Fairphone 4 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Support

The Fairphone 4 has different dimensions, so accessories like the Fairphone 4 Flipcase, the Fairphone 4 Protective Soft Case and the Fairphone 4 Screen Protectors will not fit Fairphone 3 or Fairphone 2.
However, the Fairbuds, the Fairbuds XL and the Fairphone True Wireless Stereo Earbuds are compatible with all our Fairphone models. The linked page of each item will list the compatibility.

Do the spare parts for Fairphone 4 also fit with the Fairphone 3(+)?

The Fairphone 4 has a different modular architecture and a different chipset, so the Fairphone 4 Spare Parts are not interchangeable with other models spare parts.

Is the Fairphone 4 core module for sale?

The Fairphone 4 core module is not available for sale due to the legal and logistical constraints regarding the administration of the IMEI numbers.
If you have a broken core module, please let our Customer Support team know. We will arrange to send your device to our Service center to replace the core module safely and responsibly.

What do I do with my old phone?

You can give them a new life via our Reuse & Recycle program!

What do I do with my old spare parts?

Read more aboutHow to Recycle Old Spare Parts and electronics

What does PCR plastic mean? Why didn't you use ocean plastic in the Fairphone 4?

PCR stands for post-consumer recycled materials. Even though it is difficult to formulate the correct raw material that meets both cosmetics and performance requirements, Fairphone was the first company to take on this challenge, when there were no other brands in the consumer electronics industry attempting to implement this material in their products. Now, we are happy to see other manufacturers have joined us in using PCR plastics in their products.
We have tested ocean plastic, but we could not source any suppliers to provide the raw material that met our requirements.

What is the SAR rating of the Fairphone 4?

Specific Absorption Rate measures how much radio frequency (RF) energy is absorbed by your body when using an electronic device like a mobile phone. For the Fairphone 4, the SAR rating is as follows:
Max SAR head (W/kg (10g)) = 0.494 W/Kg
Max SAR body (W/kg (10g)) = 0.867 W/Kg
Max SAR limb (W/kg (10g)) = 0.867 W/Kg
SAR is calculated for two areas: the head and the rest of the body. During testing, the phone's radio is set to its highest transmission level for each frequency.
The phone is placed directly next to the head to simulate actual calling behavior for the head rating.
For the body rating, the phone is positioned 0.5 cm away from the body.
The SAR of the Fairphone 4 is relatively low. To minimize it even more, you can keep it farther from your body by using a hands-free headset.

Which materials in the Fairphone 4 are considered fair?

Fairphone 4 is built with recycled tin, rare earth, and plastics, along with Fairtrade gold integrated into the supply chain, cobalt credits and fair mined tungsten. The aluminium is sourced from ASI-certified suppliers.

Fairphone utilizes 100% recycled tin for solder and is developing a fair tin program. The tungsten for the vibration mechanism comes from a conflict-free mine in Rwanda, with efforts underway to transition to "fair tungsten."

Fairtrade gold, sourced from Peruvian mines, is integrated into the supply chain, including connectors, speakers, motors, and PCBs. Fairphone also supports projects in Eastern Africa to improve artisanal and small-scale mining conditions.

As a founding member of the Fair Cobalt Alliance, Fairphone has integrated Fair Cobalt from two mining sites in the DRC, supported by a broad partnership. This initiative includes continuous site improvement for miners' well-being and community programs focused on education and financial literacy.

Fairphone uses 100% recycled rare earth in its speakers and 90% in its vibration motor, after assessing the supply chain for risks and opportunities.

Fairphone is also focused on responsible lithium sourcing for batteries, aiming for IRMA-certified lithium and participating in the Responsible Lithium Partnership to promote sustainable resource management in Chile.

Where can I find the CE markings on my device?

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 4, as seen below.

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

What is nano-coating in Fairphone 4?

Nano-coating is a process we apply to Fairphone 4 to help us achieve an IP54 rating.
We apply a (nanoscopic) protective layer to the Fairphone 4 and its modules to protect it against water and dust.

Does Fairphone 4 have EMVCo certification for contactless payments?

Fairphone 4 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

Why is wireless charging not available with Fairphone 4?

We made the conscious choice not to implement wireless charging in Fairphone 4. While the technology itself is not complicated nor very expensive, it is still inefficient and wastes energy.
We may reconsider in the future, also depending on the further development of this technology, so we always value feedback from our community! For now you can learn more details by e.g. reading this article.

Does the FP4 battery last longer than the FP3(+) battery?

Fairphone 4 has a 3905 mAh battery. Fairphone 3(+) has a 3040 mAh battery, and thus battery of Fairphone 4 has a bigger capacity.
How long the battery lasts depends on a lot of different factors. Fairphone 4 has a bigger screen, faster processor, and more powerful 5G antennas, and all of these new features require more power when compared to Fairphone 3.
To make your battery last longer, you can read our support article FP4. Maximize battery lifespan.

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

If a customer complains that their phone is getting too warm, but they don't know what the temperature of the phone is, 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

Does the Fairphone 4 have 5G?

Yes.

Does the FP4 support 5G SA (5G standalone)?

No.

Does Fairphone 4 work outside of Europe?

Fairphone 4 is certified to work in Europe, and its global coverage depends on network providers and countries.
You can find more details in our support article FP4. Global Network Coverage.

Is video output over USB-C possible on Fairphone 4?

Yes, Fairphone 4 has a USB Type-C 3.0 connector that supports OTG (On-The-Go) and video output.

Can the FP4 connect to an external display?

A Fairphone 4 can connect to an external display via a cable supporting the HDMI Alt Mode standard. Some newer USB docking stations with HDMI output will also work but not all. The best way to check if a cable or dock works is through trial and error. You can also ask in our community forum if someone has tried your cable/dock.

Does FP4 support desktop UI (desktop mode) when plugged into a screen?

Yes, since Android 10, it is possible to enable the Force desktop mode via the { } Developer option. However, this experimental support is not developed further with Fairphone OS, and thus we cannot guarantee that it always performs at a satisfying level.

Does the Fairphone 4 support Thunderbolt?

No.

Does the Fairphone 4 support dual-band GNSS?

Yes. The Fairphone 4 supports both the L1 and L5 GNSS bands and can use them in parallel to provide an accurate location.

Can I connect a LAN (Ethernet) Cable to the Fairphone 4?

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.

WPA/WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise PEAP settings missing: Phase 2 authentication "None" and/or CA certificate "Don't validate".

When connecting to Enterprise networks (WPA/WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise) with PEAP, Phase 2 authentication "None" and CA "Don't validate" are not available anymore.
This was introduced by Android 11 QPR1 security update. PEAP is considered old and that's why it's most vulnerable options were removed from Android with that update. This decision was implemented across all Android devices by Google and it's not something we in Fairphone decided ourselves.

Software

What Android version does the Fairphone 4 support?

Android 15 is the latest version available for the Fairphone 4.

What about future software support for my Fairphone 4?

We aim to provide security updates for the Fairphone 4 until 2028.

Is the Fairphone 4 5G Android Enterprise certified

Yes.

Does the Fairphone 4 support Android Zero touch?

Yes! You can find more information about it here.

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

We are excited about the progress made in AR in recent years. Unfortunately, we are not currently in a position to support the Google AR services. This comes down to several things but the main factors are chipset restrictions and recourses.

How can I remove the Search bar on my home screen? Can I change the used search engine?

The search bar is part of the home screen app (or "launcher") we chose for Fairphone. If you'd like to remove it, you will need to download and install a 3rd-party launcher. There are plenty of good options on the Play Store but if you're unsure what to pick, feel free to check this and other threads on our community forum for suggestions.
Currently, changing the search engine the bar uses is only possible by performing a factory reset and choosing a different option upon startup.

Display

What is the refresh rate of the Fairphone 4 display? Does it suffer from PWM flickering?

The refresh rate is 60hz.
PWM is used to control the screen's brightness but there should not be a noticeable flicker. If you do notice flicker on your display, please contact support.

Sound

Where can I plug in my audio mini-jack (3.5mm) connector?

The Fairphone 4 does not have a mini-jack port: to plug in your mini-jack device, you will have to use the Mini-jack Adapter (see Accessories in the shop).

Does Fairphone 4 have an FM radio receiver?

No, Fairphone 4 does not have an FM radio receiver. You can check the technical specifications here.

Where are the speakers' locations on Fairphone 4?

The Fairphone 4 is equipped with two speakers - one on the front (at the top of the screen) and one on the bottom. The two speakers work together, creating stereo sound.

How many microphones does the FP4 have and what do they do?

The FP4 has 3 microphones - 1 on the top, 1 on the left side and 1 on the bottom.
How and when each microphone is used depends on software configuration, but in general:
- The top microphone is used for noise and echo cancellation.
- The side microphone is used for loudspeaker and video calls.
- The bottom microphone is used for standard calls.

Warranty

Will you still sell Fairphone 4's spare parts even after five years?

Yes, in case we still have these spare parts in stock, we will sell them. After that, we sometimes make the remaining spare parts available to our Fairphone Angels: volunteers who help Fairphone owners locally in fixing their device, as we do now with Fairphone 1 screws and some Fairphone 2 spare parts.

If after reading the article you need more help, contact our Customer Support.

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Fairphone 4 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General

What is the size of the device?

Do the accessories for Fairphone 4 also fit with the Fairphone 3(+)?