Fairphone set out to prove that smartphones could be built without exploiting people or the planet. Founded in Amsterdam as a social enterprise, the company designs modular phones meant to last five years or more — a direct challenge to the industry’s planned obsolescence model where flagship phones become outdated in two years.
The approach starts at the supply chain. Fairphone sources conflict-free minerals, uses Fairtrade gold, and works with suppliers to improve factory worker conditions. Each phone’s supply chain is documented and published, something no other smartphone manufacturer does at this level of transparency.
Modularity is the other pillar. Fairphone’s phones are designed so users can replace the screen, battery, camera, speaker, and charging port with just a screwdriver. The Fairphone 4 received a perfect 10/10 repairability score from iFixit — the only smartphone to achieve that rating. When a component breaks or you want a better camera, you swap the module instead of replacing the whole device.
Fairphone 5, launched in 2023, committed to eight years of software updates — the longest support window of any Android device. The company’s sold over 500,000 phones, primarily in European markets. These aren’t budget devices; the Fairphone 5 retails around $700 with mid-range specifications. You’re paying a premium for ethics and longevity. It won’t match a Samsung flagship on specs, but that’s not the point. Fairphone is proof that consumer electronics can be made responsibly, even if the market for ethical phones remains niche.
