Launch report · Fairphone

Fairphone 3: The repairable 4G phone that started the modern Fairphone story.

SpecEagle Editorial·Sep 2019·$499·Score 56/100

Fairphone 3 was the original modern Fairphone — fully DIY-repairable, swappable battery, transparent back, fair-supply-chain materials — and the one that got the support extension promise right (six years). Performance was modest even at launch; the values are why anyone bought it, and why it became a cult favourite.

Key specs at launch

Display
5.65" LCD 60 Hz
Chipset
Snapdragon 632
Memory
4 GB · 64 GB
Main cam
12 MP
Battery
3,040 mAh · swappable
Weight
187 g
What stands out
  • Fully repairable, transparent-back design.
  • Swappable battery, microSD + jack.
  • Fairtrade-sourced minerals, recycled plastics.
  • Software support extended into 2025 — six years.
What to watch
  • Snapdragon 632 was dated even at launch.
  • 4G only, 3,040 mAh small.
  • 60 Hz LCD, single speaker.
  • 12 MP single camera.