The Fairphone 4 5G is a perfectly serviceable mid-range smartphone, albeit one that can't compete with the rest of the market in terms of specs for the price. But that's not the game this phone is playing: Fairphone gives ethical consumers somewhere to go, and that has to be a good thing.
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The Fairphone 4’s eco-friendly resume is reason enough for many people to buy it, but beyond that it’s a strong mid-range phone in all but a few categories. Its battery life is particularly impressive, and its hardy body is protected against bumps and drops, but the cameras leave a lot to be desired.
The Fairphone 4 5G is a perfectly serviceable mid-range smartphone, albeit one that can't compete with the rest of the market in terms of specs for the price. But that's not the game this phone is playing: Fairphone gives ethical consumers somewhere to go, and that has to be a good thing.
Overall it is a great device for people who want to support the company’s movement and are prepared to pay over the odds to do so. Just do not expect it to match an iPhone or Samsung in experience.
The Fairphone 4 gets 4 out of 5 stars in our books. However, you have to think of one star as green. This symbolizes the unique ecological advantages that come with the Fairphone. These pull up the final score for a smartphone that technically can't keep up with other models. If sustainability is all that important to you, you should definitely buy it!
If you’re the kind of person that can live with the budget phones listed above, if you just need a smartphone for daily use and aren’t concerned about having the best camera or most premium-feeling device, then I think you’re the kind of person who can live with the Fairphone 4. It’s a decent €200 phone that happens to be priced at €579. That’s the price of sustainability.
Hands on: With two high-res rear cameras, a hardy body and 5G connectivity, the Fairphone 4 seems a pretty good mid-range phone. But the real reason to buy is its eco credentials: it’s made from recycled materials, you can repair it yourself, and it comes with a super-long warranty.