this post was submitted on 14 Jul 2026
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Buy it for Life
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AFAIK the fairphone is the only phone on the market that is explicitly designed to be user repairable. It doesn't have a headphone Jack, though.
Yep. But a mobile device will never really be BIFL. Too many sacrifices in form factor, and software / hardware move too fast to practically stay on one device for more than 5-7 years IMHO.
This BIFL community does not require that something literally last forever, just that it be more durable and lasting than other objects in the same category.
That's totally fair. In that spirit I'd look to Fairphone first for certain.
My fairphone was 5 years old when I bought it second hand, see no reason it can't last more than 0-2 more years.
The main question is when does it stop getting security updates. Obviously if you're using a custom ROM that concern is lessened.
https://www.fairphone.com/software-longevity
But not much. If the SoC manufacturer no longer provides firmware updates for the hardware, your custom ROM will not help.
Bluetooth can be turned off, but for security issues in the modem, welll... Not if you want to use it as a phone.
I often hear this and other comments like "If you don't upgrade your system software immediately you are already hacked" etc. But I've never seen any description of what actually can happen with a phone that goes without updates for some time - how often are vulnerabilities in the modem found for instance, and have there ever been a widely exploited attack?
Depends on the risk your at. If you're in a country where having your own opinion is dangerous (Russia, for example) it's certainly different to a person in Western Europe.
There have been successful attacks on modems and Bluetooth.
It's about the threat model. It's complicated and nuanced and does not really fit in here.
But regardless, there's no reason the hardware couldn't be supported much longer. Apart from capitalism, of course.
tbh I always assume a government has the resources and access to generally undiscovered or unfixed vulns, modem firmware is just full of holes. many layers of legacy code and the least amount of eyes going over the code. you can't win against the government on a phone like this.
when this is a concern, maybe use a laptop or tablet, with wifi connection to a hotspot device that doesn't have a mic.
My last android was abandoned by it'd manufacturer by the time I walked out the shop. I'll just go without updates if I have to.
Simply running insecure software does not seem like a good idea...
Nokia brick?
The old ones don't work on modern network deployments. But yeah they last much longer.
Since finding out about over ear headphones I have been less bothered with wireless. They are far more secure, even cycling around not once had them fall off.
Fairphone user here. USB-C to 3.5mm to the rescue! Can even get the one with charging port.