Launch report · Fairphone

Fairphone 1: The 2013 phone built on fair-trade materials and ethical supply chain.

SpecEagle Editorial·Dec 2013·$430·Score 40/100

Fairphone 1 was a Dutch startup's answer to phone-industry exploitation — conflict-free tin and tantalum, public supply-chain audits, dual-SIM and a removable battery. 25,000 backers funded its first run, launching a brand that proved ethical phones could exist.

Key specs at launch

Display
4.3" LCD
Chipset
MediaTek MT6589
Memory
1 GB · 16 GB
Main cam
8 MP
Battery
2,000 mAh
Weight
160 g
What stands out
  • First phone built on fair-trade conflict-free materials.
  • Dual-SIM, removable battery.
  • Transparent supply-chain reporting.
  • Funded via crowdfunding (25K units).
What to watch
  • Modest hardware for the price.
  • qHD resolution.
  • 1 GB RAM.
  • Limited availability.