An update on Fairphone 3

As the saying goes “all good things must come to an end”. After a successful two-year run with the Fairphone 3, we are ending the sale of this phone. But just like what you’d expect from us, we will stick to our longevity promise to provide software and hardware support for five years from the phone’s launch. So, there is no need to worry and no need to buy a new phone or toss your Fairphone 3 into a drawer.

A look back

We started Fairphone with one thing in mind: to change the electronics industry from the inside and push for more sustainable products, including fairer working conditions. We are disrupting the “take-make-waste” short-term way of thinking and working toward a more circular economy that encourages the long-lasting, in the end even continuous, use of products and materials. With every phone we make that remains in use, we’re getting closer to a fairer and more sustainable electronics industry.

The launch of the Fairphone 3 in August 2019 was a great step forward for us. It combined the latest technology with our principles for fairness. With the Fairphone 3, we were able to close the gap that existed between choosing a sustainable smartphone or choosing one that delivers excellent performance. We combined both so you don’t have to choose one over the other. With its launch, we proved to the industry that it’s possible to take a more sustainable approach to electronics and it allowed us to expand our reach across Europe.

Fairphone 3 forged a path

We achieved many milestones with the Fairphone 3, including:

• The launch of Fair Cobalt Alliance, which supports a greater range of responsibly sourced minerals
• We developed the living wage bonus program that improves the working conditions and welfare of workers in our supply chain
• We scored a perfect 10 on the iFixit repairability index, one of only two phones to receive that score!

In addition to the above, we onboarded many new sales partners, developed collaborations with key partners such as /e/OS, and collected e-waste from Africa with Closing the Loop.

End of sale does not mean end of life

While we are ending the sale of the Fairphone 3, it does not mean it’s the end of its life! In fact, because of our unique approach for our Android phones, you can still upgrade your phone with camera modules and spare parts. We are also planning to update the Fairphone 3 to Android 11 in 2022.

We continue to prove there is a market for more sustainable electronics and you, our users, help send a strong signal to the industry that change needs to happen sooner rather than later. By creating a more sustainable smartphone, we’re demonstrating the endless possibilities for a fairer future – for everyone.

Fairphone 3+ availability

If you’re interested in ordering a Fairphone 3+, you are welcome to sign up to get an email notification as soon as we are back in stock. Or if you’d like one a little sooner, another option would be to check with your closest reseller.

Do you own a Fairphone 3?

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