User-repairable Fairphone 4 is finally coming to the US

The Fairphone 4 – a user-repairable smartphone made using ethically sourced materials – is finally coming to the US in September 2021, nearly two years after it first launched. Well, anyway. Fairphone is partnering with Murena, the company famous for de-googleing Android phones, to launch a US pilot of the Murena Fairphone 4 – a version of the handset that runs on the privacy-oriented Android-based operating system: /e/os.

There are two configurations available: one with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $599 and another with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $679. Storage on both models can be expanded via microSD, and the phones feature a modular design that can be easily taken apart using a standard Philips #00 screwdriver to replace broken components. It also has an IP54 rating, which means the device is protected against dust and splashes of water.

The Murena Fairphone 4 will be shipped to US customers with 5G and dual-SIM support, a removable 3905mAh battery, 48-megapixel main camera, 48-megapixel ultrawide and 25-megapixel selfie camera. The phones will be available to order starting today exclusively on Morena’s webstore.

The Murena Fairphone 4 also comes with the /e/ operating system pre-installed, which is described as a privacy-focused, Google-free mobile ecosystem for those looking to avoid handing over any data to the search giant. Want to Instead of the usual Google apps, the Fairphone 4 will come with a range of default Murray Cloud apps for things like email, calendar and cloud storage, as well as a dedicated app store that helps users monitor the privacy of each app. Highlights the rating. His online activity is being tracked.

However, we should note that /e/OS is not completely Google-free. Murena “App Lounge” technically It allows you to install major Android apps, including those made by Google, but Murena claims that it fetches apps directly from the Play Store without giving Google any of your personal information.

The Fairphone comes unlocked, but the press release mentions that T-Mobile and other operators based on T-Mobile’s network are the only US carriers that are recommended for use with the device. Fairphone is also offering a five-year extended warranty for the hardware, and /e/OS is similarly committed to fixing bugs and supporting security and feature updates for five years.

The Murena Edition is the only Fairphone 4 model to be offered in the US, and there’s no mention of a standard Android OS model joining it soon. “Based on the feedback we’ve received, we know there is a lot of interest in Fairphone in the US. However, our main focus is currently on the European market,” Fairphone CEO Eva Gouvens said in a press release. “This collaboration with e/OS/ is a great opportunity for us to sell devices in the US market with a long-standing partner and learn more about the US market.”