Smartphones built to last are few and far between with the most consistently performing manufacturer being Dutch company Fairphone. The phone maker recently revealed its Fairphone 6, and it’s now confirmed to be one of the most easily repairable phones ever.
That’s according to phone repair company iFixit, which runs teardown and repairability tests on major smartphones. The company tests how easy it is to fix tech yourself, and the Fairphone 6 scored 10 out of 10 in its challenge.
That may sound like a perfect score, but iFixit is clear that phones with full marks can also have room for improvement on future models. However, it does mean the phone is easy to repair yourself at home.
The phone is easily repairable without specialist tools. Repairs are possible with a standard screwdriver and spare parts bought from Fairphone itself, plus the brand also offers video guides to talk you through how to make changes.
Compared to previous Fairphone models, iFixit found the battery harder to replace. Fairphone moved to a new screw system to secure its battery, unlike previous models where it could be unclicked out without any screws involved. This was reportedly done to make the phone thinner. iFixit found the repair could be done in around five minutes, so this didn’t have an impact on the overall score.
One element that isn’t replaceable on the Fairphone 6 is the mainboard. If you have issues with this, you’ll likely need a professional repair to fix it. Other elements like the cameras, earpieces, screen, speakers, USB-C port, and more are all replaceable.
iFixit says, “In a world full of glued-together gadgets designed for obsolescence, the Fairphone 6 earns a well-deserved 10 out of 10 on our repairability scale. It’s a phone that’s made to outlast the hype cycle—and that’s something worth applauding.”
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This is the sixth Fairphone product to get a 10 out of 10. Every model since the Fairphone 2 (there were two versions of the Fairphone 3) have scored that top result, while the original handset got a seven out of 10.
As ever, these repairability scores aren’t everything when it comes to repairability, but they do give potential buyers a good overview of what to expect if you do buy one of these handsets and decide you want to replace elements at a later date.
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About James Peckham
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