The Fairphone 4, a smartphone that uses materials sourced ethically and is user repairable, is finally making its way to the US. However, it will not be the same version of the Fairphone 4 that was released in other countries. Fairphone is partnering with Murena, a company that removes Google apps and services from Android phones, to launch a US version of the Fairphone 4 that runs on /e/OS, a privacy-focused Android-based operating system.
There are two versions offered for this smartpone. One for $599 that has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and another for $679 that has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Both models’ capacity may be increased with a microSD card, and the phone has a modular design that makes it simple to disassemble using a regular Phillips #00 screwdriver to repair damaged parts. Additionally, the device is secured against dust and water spray thanks to its IP54 rating.
With 5G and dual SIM connectivity, a replaceable 3905mAh battery, a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 25-megapixel selfie camera, the Murena Fairphone 4 will be available for purchase in the US. Starting today, customers can only order the phones through Murena’s online store.
The operating system, which is advertised as a privacy-focused, Google-free mobile ecosystem for people who want to avoid giving the search giant any data, is also preinstalled on the Murena Fairphone 4. Instead of the typical Google apps, the Fairphone 4 will include a number of Murena Cloud default apps for things like email, calendar, and cloud storage. It will also include a separate app store that displays each program’s privacy rating to help users keep track of how their online activity is being tracked.
The Murena App Lounge would most closely resemble the Play Store if all of the typical Google branding were removed.
But it’s important to remember that Google isn’t completely absent from /e/OS. The Murena “App Lounge” theoretically enables you to install popular Android applications, including those created by Google, but Murena asserts that it downloads applications straight from the Play Store without providing Google with any of your personal data.
The Fairphone is sold unlocked, but according to the press release, the only US carriers that are suggested for use with the device are T-Mobile and other carriers that use the T-Mobile network. In addition, Fairphone is extending the hardware guarantee to five years, and e/OS has made a similar commitment to five years of bug fixes and support for security and feature updates.
The normal Android OS variant of the Fairphone 4 won’t be joining it any time soon; it is the only one that has been released in the US so far. ” We are aware that there is significant interest in Fairphone in the US based on the feedback we have received. The CEO of Fairphone, Eva Gouwens, stated in a news statement that the European market is presently our primary focus. We have a fantastic chance with this partnership with e/OS to test selling devices in the US market with a trusted partner and gain knowledge of the US market.
