Fairphone 3+
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“Fairphone has its sight set a lot higher, aiming at goals like fair compensation for workers in China, fair-trade gold, fair cobalt and conflict-free tin and tungsten. Recycling and sustainability. Above all else, Fairphone's key immediate ambition is to convince as many users as possible to keep their devices for as long as five to seven years at a time, reducing its carbon footprint by as much as 28 to 42%. Regardless of whether those are its own products, specifically crafted to aid the process or any other piece of tech, headed to an inevitable landfill. If you share the same goals and believe in them deeply enough, the Fairphones look like a great means to an end.”
“If you are someone who wants a more ethical and sustainable alternative to a budget £200 device, then the Fairphone 3 Plus delivers. It’ll serve your needs in the same way as a budget smartphone will in 2020 but at a price premium that reflects its ethically sourced materials and repairability. But don’t expect this to compete with other similarly priced phones. Fairphone has different priorities, and in order to buy one of its phones, you need to share them.”
“I'm used to seeing the latest feature-packed smartphone phones with their fancy industrial design, or models that accentuate one specific feature, or try to deliver a great price/performance ratio, or have some other aspect to shout about. The Fairphone 3+ isn't designed to keep up with the pack, and to compare it to other handsets in terms of 'bang for buck' rather misses the point. Readers will either like Fairphone's ethical business model and go with it, or they won't. So if you're intrigued, take a look at what Fairphone is doing.”
“The Fairphone 3+ has a better camera on the front and back, meaning one compromise is lessened compared with the competition. But the rest of the downsides of the original Fairphone 3 remain, alongside that one big, overriding upside: being as ethical as possible.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
The Fairphone 3 Plus is designed for sustainability, using recycled plastic and ethically acquired materials where it can. It also allows you to repair, replace, and upgrade parts over time. These are all features you won’t find on many other phones. But is the phone actually worth using?
Design
Designed to be ethically, economically and environmentally friendly, this phone was never intended to be sleek or fancy. That means you’ll find a bulky chassis and big bezels compared to many of 2020’s top releases. The idea behind it is that you can quickly take apart the phone and replace parts or upgrade pieces yourself, making for less waste and offering repair options without the need for a bunch of specialized tools.
Display
The screen on the Fairphone 3 Plus is only 5.65-inches — definitely toward the smaller end of phones in 2020. According to reviewers, the LCD panel does its best to bring bright colors and vivid details, but it can fall short in some instances. Shadows, in particular, can look blotchy and noisy.
Performance
“Slow” and “buggy” were the words most repeated by reviewers. They lamented that they wanted to love the phone for its attempt to create a phone that was environmentally friendly and upgradeable. But the speed isn’t there, and the phone is slow to launch any app. Considering the price, reviewers were displeased.
Software & Storage
Fairphone 3 Plus comes equipped with Android 10. Internal storage comes in at 64GB (rather small by 2020 standards.) But a MicroSDXC expansion slot makes adding more storage cheap and easy.
Cameras
While the Plus in the name comes from an upgrade to the cameras, reviewers quickly pointed out that the upgraded camera still wouldn’t win any awards. Images featured blotchy, noisy shadows and a loss of detail if not in full sun. However, the 16MP selfie cam made reviewers happy as many selfie lenses today only go up to 8MP.
Battery Life
Battery life was only average. So heavy phone users will likely need to charge throughout the day. With casual use, it could last the day. The phone does not support wireless charging, so budget for a USB-C cable if you don’t already have one handy as the phone does ship with one. This was done to cut down on e-waste.
Audio
The sound capabilities for the Fairphone 3 Plus were mediocre, but that’s not exactly unusual for phones in general. It got loud enough to fill a room without distorting but lacked bass and treble was tinny. Fortunately, the phone includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, so your favorite pair of wired headphones can help make up for any audio shortcomings.
Specs at a Glance
- 40% recycled plastic chassis
- 5.65-inch LCD display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 Octa-core 1.8 GHz processor
- 4GB of RAM
- Android 10
- 64GB internal and a MicroSD expansion slot for storage
- 48MP rear camera and 16MP selfie lens camera
- 3040mAh battery
Bottom Line
The Fairphone 3 Plus has its heart in the right place. The idea of making a sustainable brand is honorable as we continue to create more and more e-waste. But the phone has some drawbacks. It’s slow and outdated in some respects. It’s not a phone for power users, but it’s questionable if the casual user would be willing to upgrade parts later as well. Despite these conflicts, in a world where it pays to be more aware, it might be a worthwhile option for those looking for a smartphone with minimal global and ecological impact.
The Verge says, “If you are someone who wants a more ethical and sustainable alternative to a budget device, then the Fairphone 3 Plus delivers. It’ll serve your needs in the same way as a budget smartphone will in 2020 but at a price premium that reflects its ethically sourced materials and repairability. But don’t expect this to compete with other similarly priced phones. Fairphone has different priorities, and in order to buy one of its phones, you need to share them.”
Tech Radar comments, “The Fairphone 3 Plus, like the Fairphones before it, stands out as the number one ethical, eco-friendly smartphone choice. That approach is either going to compel you to buy it, or make you look elsewhere for better options in terms of performance and camera quality.”
What people actually want to know
When was the Fairphone 3+ released?
The Fairphone 3+ was released on September 14, 2020.
How long does the battery last on the Fairphone 3+?
The Fairphone 3+ has a 3,040 mAh battery.
Does the Fairphone 3+ support wireless charging?
No, the Fairphone 3+ does not support wireless charging.
Does the Fairphone 3+ have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Fairphone 3+ has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Fairphone 3+ have NFC?
Yes, the Fairphone 3+ has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I get support for the Fairphone 3+?
Visit Fairphone's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Questions & answers
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