Our planet is beautiful, but we only have one to go around. As such, making smart choices about how we live our lives and the products we buy is key to ensuring it sticks around for generations to come.
Some smartphones are created to be more sustainable and repairable than others. If these are important factors to you when buying a new phone, the Fairphone 4 is the one to buy, or you might want to opt for the newer Fairphone 5. There are also a few other options worth discussing when it comes to the best modular phone, which we'll dive into in this article.
In the world of sustainable smartphones, the Fairphone 4 is perhaps the most popular. Why? It's arguably the most repairable on the planet, receiving a perfect 10/10 repairability score in iFixit's teardown just like the older Fairphone 3. Most of the Fairphone 4 is made out of user-replaceable modules, meaning you can swap parts in and out as you need to. There are modules for the display, battery, rear camera, selfie camera, headphone jack, USB-C port, speaker, and more. If something here breaks, chances are you can replace it in the blink of an eye.
For repairs or upgrades, all you need is a Philips screwdriver, which Fairphone thoughtfully provides along with the phone. And, just for some extra peace of mind, Fairphone 4 comes with a generous five-year warranty. Even better, easy repairability isn't where Fairphone stopped with the Fairphone 4. The handset is created with responsibly-sourced materials, not to mention that Fairphone is a massive advocate for better working conditions in the mobile tech industry.
On the specs front, the Fairphone 4 delivers a Snapdragon 750G processor, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of expandable storage, a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display, and a 3,905 mAh battery. The phone is reasonably waterproof, sporting an IP45 water resistance rating. It runs Android 11 out of the box, and you'll get software updates until 2025, including Android 12 and 13. Users can also install alternative operating systems like /e/os on their Fairphone devices.
As much as we love the Fairphone 4, it does come with a big caveat. It's only available in Europe and the U.K., meaning you're out of luck if you live in the U.S.
Fairphone didn’t stop at the Fairphone 4: most recently, the company launched the Fairphone 5, which it calls its “most sustainable phone yet.” Receiving software updates guaranteed through 2031 (at least five Android OS versions following Android 13) and shipping with a five-year warranty like its predecessor, it’s made from more than 70 percent fair or recycled focused materials. Plus, it’s designed with modular parts as well so it’s easy to repair to further extend its longevity. You can feel good about the purchase in more ways than one: every purchase supports the people who made the device with a $2.63 living wage bonus.
With a dynamic OLED screen, Qualcomm QCM6490 octa-core processor, and 5G, this is a powerful phone as well. It even comes with two 50MP dual-lenses, including a wide-angle and ultra-wide angle lens, along with a 50MP selfie front camera for taking stunning self-portraits and social media-worthy videos. It has pro photo modes, too, like Super Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and Pro Mode as well as fast auto-focus with advanced face recognition. Additionally, you can shoot videos at up to 4K resolution and slow-motion videos at up to 240 frames-per-second.
Enjoy up to 32 hours of daily use so you charge it less frequently as well, and it recharges to 50 percent in just 20 minutes. It comes in Matte black, Sky blue, or a transparent edition with a back cover that’s made entirely of 100 percent recycled plastic. Keep in mind that the Fairphone 5 doesn’t come with a USB cable, charger, or audio jack adapter, but you likely have these accessories at home already. This helps further reduce waste and unnecessary clutter in that catch-all extra cables drawer at home or your office. Stay tuned for our review.
As you'll learn reading through this article, finding sustainable phones available in the U.S. can be quite tricky. Thankfully, we have the Teracube 2e. Initially part of an Indiegogo campaign and now being sold as a fully-funded product, the Teracube 2e is designed to be "the world's most reliable smartphone."
The big draw with the Teracube 2e is its warranty. You get a four-year warranty with your purchase, and under that warranty, all repairs cost a flat rate. That includes water damage, a cracked display, aging batteries, you name it. Screen repairs are only $59, and new batteries are $29. Those prices include parts, labor, and two-way shipping. The company is also working with iFixit to make repair guides and parts available for those do-it-yourselfers.
The Teracube 2e has solid specs for its price, with some of the highlights being a MediaTek Helio A25 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 6.1-inch Full HD+ display, 13MP + 8MP dual rear cameras, and a 4,000 mAh battery. You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C charging, microSD expansion, dual SIM slots, and NFC for Google Pay.
Fortunately, the Teracube 2e is slated to get two platform updates as part of the Android One initiative. It launched with Android 11 and Teracube 2e users got Android 12, with a promise of up to three years of OS updates (some owners report having downloaded Android 13 without issue). It's too bad Teracube doesn't work with Verizon, but if you rely on AT&T or T-Mobile for your cell service, it's an incredible purchase.
Moving back to phones that you can actually purchase if you live in the U.S., we'd like to shine a light on the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. No, it's not on the same repairability level as the other Teracube 2e, Fairphone 4, or SHIFT6mq, but it is one of the better options from a mainstream manufacturer.
If you want to do any DIY repairs on the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, doing so is relatively straightforward. The majority of the Galaxy A54 5G's components are modular and easy to replace, and we also appreciate the easy-to-remove adhesive that holds the screen in place. According to the report published by Samsung itself, the device has a repairability score of 8.4 which is even better than the upper-tier S23 Ultra.
Regarding the rest of the Galaxy A54 5G experience, it's one of the best mid-range Android phones that money can buy. There's a 120Hz OLED display, a 50MP main camera that takes gorgeous photos, and software updates/security patches are guaranteed until 2028. Regular updates help you use and hold on to the same phone for a longer period, which makes it better for the environment. You can also use the phone on whichever carrier you'd like, which is a huge plus.
Sticking with phones sold in Europe, the SHIFT6mq stands out as another easy recommendation. Like Fairphone, SHIFT aims to create devices that are simple to repair and open to modification.
We're specifically looking at the SHIFT6mq, which is astonishingly easy to repair. The last-gen SHIFT6m earned a 9/10 repairability score from iFixit, with some of its highlights being easy access to the battery and screen, only one type of screw head being used to hold the phone together, and a screwdriver being included in the box, so nothing is holding you back from making repairs as needed. With the SHIFT6mq, you get all of the same advantages.
The SHIFT6mq does have some overlapping components and short connection cables, meaning that it's not quite as easy to repair as the Fairphone 4. That said, it's still light years ahead of what most other companies are selling these days.
Unfortunately, this is another phone that you cannot buy if you live in the U.S. I know — sad trombone.
Another sustainable phone we'd like to bring your attention to is the Nokia X30 5G. The Nokia X30 5G is designed to be a mid-range phone, meaning it's not as powerful or interesting as more mainstream Android phones like the Galaxy A54. It's not as repairable as the Fairphone or the Teracube either, but it does have a leg up in terms of sustainability and endurance.
The Nokia X30 5G sports a hardy IP67 water and dustproof rating so it can survive rough use. This is obviously going to help it stay alive much longer than your average phone. HMD Global promises a three-year warranty, three years of OS and security updates, and the phone comes with Android 12 out of the box. That means you'll be good until Android 15 sees the light of day.
On the eco-friendly side of things, HMD Global claims that the Nokia X30 5G is the most sustainable Nokia phone yet. A whopping 60% of all the materials used to build Nokia X30 handsets are recycled, including plastic and aluminum. In an effort to reduce e-waste, there's no power brick in the box and the phone features eSIM support.
Sadly, the robust Nokia X30 5G is not available in the U.S. just yet and we don't know if it ever will. Making matters worse, Nokia phones are famously slow to receive new updates.
The best eco-friendly phone for your needs
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Sustainable/repairable smartphones aren't as prominent as we wish they were among the best Android phones. Still, as long as you're willing to do a bit of digging, it's possible to find plenty of hidden gems that excel in these regards. Overall, we think the Fairphone 4 is the best of the best, and the new Fairphone 5 will likely takes its place as the even better option.
One look at Fairphone's five-year warranty is enough to make it a compelling purchase — regardless of whether or not you're concerned about your impact on the planet. If you drop the Fairphone while plugged in, accidentally shatter its screen on the sidewalk, or for virtually any other reason, you can get a replacement battery or screen and easily replace any part yourself.
The sustainable and modular build is the big selling point of the Fairphone 4 and Fairphone 5, but the phone itself is also designed to be enjoyable to use. Between its powerful specs and years worth of OS updates, the Fairphone 4 and Fairphone 5 almost have it all. Both offer a stellar package that comes at a steep cost, but we feel that responsibly sourced materials are worth it.
It's a bummer that U.S. residents can't get their hands on the Fairphones, so they'll have to settle for the Teracube 2e instead. Teracube isn't half as bad, but it's just not on Fairphone's level.
