Fairphone End of Life (EOL) Dates and End of Support (EOS) Dates

Checking the Fairphone End of Life status of your handset comes down to one question: how long will its software support last? Fairphone publishes an Android and security schedule for every smartphone, and the Fairphone 3 and 3+ have already reached the end of theirs, so this guide lays out each model's dates and what to do next.

Fairphone End of Life Dates by Model

Fairphone publishes support lifespans for every model, and the table below condenses them. The Fairphone 5 offers five Android updates and at least eight years of security updates, while the Fairphone (Gen. 6) comes with a five-year warranty. Fairphone 4 owners should treat any Android 14 or 15 upgrade as a best effort promise, because only Android 13 is guaranteed.

Install each new release of the software updates as it arrives, and confirm your Android version under Settings to see where you stand.

When Fairphone 3 and 3+ Were Retired

In 2019 Fairphone promised five years of support for the Fairphone 3, then exceeded it by nearly two years. The last software update and the final security patch both shipped in June 2026, and spare parts sales, repair services and direct support ended on 5 August 2026. The last units left stock in September 2021 (Fairphone 3) and November 2022 (3+). Customers get a €/£50 discount on a new Fairphone (Gen. 6) until 31 December 2026, and basic troubleshooting stays available through the help centre and customer support.

The phone still turns on, but expect friction. Calls may fail as carriers finish 2G and 3G network shutdowns, and banking tools often refuse to run without patches, an app compatibility problem as much as a security one.

Security risk of using an unsupported phone

With no new security patches, a vulnerable phone exposes your personal data online. Fairphone advises against using it for banking or sensitive messages. Keep it for low-stakes tasks and move accounts that matter to a supported device to protect your privacy.

Why Android 14 never reached the Fairphone 3

The Fairphone 3 and 3+ run an older Linux kernel (version 4.9) on a legacy chipset, while Google built Android 14's security features for a much newer one. Forcing the update onto this hardware would hurt performance, with unexpected restarts, heavy battery drain and broken features, so Fairphone chose stability over a risky release.

Fairphone 4 Discontinued but Still Supported

The Fairphone 4 is discontinued: Fairphone's own shop sold out in December 2024, yet end of sales does not end support. Some sales partners across Europe still hold stock, and Fairphone guarantees software support until at least 2028, with monthly security updates for about 2.5 years and bi-monthly security updates since 2024.

Spare parts and repair services for Fairphone 4

Fairphone will keep spare parts available until at least 2028. Core modules are not sold because only technicians should replace them. Once the manufacturer coverage lapses, sign up for an extended warranty, buy parts online, or take the phone to a local repair shop for a diagnosis.

Software Support Commitments for Newer Models

Newer models carry the longest promises, which push their official support end dates years further out. The Fairphone (Gen. 6) is guaranteed software support until 2033 on a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 and can update to Android 16, while the Fairphone (Gen. 6+) launched with it. The Fairphone 5 moves to bi-monthly releases from mid-2026, and Fairphone aims for ten years of longevity. Each upgrade is tested before release, and major updates arrive alongside monthly patches.

How Fairphone Delivers End-of-Life Extensions

Fairphone's software team builds each release from the Android Open Source Project, adapts it to the phone, then clears Google compliance tests, internal quality checks and network partner approval. That process is why Fairphone can extend support past a phone's original dates; it kept the Fairphone 2 on Android 10 in 2022 after 480,000 tests, years beyond rival phones on the same chipset. Publishing open source code lets the open-source community keep the hardware and software going after Fairphone's official software support ends, which supports sustainability by cutting electronic waste and gives owners a community to lean on.

Options After Fairphone Retirement

If your phone is past support, you still have two sensible paths: keep it running with new software, or recycle it.

Custom ROMs and an alternative operating system

Community-led custom ROMs such as /e/OS from Murena, LineageOS and postmarketOS can supply patches Fairphone no longer ships. Fairphone's support team cannot help with an alternative operating system, so choose one only if you are comfortable troubleshooting alone.

Recycling your old Fairphone

Return it through the Reuse and Recycle Program so its materials re-enter the supply chain instead of becoming waste. You may also qualify for an online shop gift card.