The Fairphone 5 is the successor of the Fairphone 4. The predecessor of our test handset performed admirably in the test, presenting itself as a well-rounded mid-range smartphone.
The Dutch business takes it a step further with the Fairphone 5, focusing on a higher degree of modulation, fairer trade, and more recycled components. All of this is designed to make the Fairphone 5 the world's fairest and most sustainable smartphone. This is emphasized by the extensive five-year warranty and eight-year upgrade cycle.
It is more pricey at ~US$750, but it also has more technology to offer. Read on to find out how the Fairphone 5 performs in everyday situations.
With a display-to-surface ratio of 83%, the Fairphone 5 may not exude a super-modern impression, but it boasts a clean and attractively finished design. The matte aluminum frame is resistant to fingerprints, and the smartphone comes in matte black, sky blue, and transparent options. The transparent variant was used for our test device.
The Fairphone 5 has shed some weight, and its clipped-on back adds a touch of nostalgia. The back is secured by 18 small plastic teeth that require effort to release and care to relock. Underneath the cover lies the replaceable battery, easily accessible after removal. Only then can you reach the nano-SIM and microSD slots, both equipped with an eject mechanism.
When it comes to material selection, the Fairphone 5 places a strong emphasis on recycled materials. Notably, 94% of the aluminum, 82% of the magnesium, 77% of the indium, and 69% of the plastic in the Fairphone 5 are derived from recycled sources. Tin, copper, nickel, and rare earths are also sourced from recycled materials in comparatively high proportions. The origin of raw materials is another critical factor. The Fairphone 5 employs fairly mined raw materials (gold: 100%, cobalt: 100%, silver: 100%, lithium: 99%, tungsten: 99%) from non-crisis regions. Suppliers must adhere to standards for safe and humane working conditions (SA8000 and ISO45001), and the smartphone's manufacturing process utilizes 100% renewable energy.
For users interested in further disassembly, the process is straightforward with Phillips screws that require no glue. The twelve silver-colored screws grant access to the USB port, speakers, camera, and card slots. The eight black screws secure the front, requiring loosening for tasks like changing the display or front camera. This design allows many users to perform common repairs themselves, promoting repairability. It's worth noting that the smartphone is not waterproof. Nonetheless, it is protected against the ingress of damaging amounts of dust and water jets from any angle in accordance with IP55.
The Fairphone 5 boasts standard features. The USB 3.2 port (Gen. 1) operates at up to 5 GBit/s, although it shows slower performance in the copy test (139.55 MB/s). While supporting OTG, the smartphone also facilitates wired image output, albeit limited to screen mirroring. Users connecting external drives to the smartphone should ensure proper formatting, as the USB port does not recognize exFAT or NTFS.
The phone also does not have a UWB chip, wireless charging or a dedicated security chip.
It's noteworthy that a microSD card slot has been integrated at all, setting an exemplary standard. While its performance is impressive in the cross-platform disk test, transfer rates fall below average in the copy test. Unlike the USB port, the microSD card slot supports the exFAT file system.
The Fairphone 5 comes with Google Android 13 and is expected to receive security patches and five major updates for at least eight years. Android 18 can, therefore, be anticipated.
In addition to the Google apps, there is only the My Fairphone app on the smartphone, which collects rudimentary information on the technical status and provides direct access to support.
Wi-Fi 6E is available for home Wi-Fi, which also includes the use of the 6 GHz band. In combination with our reference router Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, the Fairphone 5 not only achieves high but also largely stable transmission rates.
The Fairphone accesses the data network via 5G Sub5 at best and offers extremely broad frequency support. The reception characteristics are good in a metropolitan environment, and the data rates are also at the expected level.
Tracking is very fast and precise outdoors, while indoors, it takes much longer, especially until the Fairphone 5 has settled on the exact position. However, once settled, it is very accurate.
These characteristics are also noticeable on our short test drive, as the smartphone accurately records the route traveled in direct comparison with a Garmin Venu 2.
The Fairphone 5 has good voice quality when held to the ear and reliably filters out minor background noise. If it gets loud in the surroundings, the noise canceling reaches its limits, muffles the speaker's voice considerably, and allows background noise to penetrate again and again. The speaker mode works properly and is only accompanied by a slight reverberation effect.
The Fairphone has space for a physical nano-SIM and can also be fitted with an eSIM as an alternative to enable dual-SIM operation. Functions such as VoLTE and Wi-Fi calls are supported.
The front camera of the Fairphone 5 has a generous 50 MP, but uses pixel binning, resulting in final images with only 12.5 MP. The picture quality is okay, but the images are heavily oversharpened during the day and are somewhat low-contrast in low light.
The two lenses on the back also work with 50 MP each, but they are different sensors. The main lens comes from Sony and has optical image stabilization. It produces quite respectable photos, even if the images should have more dynamic range. Although the ultra-wide-angle lens shows noise quite early on, it also has a stable imaging performance in the peripheral areas and a high level of detail due to its high resolution. The lens can also be used for macro subjects, but these are heavily vignetted. Zooming is not a strength of the Fairphone.
The Fairphone 5 records videos on both sides in Ultra HD with 30 FPS at best. Alternatively, 60 FPS is also available for Full HD (or HD). Unfortunately, only a 16:9 format is provided, and the frame rate of 24 FPS is also not available.
Registering the Fairphone 5 free of charge extends the smartphone's warranty from 24 months to a generous five years - a unique feature in the smartphone universe.
The box remains empty except for the smartphone; even a charging cable is missing. The makers justify this by saying that most people already own the most necessary accessories. Protective covers (~US$43 each) and a screen protector (~US$36) are offered as options. Spare parts can also be purchased in the store, which users can change themselves.
The capacitive touchscreen of the Fairphone 5 works with a comparatively high sampling rate of 300 Hz, has good gliding properties, and responds reliably.
Biometric security is ensured by a fingerprint sensor in the frame or in the power button. This delivers good recognition rates and unlocks the smartphone quickly. Facial recognition via the front camera is noticeably faster, but it is also less secure.
The linear vibration motor provides precise and appealing haptic feedback and is audible but not too loud.
The 6.49-inch OLED display of the Fairphone 5 has a high pixel density and displays content crisply. The manufacturer specifies a brightness of up to 800 cd/m², but we did not achieve this in the test, instead averaging 617 cd/m² with a pure white display, regardless of whether the ambient light sensor is active or not. The peak value also remains at a similar level in the APL18 measurement; we can only measure up to 721 cd/m² when displaying HDR content.
The display flickers at a constant 90 Hz at minimum brightness; the frequency doubles when it gets a little brighter. However, the periods are very even, which is why the risk of complaints is low, but we cannot rule them out. The optional DC dimming mode has no recognizable or measurable effects, except that the panel becomes slightly darker. In fact, the DC dimming seems to be permanently active.
We achieve the best color representation when we select the Advanced color mode with the AMOLED settings and adjust the color temperature (see screenshot above). The Fairphone 5 then uses the larger DCI-P3 color space, but shows a green cast in the grayscale.
This green cast is extremely evident at flat viewing angles, although it is not an issue in normal use.
Outside, the Fairphone 5 makes a good impression. On overcast days, the display is easier to read, but there are only a few reserves accessible during the summer.
The surface temperatures of the Fairphone 5 can get very warm under load, which is simulated with the burnout benchmark, but they still remain within acceptable limits.
The SoC benefits from this under stress, as the heat is dissipated effectively, preventing any significant loss of performance.
The two speakers on the Fairphone 5 have a moderate sound output. The audio quality tends to be hollow and tinny at medium volume, and this becomes more pronounced at higher volumes, leading to distortion.
For extended sound output, it's advisable to use USB or Bluetooth, with the latter providing broad audio codec support.
The Fairphone 5 exhibits high power consumption across various scenarios, suggesting that its battery life is not particularly impressive.
While Fairphone doesn't provide detailed information about supported charging technologies, they mention that the battery can be charged to 50 percent within 20 minutes using a 30-watt power supply unit. One positive aspect is that users can change the battery without requiring tools. Unfortunately the Fairphone 5 does not support wireless charging.
The Fairphone 5, despite not having the smallest battery in the comparison field, lags significantly behind in the practical WLAN test with adjusted display brightness (150 cd/m²).
This is also evident in everyday usage. The battery drains rapidly, especially while using the phone. Nevertheless, the Fairphone 5 is economical in standby mode. It is conceivable that the manufacturer will be able to improve this with one or two upgrades.
The Fairphone 5 stands out as one of the most sustainable smartphones currently available, emphasizing fair treatment of people in both production and raw material extraction. Its commitment to a high proportion of recycled components, a five-year warranty, and eight years of updates reflects an exemplary approach to sustainability. Exemplary!
The Fairphone 5 stands as a commendable daily companion, offering a blend of social responsibility and a minimal ecological impact.
The Fairphone 5 boasts several technological features, including 5G with a broad range of frequencies, 6 GHz WLAN, microSD and eSIM support. The USB 3.2 port provides wired image output, albeit with a relatively slow copying speed. Notable omissions are UWB and wireless charging, and the device lacks dustproof and waterproof certification. However, its modular design allows users to perform repairs in various areas.
The Fairphone 5's OLED display could benefit from a slight increase in brightness, and improved calibration would enhance its overall performance. The display exhibits a green cast depending on the viewing angle. While the speakers may not be particularly impressive, especially at higher volumes, they still serve their purpose. Mixed feelings are expressed about the SoC, considering the potential longevity challenges with an eight-year span using a mid-range chipset that is already two years old.
If your priority is a communication tool that is fair, sustainably produced, and 100% recycled, the Fairphone 5 is an excellent choice. Only the Pixel 8 has more significant upgrades. Samsung values repairability as well, and already provides equivalent self-repair kits for the Galaxy S23, among other devices.
The Fairphone 5 can be purchased directly from the manufacturer's online store, but is also available from Amazon.
"Smartphone" - Google News
November 30, 2023 at 10:36PM
https://ift.tt/RcHzsVW
Fairphone 5 review - Sustainable smartphone with 8 years updates and 5 years warranty - Notebookcheck.net
"Smartphone" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2KPFdXf
https://ift.tt/wlnHeON
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Fairphone 5 review - Sustainable smartphone with 8 years updates and 5 years warranty - Notebookcheck.net"
Post a Comment