Charge your Phone
The Fairphones do NOT come with a charger and cable included in the box.
Fairphone was one of the first smartphone companies to not include chargers and cables in the package to actively reduce e-waste. Learn more here.
There is a good chance you already have the correct type of cable and charger. So, before you buy any new electronic products, try using the ones you already have. First, make sure your charging equipment is compatible - see the charging specifications below.
If you have trouble charging your device, we recommend testing with at least three compatible chargers and cables.
- The Fairphones do not support wireless charging. The Fairphone 4 also does not have a LED charging indicator.
- Your Fairphone will indicate on the lock screen if it is slow charging or fast charging.
- The Fairphone 4 and 3(+) can be charged with the USB-C chargers we sell currently on our online store. The Fairphone 2 can be charged with older models (that have USB-B).
If you're unsure what connector the cable has:- You can see a USB micro B connector here.
- You can see a USB-C connector on the picture below:
Chargers & cables
To charge your Fairphone, make sure the cable and charger match the specifications listed below and you should be good to go!
If you are not sure, we encourage you to ask your family or friends if they have a spare one that is compatible.
Usually, chargers and cables for other Android phones from the last few years have the same or similar specifications and will work with your Fairphone.
Still, you can check the technical specifications of your equipment on the website of the manufacturer, to find out if they match the required specifications.
If you need to buy charging equipment, you can find certified cables and chargers in our online shop.
With our Dual-port 30W Charger (UK version) and USB-C 3.2 Long Life Cable, you can charge your Fairphone 4 up to 50% in 30 minutes!
It is not possible for us to list all compatible chargers. As a small company, a lot of our efforts go into testing to make sure you have a great working Fairphone. We do not have the resources to test and research every 3rd party product at this moment in time.
Charger and cable specifications
Fairphone uses a Qualcomm SoC. It supports Qualcomm's QuickCharge protocol:
- The Fairphone 5 and Fairphone 4 support version 4+ (and all prior).
- The Fairphone 3(+) supports version 3.0 (and all prior).
- The Fairphone 2 does not support quick charging.
Your Fairphone will charge with any charger from Qualcomm’s official list. Other equipment that is not listed might be compatible too. Simply check if your charger and cable comply with the following specifications.
Our community compiled a list of compatible chargers for Fairphone 2 for your convenience.
Specifications
To see the specifications of your phone, select your model below.
Use a USB Type-C cable
For slow charge
- 5 volts (5V)
- The minimum current should be 1 ampere (1A, 1000mA).
For quick charge
- Maximum output of 4 amperes (4A, 4000mA). Note: the cable must also support 4A to charge at total capacity.
- Qualcomm Quick Charge processor compatible, version QC 4 or 4+.
- The cable must come from a USB-certified brand (if your product has no brand, it is NOT certified).
Use a USB Type-C cable
For slow charge
- 5 volts (5V)
- The minimum current should be 1 ampere (1A, 1000mA).
For quick charge
- Maximum output of 4 amperes (4A, 4000mA). Note: the cable must also support 4A to charge at total capacity.
- Qualcomm Quick Charge processor compatible, version QC 4 or 4+.
- The cable must come from a USB-certified brand (if your product has no brand, it is NOT certified).
Use a USB Type-C cable
For slow charge
- 5 volts (5V)
- The minimum current should be 1 ampere (1A, 1000mA).
For quick charge
- Maximum output of 3 amperes (3A, 3000mA). Note: the cable must also support 3A to charge at total capacity.
- Qualcomm Quick Charge processor compatible, version QC 3.
- The cable must come from a USB-certified brand (if your product has no brand, it is NOT certified).
Use a micro USB Type-B cable
- 5 volts (5V)
- The minimum current should be 1 ampere (1A, 1000mA).
Charging equipment not included with the phone
If you want to know more about why we don't include charging equipment with the Fairphone, watch our 1st episode of Ask the experts:
Problems with the battery?
Charging issues
- Double-check the above specifications to make sure your cable and charger are compatible. For example, Supercharge USB-C cables and Apple chargers are NOT compatible with the Fairphones.
- Try at least three different and compatible USB cables and chargers (power plugs).
- Consult our Troubleshooter.
- Go to the community forum to find out what works well for other Fairphone owners.
Lifespan
Every lithium-ion battery has a limited life. Your battery has reached the end of its life if:
- It's not charging well or has an erratic battery behavior.
- Has a poor battery life but you have tried maximizing it and you have excluded issues with the SIM card.
- Has expanded in size. By feel, look, or when it causes the back cover to pop off or bulge. Do the spin test.
- Is over a year or two old.
Swollen battery
If you suspect your battery is swelling, do the battery spin test. When your battery spins more than two rounds, it is swelling.
When your battery is swelling:
- Immediately turn off your device and remove the battery from your Fairphone.
- Do not charge this battery anymore.
- Discard the swelling battery as soon as possible at your local chemical recycling point. Consult the web pages of your municipality for the possibilities.
- There is a built-in mechanism to prevent pressure from building up inside as much as possible. Once the swelling process has started, it can not stop. The pressurized gases can be dangerous and toxic: we recommend you proceed with caution. DO NOT try to charge this battery anymore.
- Do not ship your swelling battery as it is considered a dangerous good by the shipping agencies.
- This issue is not specific to Fairphone. Unfortunately, swollen batteries can occur with any lithium battery.
- Humid environments or frequent dropping can also cause swollen batteries.
We have designed the Fairphones with a modular architecture, so your battery is easy to replace. You can order a new battery via our online store.
If after reading the article you need more help, contact our Customer Support.