Mobile Technology

The Fairphone 2 is an ethical smartphone with a modular build

The Fairphone 2 is an ethical smartphone with a modular build
The new Fairphone offers updated specs, while holding on to its ethical focus
The new Fairphone offers updated specs, while holding on to its ethical focus
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The device itself is designed in a modular manner, so it's easy for the user to take it apart and repair it themselves
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The device itself is designed in a modular manner, so it's easy for the user to take it apart and repair it themselves
The new Fairphone offers updated specs, while holding on to its ethical focus
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The new Fairphone offers updated specs, while holding on to its ethical focus
For the Fairphone 2, you can see which suppliers individual components have been sourced from, as well as estimated manufacturing locations
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For the Fairphone 2, you can see which suppliers individual components have been sourced from, as well as estimated manufacturing locations
The company has provided a full cost breakdown for the new smartphone
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The company has provided a full cost breakdown for the new smartphone
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You might remember the original Fairphone from back in 2013 – at first glance it looks like any other smartphone, but read the small print and you'll find a device built with an emphasis on responsibly sourced materials, and made by fairly paid workers. It's been a couple of years since the original device broke cover, and the company is back to address those aging specs (and to reaffirm its mission statement) with the Fairphone 2.

Running on Android 5.1 Lollipop, the Fairphone 2 is powered by a Snapdragon 801, with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage, plus a microSD slot for expansion. The 5-inch panel has 1,920 x 1,080 resolution (about 441 PPI), and there's LTE connectivity on board as well as dual SIM card slots. That's a big jump up over the original 2013 handset, but these still aren't quite top-shelf specs, sitting roughly in line with what we'd expect from an early 2014 flagship.

Of course the Fairphone 2 isn't just about the specs, as like its predecessor it does its best to earn its name. For starters, the device itself is designed in a modular manner, so it's easy for the user to take it apart and repair themselves (check out the video at the bottom to see this in action).

The device itself is designed in a modular manner, so it's easy for the user to take it apart and repair it themselves
The device itself is designed in a modular manner, so it's easy for the user to take it apart and repair it themselves

The back cover is also built to wrap around the front edge of the display, acting as a protective case, making it perhaps a bit less likely that you'll drop and destroy your handset.

The project's goal is to make supply chains more transparent, attempting to trace the exact origin of all raw materials used. At present, you can see which suppliers individual components have been sourced from, as well as estimated manufacturing locations.

The company uses as many minerals as possible from responsible sources within conflict zones, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo. The idea is to contribute to ethical practices in areas where the opposite is the norm.

For the Fairphone 2, you can see which suppliers individual components have been sourced from, as well as estimated manufacturing locations
For the Fairphone 2, you can see which suppliers individual components have been sourced from, as well as estimated manufacturing locations

Worker welfare is also a priority, with a contribution from every device sold going into a fund at the factory in Suzhou, China. That money will be used to help train the workers to better represent themselves, teaching skills for expressing concerns about working conditions and negotiating with management, as well as for projects suggested by the workers themselves.

It's also about better communication with consumers about where their money is going, with users able to view a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in making each unit. You can see exactly where the money has been spent, with 65 percent of the retail price going into physically building each handset.

Aside from its modular nature, there might not be anything too exciting about the Fairphone 2 hardware, but there's a lot to like about what the company is doing behind the scenes.

The Fairphone 2 is available for pre-order in the Europe for €525 (US$585), and is expected to ship in November. You can check out the video below for a look at the device's modular nature.

Source: Fairphone

Fairphone 2: Modular design for you to open and repair

View gallery - 4 images
1 comment
1 comment
Noah Mayer
Normally, I go for phones that are less expensive, less than $250. I could take time to save for a flagship, but I have other priorities, plus, after more than 2 years you generally want/need a new one, and I personally don't have the need for a flagship (not a power user).
That said, I would pay flagship pricing for this or a similar idea, Google's Project Ara. With this, not only do I know where the phone is coming from, I also know where it will be recycled. I know I can purchase a replacement screen if need and easily install myself. And obviously the battery. I'm hoping that they would eventually offer an upgraded camera module or even PCB I could stick in, but I know that's not the focus.
Its a good idea, and I hope that it will sell in the US soon.