Comment on I want a phone I can actually fix, and Fairphone’s record growth shows the world does too
wltr@discuss.tchncs.de 2 days agoWith all respect, I still think an iPhone is a better chance at having spare parts many years ahead. I am confident I can find some spare parts of iPhone 4S. Would that hold for FairPhone or a similar phone? If not, the benefit is an illusion. Unless, I think, you can produce that part yourself.
But an iPhone 4S nowadays is completely unusable, it’s impossibile to run a browser that doesn’t use a ten years old engine. For reference, a galaxy Nexus from the same age could run android 6 (custom ROM, otherwise android 4.3) and can still run most modern apps.
If you can find parts for the iphone 4s it’s because some warehouse is still full of them, not because Apple is still manufacturing them if needed
Yes, I do agree. If only Apple allowed compete and true removal of some apps (not hiding them, but completely removing some system apps), and allowed Safari upgrades, that would be quite decent phone for an average light use. I’d use it, I think.
Also, since we dream here, if the system was open source and drivers too, and all that… theoretically, we could run a slimmed down OS that would allow some apps to run.
My point is, in some sibling comment, that software is more of a problem than hardware. I have a usable (hardware wise) iPhone 4S, but it’s useless software-wise.
Doesn’t matter how many spare parts you can get if the device simply refuses to function after replacing them.
Dremor@lemmy.world 1 day ago
First party spare parts or third party sketchy spare parts?
Spare part availability comes partly from the popularity of a phone, and iPhones were pretty popular.
Fairphone is just starting to get some steam, so third party spare part may start appearing in the future. same for used parts.
Fairphones got a lot better lately. I got both the 4, 5, and now gen 6, and the latest one feels like a good phone, unless the FP4 which is a brick in comparison. Still lacks several Flagship feature (wireless charging, amongs other), but as a mid-range phone it is quite good.
And the repeatability is great. I repaired my FP4 once (usb-c port), and it was easy as heck.
wltr@discuss.tchncs.de 1 day ago
It’s great to hear, thanks for the feedback!
I meant any spare parts, so in your terms they are sketchy spare parts, I guess. Yet, it’s better than nothing though.
My primary concern is the software part though. I have plenty of phones that never broke, but all of them hit the software wall and it was just easier to buy a newer model.
Dremor@lemmy.world 1 day ago
With unofficial parts you can get anything, from very good parts to outright dangerous ones (especially batteries).
The problem with IPhone is their association system (which is illegal in the EU BTW). Understandable with those dangerous part on the market, but far too overcharging. They could just warn you during boot or something like that.
As for the software wall, it is where Fairphones shines. Even when the official support ends, the custom ROMs keeps updating for a while. IPhones are great on that aspect too, Samsungs are OK, but can’t say for other brands.
Railcar8095@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Honestly, how’s the camera on the 6? I’ve been pixel mostly because I want to take pictures of my son without regretting later.
20dogs@feddit.uk 1 day ago
I’m okay with the camera on the 6, but no it’s not as good as a Pixel, nor does it open and take pictures as quickly.
Dremor@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I’m not that much into photos, so I can’t really judge. In my book, it is OK.
If you want to get good pictures, nothing will ever beat a dedicated camera, even a mid-range one is way better than a smartphone, even an high-end one, due to the size limitations.