Key Takeaways
1. Fairphone 4 is no longer sold officially but continues to receive software support, currently limited to Android 13.
2. The company promised six years of updates for the Fairphone 4, but the Android 14 update has been canceled due to resource constraints.
3. Fairphone is shifting focus to develop the Android 15 update instead of pursuing Android 14 for the Fairphone 4.
4. There is no timeline for the release of the Android 15 update for either the Fairphone 4 or the newer Fairphone 5.
5. Fairphone 4 will receive software support and security updates until at least 2026, with a possibility of extension to 2028.
It has nearly been four years since the Fairphone 4 made its debut, and even though the phone is no longer sold officially due to a newer model, Fairphone continues to offer software assistance. The device is currently limited to Android 13 because Fairphone has not managed to release the Android 14 update, and an official announcement states that this update will not be available.
Update Timeline
The Fairphone 4 originally launched with Android 11 and was promised to receive updates for six years. However, the last upgrade to the operating system was Android 13 in 2023. Fairphone had initially indicated that an Android 14 update would be ready by early 2025, but that has not occurred. The company mentions that it is facing resource constraints and is working to remedy this by enlarging its support team and seeking external assistance.
Shift in Focus
Recently, Fairphone announced that the Android 14 update will not be released. A message on their community forum indicates a shift in focus towards Android 15 for the Fairphone 4. This decision followed a detailed assessment of the efforts required to produce a stable Android 14 update.
There is currently no information regarding when the Android 15 update will be available for the Fairphone 5, but the company has stated that it will enhance its communication with its community, so more updates are expected soon. The newer Fairphone 5 (currently priced at €499 on Amazon.de) also has not received the Android 15 update yet, leaving it unclear which device will get it first or if they will both receive it simultaneously.
Continued Support
The Fairphone 4 will still benefit from software support until 2026, although Fairphone has hinted that this might be extended to 2028. At present, it offers security updates every two months for the Fairphone 4 and intends to continue doing this until the device reaches its end of life.
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