Eco-friendly Phones: A Look Into Shiftphone And Fairphone
Saving the world might just be a phone call away.
As if the competition between iPhones and Androids wasn’t enough, there’s not just one, but two more phones we should be adding to the mix: the Shiftphone and Fairphone. Both aim to be as ethical as possible, something we should be applauding and buying in the current world we live in.
Although an ethical phone might sound a bit too ambitious, we have to start somewhere. And that’s exactly what Amsterdam-based Fairphone has done – transforming from an awareness campaign to a phone company.
The company is now onto its third edition of the phone, costing £420, and claiming to be responsible in sourcing materials, manufacturing and even longevity with a repairable design including its own screwdriver for users to DIY fix. Whilst it may not be the sleek, compact design we’re used to, the chunky look of Fairphone and only 5.7in LCD display is combatted by the ethics behind it, alongside the excellent viewing angles. Not only that, but we’ll feel safer carrying it around seeing as it’s covered by Gorilla Glass 5, which although not the latest, does make it fairly scratch-proof, and the translucent black plastic body feels just as hard-wearing.
On the back of the phone there’s a little self-congratulatory message: “Change is in your hands”, and with a model like this, it definitely is. Although this all sounds a bit old-fashioned to our taste, the phone does come with a USB-C charging socket, a headphone socket on the top and a fingerprint scanner on the back – all of which might take some getting used to.
Perhaps one of the perks is the fact that all the pieces can be removed ourselves, whether that’s swapping batteries or looking for a quick fix. It may be slow and bulky, and there is definitely a road for improvement before it is anywhere near catching up to the phones we’re already obsessed with, but environmentalists will argue that this is all definitely worth it in the long run. A sustainable future might not be the easy way, but at some point, it’s going to become the only way. Similar to Fairphone’s ability to be repaired, Shiftphone’s range of smartphones can be rooted, repaired and updated, with a replaceable battery and also separate phone parts and tutorial videos to help users.
For slightly more cynical users, the company website also offers a break down of the price, showing the fact that 5% of the price goes to support social and sustainability projects. What fills our hearts with joy, even more, is that the company is open about the fact that no child labor is involved anywhere in the supply chain.
The reason this brand is competing with Fairphone is down to the fact that Shiftphone is made without any use of coltan, unlike Shitftphones. So if you really do want to feel no guilt regarding your tech obsession, ethical smartphones might be the way to go. You can get your own sustainable phone at Fairphone and Shiftphones.
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