Fairphone 3
How long will it last?
Unofficially extendedSupported until September 2026 · Buy-by September 2024
Fairphone's original promise for this phone has lapsed, but updates keep arriving in practice — we track the observed window, currently September 2026, and label it as unofficially extended. Treat the remaining ~0.2 years as likely rather than guaranteed (verified June 2026).
Source: Fairphone's official policy · last verified 2026-06-18 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
847% above the under-$300 median ($7.13/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
The phone that proved a seven-year support life is possible, getting its final updates in 2026 after launching in 2019.
Pros
- Roughly seven years of support, ending only in mid-2026 and far past the original promise
- Fully modular with a removable battery and inexpensive spare parts
- Upgradeable to the 3+ camera and speaker modules
Cons
- Modest 12MP single camera and Snapdragon 632 show their age
- No water resistance rating and only 64GB storage
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 5.65-inch IPS LCD, FHD+, Gorilla Glass 5 |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP |
| front | 8MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 3,040 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired; user-removable battery |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 158 x 71.8 x 9.9 mm |
| Weight | 189 g |
| Materials | Recycled/fair-sourced materials, removable back, user-replaceable battery, modular repairable design |
| Water resistance | Splash resistant (no IP rating) |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 9 (upgradable to Android 13) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.0, NFC, USB-C, microSD, dual SIM |
| Update policy | ~7 years observed (unofficially extended — the original promise has lapsed but updates continue) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long did the Fairphone 3 get updates?
Launched in September 2019, it received security updates until around August 2026, roughly seven years and well beyond Fairphone's original five-year promise.
Can the Fairphone 3 be repaired at home?
Yes. It is built around modular components with a removable battery, and Fairphone sells spare parts with step-by-step guides for self-repair.
Is the Fairphone 3 worth using in 2026?
It is suitable only as a basic or backup phone now; with updates ending in 2026 and a 2019-era Snapdragon 632, it is too slow for demanding daily use.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-18.