Roughly how long will it take the fairphone 6 to reach the level of support the fairphone 4 is at now?

I’m debating getting one to tinker with

  • DrDystopia@lemy.lol
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    2 days ago

    Depends on what you mean by level of support. If you mean hardware, it will never get USB3 or display out. This will make it less attractive as a linux phone, which means it will get less support from the tinkerers.

    If you mean community support, after reading a few topics on the Fairphone forums, probably never. To put it in perspective, I know I wouldn’t accept a hypothetical free FP5 to FP6 upgrade.

  • poVoq@slrpnk.netM
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    3 days ago

    Impossible to say unless you want to do it yourself 😅

    The basic Linux kernel patches will be in the next release, and then it depends on when the mobile Linux distros upgrade the kernel.

    But I think entusiasm for the FP6 is relatively low in the mobile Linux space, as they removed usb3 and display out from the hardware. I suspect the FP5 will remain the best supported one.

    • Mario@liberdon.com
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      3 days ago

      @poVoq @matterofact yep. Very poor choice to drop DisplayPort feature. Basically, you loose convergence. I was betting on a Linux phone that I can leave my laptop at home and convert my phone into one. Fairphone 5 will remain ahead still.

      • poVoq@slrpnk.netM
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        3 days ago

        The FP5 SoC is a industrial IoT chip, so there is actually longer term support from Qualcomm which is IMHO better for Linux use.

        • matterofact@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          2 days ago

          Interesting, I thought it might be more complicated to develop for but idk what I’m talking about when it comes to that 😅

      • Mario@liberdon.com
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        2 days ago

        @matterofact @poVoq to be honest it will make it more popular amongst normies. Especially given that Android is a pathetic experience as a desktop, so they would not care about it. However, amongst Linux enthusiasts won’t be as popular.

        • poVoq@slrpnk.netM
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          2 days ago

          Apparently Android 16 improved desktop experience a lot by back porting some of the Samsug Dex features.