Fairphone has announced that it will end software support for its Fairphone 2 smartphone in March 2023. The company, which launched the sustainable smartphone in 2015, had originally promised three to five years of software support for the device. However, it ended up delivering five operating system upgrades and seven years of security updates.
Fairphone 2 to end software support in March 2023
In a recent blog post, Fairphone said it will release one final update for the Fairphone 2 in March 2023, after which the device will no longer receive security and feature updates. The company will continue to offer some spare parts for the phone, but urges users not to access sensitive data on the device after May 2023, as it will lack the latest security updates and Fairphone won’t be able to fix critical vulnerabilities.
Some spare parts for the Fairphone 2, such as display modules, will be available in the company’s online store until stocks run out. However, other parts, like the bottom module, are no longer available for purchase and are only available for devices still under warranty.
If you own a Fairphone 2 and want to continue using it after March 2023, you have a couple of options. You can try installing a custom ROM like LineageOS on your device, or you can send it back to Fairphone’s Reuse and Recycle Program, which will give you a €50 voucher for the Fairphone webshop. If you choose the latter, make sure to register your device with the program before 31 March 2023.