Fairphone 6: A great smartphone even without a top overall rating

The Fairphone 6 is a smartphone that has sustainability as its main goal, yet it is equipped with solid technology. It features a redesigned design, a robust plastic casing available in three colors, and is drop-resistant, though neither dust-proof nor waterproof. Featuring 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, which is expandable via microSD card, it delivers good everyday performance thanks to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, but shows potential limitations when it comes to demanding games and long update cycles. Particularly noteworthy is the easy repairability, supported by the modular design and provided spare parts, as well as the exceptionally long update coverage of eight years. This is further supplemented by a warranty of up to five years upon registration and a bonus program designed to encourage long-term use.

The Fairphone 6 features a brighter and more color-accurate OLED display with eye-friendly PWM dimming, supports Wi-Fi 6E, eSIM and provides good battery life with fast charging times. A special slider switch also enables a reduced notification mode. The cameras deliver decent results, but fall short of top-of-the-line models: The main camera impresses with natural color reproduction, but shows weaknesses in dynamic range and ultra-wide-angle shots.

Officially priced at €599, the Fairphone 6 is aimed at users who value sustainability, durability and fair production conditions. While compromises have to be made in terms of features and camera performance, the smartphone offers solid features overall, which is particularly impressive in light of its environmental and social credentials.