“Significantly better than its predecessor”
Stiftung Warentest thinks the Fairphone 5 is that good
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Stiftung Warentest tests the Fairphone 5, which is largely produced sustainably and fairly and receives an enormous eight years of updates. The testers note that the device is “significantly improved” compared to its predecessor, but that users also have to accept disadvantages.
Anyone who values sustainability and fair production conditions when it comes to technology will quickly come across the Dutch Fairphone when looking for an adequate smartphone, which largely meets the requirements, including easy repairability and eight years of software support. ntv.de has already found the device to be good in its practical test, and Stiftung Warentest has now come to a similar conclusion.
The Fairphone 5 costs around 700 euros, but buyers should expect good technology in addition to sustainability and fairness, the reviewers write. The predecessors weren’t necessarily convincing in this regard, but the fifth generation is “significantly improved” in some cases.
Good cameras, very good display
In the past, Fairphone testers were not particularly enthusiastic about the devices’ cameras. In this respect, the newcomer can now keep up with other mid-range smartphones, according to Warentest. Both the main rear camera with wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses and the selfie camera took good photos even in low light.
The testers actually think the OLED display is very good. Thanks to a refresh rate of 90 Hertz, it delivers smooth images. In addition, contrast and maximum brightness have been improved.
Good performance and endurance
As expected, the internals don’t perform so well because Fairphone has to make compromises here. For example, it chose the Qualcomm QCM 6490 as the processor because the manufacturer provides eight years of software support. Nevertheless, Stiftung Warentest is satisfied with the smartphone’s computing power, which is “noticeably higher” than its predecessor.
However, the device is not a strong radio operator. The testers write that it supports the modern WLAN standard Wifi 6. But the connection quality is only sufficient. The transmission speed is still good near the router, but further away or through walls it is comparatively slow. They rated the location accuracy when navigating positively.
Warentest considers the mileage of the Fairphone 5 to be mediocre; with normal use it lasts 28.5 hours, which is not an outstanding value compared to other smartphones. But the fact that you can easily change the battery (49 euros) yourself, like many other components, is a big advantage.
Modular but robust
The robustness hardly suffers from the modular design. Warentest tested whether the Fairphone 5 can survive a downpour without damage, as the manufacturer declares the device to be splash-proof. The device passed the test without any problems.
In the drop drum, which is used to simulate 100 falls from waist height onto a stone floor, the display suffered a small crack and the housing subsequently had several scratches. However, this does not affect the function, write the examiners.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that the Fairphone 5 clearly outperforms its predecessor. It is catching up with other mid-range smartphones, although there are better devices from other manufacturers for less money, such as the Nothing Phone (1) for 380 euros or the Samsung Galaxy A54 for 420 euros.
“Long-term support through software updates and a socially and environmentally friendly company policy also have great value. If you want to support this aspect, the Fairphone 5 is a good option.”
