Fairphone 2 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Fairphone 2 was launched in December 2015!
This article contains some key information about the Fairphone 2 and answers to frequently asked questions.
We released the last software update for the Fairphone 2 in March 2023. This means that the phone will no longer get security updates. Once the security update expired in mid-2023, some apps stopped working and we do not recommend connecting the phone to the Internet.
Some custom ROMs might still continue to provide updates with new security patches after our official support has ended. We recommend checking out /e/OS or LineageOS.
How do I get a hardware upgrade for my Fairphone 2?
For how long will Fairphone support Android 10 by providing security updates?
Will the Fairphone 2 get slower after updating to Android 10?
Why are you not doing another update after Android 10 for the Fairphone 2?
Why did you skip Android 8 on Fairphone 2?
What do I do when I have an issue after the upgrade?
Technical Specifications of Fairphone 2
What are the dimensions of Fairphone 2?
What are the audio specifications on Fairphone 2?
What are the main camera specifications on Fairphone 2?
What are the front camera specifications on Fairphone 2?
What are the display specifications on Fairphone 2?
What are the network specifications on Fairphone 2?
What are the connectivity specifications on Fairphone 2?
What are the SIM port specifications on Fairphone 2?
What is included in the bottom module on Fairphone 2?
What are the sensors on Fairphone 2?
What are the processors on Fairphone 2?
What is the battery power on Fairphone 2?
What is the GPU on Fairphone 2?
What is the RAM on Fairphone 2?
What is the flash storage on Fairphone 2?
What is the SAR rating on Fairphone 2?
What are the interface and connectors on Fairphone 2?
What was the most difficult obstacle to overcome when updating the Fairphone 2 to Android 10?
What is the difference between developing Android updates versus e.g. updates to my computer?
General
How do I get a hardware upgrade for my Fairphone 2?
If you are considering upgrading to a new Fairphone, have a look in our online shop. In that case, you can send in your Fairphone 2 for Reuse or Recycling so you can still prolong the life of your device!
For how long will Fairphone support Android 10 by providing security updates?
We released the last software update for the Fairphone 2 in March 2023. This means that the phone will no longer get security updates. Once the security update expired in mid-2023, some apps stopped working and we don't recommend connecting the phone to the Internet.
Some custom ROMs might still continue to provide updates with new security patches after our official support has ended. We recommend checking out /e/OS or LineageOS.
Will the Fairphone 2 get slower after updating to Android 10?
Android itself does not demand more processing power migrating between versions. The apps you use have changed significantly compared to their 2015 counterparts. This can cause some slowdown.
Why are you not doing another update after Android 10 for the Fairphone 2?
It has become increasingly difficult to bring newer Android versions to the outdated Fairphone 2. This is because the hardware in the Fairphone 2 doesn’t meet Google’s requirements for later Android versions. We would have loved to support Fairphone 2 beyond Android 10. We will continue our longevity efforts for our other devices.
Why did you skip Android 8 on Fairphone 2?
We went straight to Android 9 from Android 7 to support our goals of longevity, provide our users with long-term software and security updates for the Fairphone 2.
What do I do when I have an issue after the upgrade?
If you encounter an issue with your phone after the upgrade to Android 10, flag it to our developers via the public issue tracker for Android 10 on Fairphone 2. If you can not use your phone at all after the upgrade, contact our Customer Support.
Technical Specifications of Fairphone 2
What are the dimensions of Fairphone 2?
- Length: 144.5 mm
- Width: 74.5 mm
- Thickness: 10.6 mm (back of the case to the top of glass)
- Weight: 148 g (phone) + 16 g (external case)
What are the audio specifications on Fairphone 2?
- Speaker: Built-in, Rear-facing
- Headset Jack: 3.5 mm
What are the main camera specifications on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 has two main cameras that were sold:
8MP version 1
- 8MP CMOS Sensor with flash
- Omnivision OV8865 - Back Side Illuminated
- Image sensor size: 1/3.2 inch
- Pixel Size: 1.4 μm x 1.4 μm
- F-number: f 2.8
12MP version 2
- 12 megapixel resolution
- 12MP CMOS sensor with dual flash
- Omnivision OV12870 – Back Side Illuminated
- Image sensor size: 1/2.8 inch
- Pixel size: 1.25μm x 1.25μm
- F-number: f 2.2.
- Video speed: 30 fps
What are the front camera specifications on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 front camera is in the top module. The Fairphone 2 has had two types of top module:
Fairphone 2 Top Module (2MP) version 1 (2015)
- LED, ambient light and proximity sensor (ALS/PS)
- 2MP CMOS Sensor (Front/Selfie camera)
- Sensor Type Omnivision OV2685
- Image sensor size 1/5 inch
- Pixel Size: 1.75 μm x 1.75 μm
- F-number: f 2.8
Fairphone 2 Top Module (5MP) version 2 (2017)
- LED, ambient light and proximity sensor (ALS/PS)
- 5MP CMOS sensor (Front/Selfie camera)
- Sensor Type Omnivision OV5670
- Image sensor size: 1/5 inch
- Pixel size: 1.12μm x 1.12μm
- F-number: f 2.4
Not sure which Fairphone 2 Top Module version you have? Find out here!
What are the display specifications on Fairphone 2?
- Display Size: 5 inches Full HD, 1080 × 1920, Pixel Density 446 PPI
- Cover Glass: Gorilla Glass 3 (0.7 mm thick)
- Display Type: LCD TFT/IPS
What are the network specifications on Fairphone 2?
- Configuration: Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby (DSDS)
- Network Technology: 2G / 3G / 4G LTE-Advanced
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Quad-band: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
- WCDMA: Bands 1 (2100 MHz), 2 (1900 MHz), 8 (900 MHz)
What are the connectivity specifications on Fairphone 2?
- WLAN: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
- Bluetooth: 4.0 LE and earlier
- GPS / GNSS: GPS, A-GPS, Glonass
- FM Radio
What are the SIM port specifications on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 has two SIM ports that each can fit a micro SIM card (3FF)(ID-000 format), sized: 15mm x 12mm x 0.76mm.
What is included in the bottom module on Fairphone 2?
- Speaker
- Vibration motor
- USB connector
- Rear-facing speakers
- Primary microphone
What are the sensors on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 sensors are Ambient Light, Proximity, 3-axis Compass, 3D Accelerometer, and 3D Gyroscope.
What are the processors on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 processors are Snapdragon 801, Qualcomm MSM8974AB-AB - and Quad-Core 2.26 GHz Qualcomm.
What is the battery power on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 has a Removable Battery Pack: 2420 mAh at 3.8V (9.2 Wh), Lithium-Ion.
What is the GPU on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 GPU is Qualcomm Adreno 330 GPU 578 MHz, 2 GB LPDDR3.
What is the RAM on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 RAM is 2 GB LPDDR3.
What is the flash storage on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 flash storage is 32 GB eMMC5.
What is the SAR rating on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 SAR rating is SAR10g: 0.65 W/kg (Head); SAR10g: 1.1 W/kg (Body)
What are the interface and connectors on Fairphone 2?
The Fairphone 2 interface and connectors are USB Port: Micro-B 2.0 with OTG support; MicroSD Support: SDHC, SDXC, UHS; and Expansion Port: Backside - connectivity to external case, USB 2.0 Device Interface + Power Input.
Miscellaneous
What was the most difficult obstacle to overcome when updating the Fairphone 2 to Android 10?
While developing an Android upgrade for your device, actually passing the countless test suites required to obtain GMS approval is by far the biggest and most important challenge. We're talking about 690,000 plus tests here that all need to be cleared. This becomes even more difficult when your device is as old as the Fairphone 2 and is no longer supported by the chipset vendor. Here's a specific example for you: the 3.4 Linux kernel provided by the chipset vendor is definitely too old to support Android, so we had to backport many changes from higher kernel versions. Some hurdles need working around certifications: the media performance of the 2015 Fairphone 2 is not up to par with modern day devices. This meant we had to request a waiver for a particular case.
What is the difference between developing Android updates versus e.g. updates to my computer?
The major difference is that phone manufacturers always need to adjust Android to run on their devices. The differences in requirements make Android releases always a tailor-made effort. Google has made some efforts to make parts of Android updatable through Google Play. In the end, manufacturers still play a major role in getting updates to your device.
If after reading the article you need more help, contact our Customer Support.