
The fact it's that old literally only proves how reliable and effective it is. I don't want to throw away a good solution for a worse solution just because somebody is trying to paint the worse solution as the future.
I simply cannot understand that decision. Am I supposed to throw away all my headphones now because of this dumb, Apple initiated fad? That big vendors like Samsung and OnePlus follow the inane "courage" displayed by Apple because they also want to be "premium" is understandable, but that smaller vendors, especially the fair phone do it is just dumb.
Lemmy is full of first adopter technologists. The kind of people who spend all day on the telephone during conference calls, video conferences, whatever. The kind of people who deal with systems that break all the time. A very vocal community who doesn't like foundational options being removed.
99% of those adapters are garbage that break down in month or so.
I am writing this on FP4 but I am also salty audio engineer and I would honestly trade my phones cameras to aux jack, just to avoid hastle.
It's too damn big. I got a Fairphone 4 and got rid of it because I just couldn't properly use it (and because of the poor camera performance on top of that). Now they're releasing an even bigger phone? I may be the minority here, but that's a deal breaker for me. I'll need a new phone in the next few months, but right now I'm only considering the s23 or the Xperia 5 V, just because everything else is just too fucking huge.
Exactly. I'm now on 4 years old Samsung S10e, with replaced battery and display, because I can't see myself using ANY of the new phones. All of them are so giant and heavy, and I already feel like I'd like something smaller than my current one... I guess the Fairphone philosophy wins anyway, hehe.
That wasn't on my radar, but the same point that kinda keeps me away from the Sony that I'd really like to like otherwise applies to the zenfone as well: really short update cycles. The zenfone even more so, as the Sony is just about to be released while the zenfone is already available for almost a year. I tend to keep my phones longer, so that really is a factor.
Has the most compelling hardware features of any Fairphone yet looks like. Also, quite like the design compared to their previous attempts.
No eSIM though? It does have eSIM.
Also hope the software or rather firmware stuff is good. And would like to see some competent camera review.
Also, gotta say, funny how all the headphone jack die-hards from r/Android ended up here. As every single other comment here currently complains about it missing.
Specifically, the Qualcomm QCM6490 octa-core SoC is used in the Fairphone 5, which is actually more intended for embedded and industrial applications. The chip has eight cores and reaches up to 2.7 gigahertz, whereby the performance should be on the level of the Snapdragon 778G 5G .
(Machine translated.)
Interesting. I'll wait for benchmarks before jumping to conclusions. Considering how Qualcomm has been raising prices, I'm not really surprised that vendors are crawling down the product line.
In the article it mentions that the SoC might have been chosen because on it's extended software support of 8 years. Industrial tier electronics also usually cost more than consumer counterparts, so unlikely a cost cutting measure
Awesome. Ars just posted their review and they mention this as well. I have not used a SD 776G phone, which they say is similar. Looking at quick benchmarks, it looks like it sits around the performance level of a SD888?
It doesn't need to compete with current gen flagships, these are just overkill anyway even for me as a heavy user also using it for my work etc. What they do need is "good enough" performance (i.e. 2/3 years old flagship performance) and a decent camera, that's I think what was lacking that actually impacts users.
I am currently typing this on my Fairphone 4. I personally do really like it and the only thing I would really complain about is the cameras. They are fine but as soon as you get into low(ish) light settings or try to zoom just a little bit it get's bad. When using 8x digital zoom you basically have pixel soup. And yes, I know digital zoom sucks. But at the same time my Galaxy S7 was older and did this soo much better.
I was also annoyed about the missing headphone jack but it turns out that it really isn't a huge problem for me. I mostly need it in my car and I just have a dongle that splits into USB-C (for charging) and 3.5mm jack that I store in my car. I don't really get why Fairphone decided against it but it really doesnt affect me as much as I feared it would.
There are currently 11 modules, which are user replaceable. It has 8GB of ram. It would've been so much cool if it was upgradable to something like 12/16GB.
You know how convenient it is to just have some wired headphones lying around in the car in case I need them for some reason? (Like if I forgot my wireless ones for the gym).
I can't do that with wireless headphones, the battery will passively run dry.