The mobile phones you can take apart and repair yourself

Urs Lesse’s background is in the field of political science, but he also has a more practical interest.

Every four weeks he dedicates his time to helping people fix their phones in his hometown of Aachen, in western Germany.

But it can’t help you with any brand of phone, only a brand called Fairphone.

For the past eight years, Mr. Lesse has been an active member of an unpaid skills exchange network of dedicated Fairphone users. He organizes local community meetings and helps with repairs.

“I don’t fix phones if I don’t have to, but I’ve always been very motivated to encourage people to try and fix their own Fairphones themselves,” he says.

“It’s always been a matter of passing information and taking the inhibition out of people to dare and open their phones,” he explains.

With a modular design, Fairphone devices allow their owners to easily exchange, repair and customize components such as the screen, battery, USB ports and cameras.

“The Fairphone 2 could be taken apart in less than two minutes,” says Mr. Lesse. “There were models where you didn’t even need tools to remove the screen and replace it yourself.”

Fairphone’s customers range from programmers who have been attracted by the software capabilities of phones to consumers looking for a more sustainable product.

The company started in 2013 and follows four principles: source raw materials from non-conflict mining areas and make products that are recyclable, durable and repairable.

According to figures from the United Nations, a record 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste was generated globally in 2019, 21% more in just five years, and mobile phones make up a significant part of this. Furthermore, only 17% of e-waste was recycled.

Fairphone argues that by making phones easy to repair, they can have a longer lifespan, create less waste and therefore have a positive impact on the environment.

“We know that by increasing the lifespan of a phone by at least two years, you get a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions,” says Fairphone co-founder Miquel Ballester.

So far, the Dutch company has sold some 400,000 devices, which means that it is a very small player in the smartphone market.

“Fairphone is still a niche product, which you can’t find in many stores, which is why the community network is important,” says Mr. Lesse.

However, Fairphone has made waves within the industry, particularly in Germany, where it has garnered significant support.

Germany has awarded Fairphone numerous certifications and awards, most notably the 2016 German Environmental Award, the most lucrative environmental award in Europe.

Ballester believes this government acclaim, as opposed to industry market recommendations, is one of the reasons Fairphone has gained such a following in Germany compared to other European markets.

Germans tend to be less attached to the status of big brands and therefore more experimental in trying out smaller European ones, the company says.

In Hamburg, Ingo Strauch, who also volunteers to help other users, says many people cite the phone’s data privacy and ease of use over its environmental benefits.

The popularity of the company in Germany could also be due to the individual purchasing power of Germany. “Germany is a rich country. Therefore, the willingness to reach further into your pocket for an apparently fair product is also higher,” says Mr. Lesse.

Fairphone says its priority isn’t just growth, it wants to change the way the industry works. “We don’t want to necessarily become the biggest in the industry, but we want to become the most influential and make sure other manufacturers mirror some of the initiatives that we have,” says Mr. Ballester.

There is some evidence of a shift in preference in society at large, says Professor Sigrid Kannengiesser, who specializes in media practices and sustainability at the University of Bremen.

She points to the rise of repair cafes in Western Europe and North America, and also the recent announcement by the European Commission establishing the right to repair,

“Consumers, politicians, but also some actors in the economy understand that our societies and the way of life of many people must become more sustainable,” says Professor Kannengiesser.

The big players in the industry have been taking notice. Last year, Apple launched its “self-service repair” initiative, which gives customers access to Apple parts and tools.

“Self Service Repair is intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices,” says the firm.

So how does Fairphone’s latest model, the Fairphone 4, compare to other phones?

Chris Hall of device website Pocket-lint.com is very positive: “The Fairphone 4 is a solid mid-range device, but its unique selling point is sustainability, rather than standout performance in any other area. .

“It’s impressive that it offers some water resistance, but it’s not protected to the same extent as flagship phones. That’s a minor drawback considering this is a mid-range device.”

“As such, while it offers reasonable performance, it will never be a powerhouse and when it comes to pure performance.”

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Fairphone isn’t the only phone maker to focus on sustainability. Family-owned and based in Germany, Shiftphones, founded in 2014, has also developed a sustainable modular smartphone.

Sales have doubled every year for the past six years, but it’s also a small player, having sold 70,000 devices.

Shiftphones founder and CEO Samuel Waldeck believes the collaboration would improve the two companies’ ability to influence their larger competitors.

“I think it would be a very important signal to work together, also for the rest of the market,” he says.

“The whole industry is working against you… if you join forces you would have more units alone, which would change a lot.”