Launching the Fairphone 3+ actually highlights our commitment to longevity. Instead of creating a completely new phone, we wanted to provide current Fairphone 3 users with the opportunity to upgrade their phone, and therefore encourage them to keep their phone for longer. 

For anyone who wants a new Fairphone, they can go straight to the Fairphone 3+ – which is essentially the Fairphone 3 with the upgraded modules already included as well as more features such as more recycled plastics and audio improvements. We now have a small Fairphone portfolio on the market - two distinct phones at different price points and specs. It gives customers a choice and thus opens Fairphone up to a wider audience.

No, the dimensions are the same as the Fairphone 3.

Yes.

The Fairphone 3+ core module is not available for sale, only the full device is. This is due to legal and logistical constraints regarding the administration of the IMEI numbers.

Instead of creating a completely new phone, we decided to improve the capabilities of our previous model by upgrading just a few modules. This way, we extend its lifespan to reduce the environmental footprint. Using the Fairphone 3+ for five years (instead of replacing it after three years) can reduce CO2 emissions by about 30%. The Fairphone 3+ also contains 40% recycled plastics.

We see the camera module as a necessary upgrade to allow people to keep their phones for longer. We are not planning to release any other upgraded modules at this point.

Yes, the two camera modules are specifically designed to be used with the Fairphone 3 if you upgrade your device to Android 11. The modules would work with Android 9, but the performance wouldn’t be the same.

The raw sensor (the Samsung GM1) is 48MP. The primary focus of this sensor is to gather more light and therefore perform better in low light conditions and capture more details. This is achieved by combining tiny pixels of 0.8-micro to deliver light sensitivity equal to 1.6-micro pixels. Hence its effective output is still 12MP. This is common practice in the industry with phones such as the Samsung S5KGM1, Samsung Galaxy A90 5G, Nokia 7.2, and the Sony IMX363.

No, with the emergence of 5G still in its initial stages and with the uncertainty of the regulatory environment driving multiple versions of technology we have decided not to support 5G at this time. You can read this article for more information on Fairphone 3(+) and 5G.

Fairphone has set up more responsible supply chains for tin and tungsten and source Fairtrade Gold for Fairphone 3 (already during Fairphone 3 launch in 2019). In 2020, we further integrated fair cobalt into our battery supply chain. 

In the past, we used conflict-free tantalum in the capacitors of our phones. However, the Fairphone 3 uses a different material in its ceramic capacitors, meaning that the phone is now constructed without needing to use tantalum. We keep on supporting miners in the DRC through our tin supply chain.

You can give them a new life! 

You will need to install Fairphone OS to initialise the new camera module. After you confirm it works, you can go back to the alternative OS you were using.

 Android 13 is the latest version available for the Fairphone 3(+). 

After extensive research, we have made the difficult decision not to upgrade the Fairphone 3 to Android 14. The legacy Linux kernel (4.9) used in the Fairphone 3 poses significant challenges for the upgrade. It currently offers limited support for Android 13, and would not support Android 14 at all.

We invested considerable time and resources into exploring ways to integrate the new Android system with the existing kernel, and even contemplated upgrading the Linux kernel itself. We also engaged in discussions with Google Android Engineering. Ultimately, we concluded that these options were too complex to implement and did not offer a reliable solution for our customers. Additionally, since software support for the Fairphone 3’s chipset was discontinued in June 2021, pursuing this project would present a high risk to our Fairphone 3 users. 

Our primary goal remains to maintain secure and reliable functionality for the Fairphone 3 for as long as possible. The Fairphone 3, launched in 2019 with Android 9, has since received three Android upgrades, excluding Android 12. The standard end of life for Android 13 is set for 2025. In line with our commitment to device longevity, we’ve added one more year of security maintenance, extending it to 2026. This will provide a total of seven years of software support for the Fairphone 3, a commitment we are dedicated to fulfilling.