Fairphone (the most sustainable smartphone)?
The world and his wife now has a smartphone, and these recent inventions are not going away. So it pays to learn about the best choices. Obviously buying second-hand is one option (see below for options).
And for now, most phones have liquid displays that may contain animal cholesterol (same with laptops).
But if you are looking for ‘the most ethical brand’, one stands above all the others. Not only is Fairphone made with conflict-free and recycled materials, but it lets you repair parts yourself, and also rewards you for keeping your existing phone, rather than trying to sell you new upgraded ones all the time.
The recently introduced Right to Repair Act makes it the law for companies to let people (or local repairers) mend electronic goods.
But it excludes phones and laptops, likely due to corporate lobbying. And even if they have to comply on some rules, many companies just sell DIY repair kits that are so expensive, it’s not really much better.
We don’t really ‘do phones’, so you’ll have to go online to work out the best one for you! But it offers the latest versions of the top models, and all phones are sold with 5-year warranties and 8 years of software support.
And nothing is glued shut, so you (or someone else) can make affordable repairs.
Avoid charging phones overnight, as this wastes energy in the early hours, when the phone battery is already full. Other ways to save energy are to turn down brightness, and remove unused apps.
Fairphone’s Keep Club Reward System
Instead of trying to sell you a new phone each year, Fairphone has a reward system, where you redeem credit instead, when you recycle your old phone.
It’s worth it for people who own expensive phones (sometimes this company will pay a lot for for used phones – the company is Dutch, so pays in Euros).
Buy Refurbished Smartphones
- giffgaff is a people-owned company that sells refurbished phones, with 12-month warranties and free next-day delivery. Search by brand and trade in your old phone to help pay for the cost.
- Grade Mobile buys unwanted phones, that are sold at affordable prices to others. Choose by condition, storage or colour. Each phone undergoes a 90-point check, using industry-leading robotics.
Simple Mobile Phones for Seniors
Doro 8100 is a Swedish-made ‘smartphone for seniors’, which can be used for anyone who just wants a simple phone and nothing else.
The optional Dora Assistance Key can alert five emergency contacts (if there is no answer, it calls the second contact and goes to loud speaker). The service is free, but must have credit available.
People have five seconds to cancel, if they call accidentally. It’s also possible to pair these phones with wrist-worn Doro 3500 Bluetooth alarm triggers.
Should Children Use Smartphones?
You’ve likely heard of the social media bans, and that can only be a good thing (many children have watched beheadings online).
It’s good for children to get out in nature, rather than spend life on their phone. But for children who use them, Qustodio app is helpful to keep them safe from cyber-bullying, grooming and porn. It sets ‘downtimes’ to stop phone surfing at night, plus has can block sites.
TeraCube Thrive is a safe smartphone for children (child psychologists suggest age 11 is minimum age to have one). It includes time limits and location tracking, and can block unsafe searches and unapproved callers.
