Fairphone 5 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Support

Device thickness is a widely used metric in the industry. While we wanted to keep our device as thin as possible, we did not want to compromise on repairability and durability. So we made many different prototypes and carried out multiple design studies to end up with a well-balanced design that sits so well in your hand and feels sturdy and high quality. We were also able to increase modularity and battery size while substantially reducing the smartphone’s thickness by 1mm (9%).

What makes the phone fair?

5-year commercial warranty
Increase in fair impact and recycled focus materials (more than 70% at launch)
Living wage bonuses to 2000 factory workers
Increased modularity of spare parts
Electronic waste neutral

Additionally, our Reuse & Recycle program will offset the impact of your new Fairphone 5 by taking back at least one other phone. We will then either give it a second life or recycle it responsibly.

Which fair materials are used in the Fairphone 5?

With Fairphone 5, we further stepped up on our material sourcing as compared to Fairphone 4 and are taking responsibility for more of our material footprint. This includes:

More recycled tin (from 50% to 64%)
More recycled nickel (from 6% to 20%)
More recycled zinc (from 9% to 33%)
More recycled copper (from 2% to 37%)
More recycled plastics (from 60% to 69%)
First time to integrate recycled indium (from 0% to 77%)
First time to integrate fair lithium (from 0% to 100%)
100% of our cobalt and silver footprints accounted for through the purchase of credits which directly benefit artisanal miners.

For the first time, our battery’s lithium is fully sourced from an IRMA-assessed mine, which was one of the first to be audited against the IRMA standard, the strongest, most encompassing and transparent global certification standard for the industrial mining sector. We also account for our full cobalt footprint by buying cobalt credits. The premium from these credits is directly benefiting a miners’ cooperative in the DRC, and is invested in improving health and safety, working conditions, remediation of child labour and professionalisation of the cooperative. For the first time, we account for our full silver footprint by buying Fairmined silver credits. We are the first electronics company to have integrated Fairtrade gold into our supply chain and to pilot Fairmined Gold and Silver Credits that support artisanal and small-scale miners.

Why launch Fairphone 5 when Fairphone 4 was launched in 2021?

Fairphone is trying to change the industry from the inside out. Our mission is to establish a viable market for sustainable consumer electronics. Part of this is recognizing the demands and changing the technology on the market. The Fairphone 5 enables us to take the next steps in circularity, fairness, and longevity. It is a device that will be (technologically) relevant for years to come for customers who need a new phone. Also, as a company, we want to appeal to new customers to reach a wider audience while continuing our long-term support for Fairphone 4, Fairphone 3 and Fairphone 3+.

What is the difference between the Fairphone 5 and the 4?

Compared to the Fairphone 4, the Fairphone 5 is a step up in our core features, providing users with even more benefits. The main differences include:

the Qualcomm Octa Core long-life chipset. This unique chipset guarantees long-lasting performance and eight years of updates and support.
Technical improvements: Fairphone 5 comes with three high quality 50 megapixels, ultrawide cameras as well as an OLED screen with higher refresh rate, high contrasts and incredible brightness and a thinner, lighter weight design.
Fairphone 5 contains one of the fairest batteries in the industry. It has fair lithium and Fairtrade gold in the supply chain, benefitting mine workers and surrounding communities, and all of our cobalt supports the improvement of working conditions for artisanal and small-scale miners. It also comes with a living wage bonus for workers who make the battery and a commitment to science-based targets on CO2 reduction and social auditing by our battery suppliers.
Fairphone 5 is available in new colours: Matte Black, Sky Blue, and Transparent which features a transparent back cover option.
Fairphone 5 is not only electronic waste neutral, it is also climate conscious, meaning that we take action to reduce the carbon footprint of the Fairphone 5 by using recycled materials, avoid emissions by enabling the user to keep their device for longer, thereby avoiding emissions and investing in carbon reduction projects that lower CO2 emissions while contributing to the surrounding communities. The amount we finance for these projects matches the remaining is based on the carbon emissions created by the lifecycle of the phone. Fairphone 5 is also certified by TCO Certified and has an iFixit score of 10/10.
Besides once again integrating fair materials, we account for Fairphone 5’s full footprint of gold, silver and cobalt through buying Fairmined and Cobalt Credits, which are invested into improving the conditions for artisanal- and small-scale miners of these materials.
For Fairphone 4, we paid a living wage bonus to factory workers at our direct supplier. With Fairphone 5, we have now also extended our living wage bonus to our sub-suppliers of components (such as the printed circuit board, battery and vibration motor).

How long will the Fairphone 5 last?

We designed the Fairphone 5 to last as long as possible, making it robust and modular to enable easy repairs, customization, and upgrades.

We want to empower users to take ownership of their products by offering them easy options for maintenance and repairs. How long it lasts will also depend on the user and on how they treat their phone. But to make it as easy as possible, we have created an ecosystem that supports long-lasting use, first-hand or second-hand. For example, we offer:

Reasonably priced spare parts and repair tutorials
Regular software platform updates (Android software) and 8 years of security updates
5-year warranty - (to be activated via fairphone.com/warranty)
Access to source code and open source development encouraged
Active reminders to perform regular maintenance, making sure the phone remains in good state for as long as possible
Financial rewards via the “Keep Club” loyalty program for every time a repair is performed and for every year a phone is kept in use

Is the Fairphone 5 AER certified?

Yes, it is.

What is the difference between the 6GB/128GB & 8GB/256GB variants?

The smaller number represents the size of the RAM (Random Access Memory) in the device. This is the working memory of the device, and a higher number means the phone can handle more tasks at once! 6GB is more than enough for the majority of users, but those that want the fastest most capable phone will want to go for the bigger size of 8GB.

The larger number represents the storage on the device: 128GB is enough to hold roughly 100,000 photos or 10 hours of video, and 256GB is double that. Standard users usually have around 5GB of apps on their device, however, this can rise if you are an avid gamer or save a lot of videos via apps, such as YouTube, for offline watching.

Where can I find the CE markings on older devices?

For all 256/8GB variants, and all 128/6GB devices purchased before 31st July 2025, the CE marking and the administrative markings (model name, company name and address) are placed beneath the battery. The battery can be easily removed by following the instructions in our support article.

You can find the markings on the Fairphone 5, as seen below.

You can find out if the Fairphone 5 was made before or after this change via the Serial Number (SN), which can be found in the battery compartment or on the original packaging. If the 9th digit of the IMEI number is 4, the device comes with a more visible CE logo. If it is 0, 1, 2, or 3 ( 9th digit), the device has the CE logo beneath the battery.

For more information on the markings you can read more here.

Why can't I use a voice command like "Hey Google" or Gemini to wake up or activate a voice command when my Fairphone 5 screen is locked or off?

This is due to a hardware limitation of the microphone. Fairphone 5 uses an Analog Microphone (AMIC) instead of the low-power Digital Microphone (DMIC) required to keep voice capture active while the device is in a deep sleep state. This means you must manually wake the phone (e.g., press the power button) before you can fully use the voice assistant.

Does Fairphone 5 have EMVCo certification for contactless payments?

Fairphone 5 does not have EMVCo certification. While this certification is not strictly required for contactless payments (and many payment apps work perfectly fine without it), you may encounter compatibility issues with certain apps that enforce their own strict security checks, such as those using Paylib in France. Because these restrictions are implemented within the individual app's software rather than being a system-wide block on the device, we highly recommend reaching out directly to the app developer for support or potential workarounds.

Battery and Charging

How many hours does the battery last?

This depends on several variables, such as the usage, the display brightness, the network connection etc. In stand-by mode (no active usage), the battery should last for up to 600 hours.
Standby time 3G: up to 600h
Voice talk time 2G: up to 12h
Voice talk time 3G: up to 6.5h
Browse time in 3G (Display Brightness 80 nits): up to 8h

How long will it take to charge the battery?

When using a charger that supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+, the battery charges to 50% in 20 min and to 100% in around two hours.

Does FP5 support Wireless Charging?

No, the same as Fairphone 4, we made the conscious choice not to implement wireless charging. While the technology itself is not complicated nor very expensive, it is still inefficient & wastes energy.

Is the phone too hot? Too cold? Safe and normal operating temperatures:

If you think your phone feels too hot or too cold, we recommend checking the My Fairphone app. When you open the app, go to Phone and tap on Phone Health to see more information about your device.
The operating (normal) temperatures are 25-43°C. A bit warmer than that is still normal.
You can safely use your Fairphone when its internal temperature is between -10°C and +55°C.
Do not charge your Fairphone if the ambient air temperature is above 40°C.
Keep in mind that at temperatures below 0°C, the battery will discharge faster than usual.
If the internal phone temperature reaches 60°C, your Fairphone is overheating. Stop charging the Fairphone and power it off. Give it a few minutes to cool down.

Can I purchase a Fairphone wall charger?

Yes, EU wall chargers are available for purchase directly from the Fairphone webshop.

Please note that UK wall chargers have been discontinued. If you are in the UK, you can safely use any high-quality, third-party USB Power Delivery charger that supports a minimum of 30W.

Connectivity

Which Bluetooth codecs does Fairphone 5 support?

Bluetooth 5.2 incl BT LE.

Does the FP5 support 5G SA (5G standalone)?

Yes.

Does Fairphone 5 support 5G e-sim?

Yes.

Is Fairphone 5 compatible with ASHA for direct streaming to hearing aids?

Yes, this is supported.

Software

Does the Fairphone 5 require an internet connection to unlock the bootloader?

Yes, Fairphone 5 requires an active internet connection to unlock the bootloader. The phone needs to check the validity of the unlock code with the unlocking server. After that check, no internet connection is required anymore.

What are your plans for security updates?

We are planning to provide 8 years of security updates from the date of launch.

Camera

Is the camera better than the Fairphone 4 camera?

Yes, the camera is significantly improved compared to the Fairphone 4. Fairphone 5 is our most high-tech phone yet, including a premium triple 50 MP camera system with improved tuning to guarantee great pictures in all lighting conditions.

For the cameras of Fairphone 5, we chose components that would help increase performance, particularly in low light conditions - that was a big focus area for us. At the same time, megapixels don’t drive user experience and we also aren’t out to have the highest number of megapixels in the market. For the two back cameras, for example, we’ve only gone up a couple of megapixels, from 48 to 50. We’ve instead focused on taking a step up from a hardware perspective, with high quality Sony lenses and other components. From a software perspective, we’ve made significant improvements with camera tuning and algorithms. We’ve put more emphasis and invested significantly more resources into getting the camera tuning right.

In addition, both the wide and the ultra wide cameras of Fairphone 5 are individually repairable.

Display

What is OLED display and why is it better?

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode, which is a type of screen technology used in smartphones. OLED offers a higher refresh rate and greater contrast. This results in colors appearing incredibly vibrant and dark areas being exceptionally dark.

OLED is also thinner, which means we were able to achieve a thinner device that is more future proof with the latest technology.

What is the refresh rate of the Fairphone 5 display?

The refresh rate is 60hz by default, and can go up to 90hz. You can check Display settings to adjust.

Sound

Why did you decide not to have an audio jack?

After some of the criticism that we received about removing the headphone jack from Fairphone 4, we did consider bringing it back for Fairphone 5. However, we realised it would be at the expense of increasing the phone’s dimensions. We also looked into the consumer data and Fairphone 4’s weight and thickness were more of an issue than the lack of a minijack, so we decided to keep the same approach, although it was a difficult decision. We didn’t want to invest in OLED technology for the display and then not have improved the phone’s dimensions and weight. But just like with Fairphone 4, we will still offer an adaptor, which has had overall positive user reviews.

Many headphones including our Fairbuds XL, can be connected directly to the Fairphone 5 via a USB-C cable, in addition to Bluetooth.

Does the new Fairphone 5 support the aptX audio codec?

Yes. Additionally, Fairphone 5 supports the following audio codecs: AAC, AMR-WB, EVRC, QCELP, SBC, LATM_AAC, APTX, APTX HD, LDAC.

More about hardware

Does the device have biometric security options?

Yes! The Fairphone 5 includes a fingerprint scanner and facial recognition for added biometric security. But if you don't want to use it, you can still protect your phone with a pin code or lock screen pattern.

I see three lenses on the back but only two cameras (main and ultra-wide). What’s the third lens for?

The third lens is for sensors - there is a TOF sensor underneath that lens.

Does the FP5 have a barometer?

No.

Does the FP5 support AM/FM Radio?

No. However, there are third-party apps you can use to stream radio.

Which version of UFS is used for our internal storage?

UFS 2.2

Where is the NFC located on the FP5?

It is located on the battery of the FP5.

Does FP5 feature 4K@60FPS video recording?

No, only 4K@30FPS. This is due to a hardware limitation.

Can I connect a LAN (Ethernet) cable to the Fairphone 5?

Yes, you just need an Ethernet to USB-C adapter. Plug in all the cables and you should have internet access in a few seconds.

Will Fairphone support Augmented Reality (AR, ARcore) functions?

Google AR services are currently unsupported due to chipset restrictions.

What GNSS (GPS, etc.) bands does the Fairphone 5 support?

The Fairphone 5 supports the following GNSS constellations:
GPS/AGPS (L1, L1 + L5 support)
Beidou
Galileo
GLONASS
QZSS

Does FP5 Support ARCore for Augmented Reality features?

No.

Does FP5 offer support for Widevine L1 (video streaming)?

Yes, it does. This allows it to stream HD video streaming on platforms like Amazon and Netflix.

What are the SAR values for Fairphone 5?

Max SAR head= 0.402 W/Kg
Max SAR body = 0.847 W/Kg
Max SAR limb = 0.847 W/Kg
This is below the limit of 2.0 W/Kg as defined by the European Union / 1.6 W/kg in the United States. Check our support article for more information.

Does the Fairphone 5 support Augmented Reality (AR) features like ARCore?

No, the Fairphone 5 is not compatible with Google's ARCore services and does not support most augmented reality applications. This means apps requiring real-time 3D tracking, such as certain games (e.g., Pokémon GO's AR+ mode) or Google Maps Live View, will not function. This is due to limitations in the industrial-grade Qualcomm QCM6490 chipset, which was selected to ensure the phone's 8-year software support commitment.

Warranty

How does the 5-year warranty work?

The majority of smartphones are covered by a 2-year warranty by default. With Fairphone 5, we go the extra mile to cover your new phone for up to 5 years at no additional cost and no matter where or how you purchased the phone originally.

All you need to do is register your Fairphone 5. This also applies if you received it as a gift. We kindly ask you to do this at your earliest convenience.

Do you have a program for taking back old Fairphone modules?

We still have a program for taking back modules of the Fairphone 3(+) and Fairphone 4. For Fairphone 5, we do not offer module take-back at the moment, but it is certainly something we will consider further down the line.

Fairphone

How can we help you?

Fairphone 5 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General

What are Fairphone 5's Technical Specifications?

What is the size of the device?