article-header

Product

Investing in long-lasting design: Android 7 for the Fairphone 2

Product

Earlier this year we announced that we were working towards getting Android 7 into the hands of Fairphone 2 owners. It’s been a long wait, but we’re happy to say that, after months of hard work on development, Android 7.1.2 ‘Nougat’ will officially be available for the Fairphone 2. We’ve put together some handy info to help Fairphone 2 owners prepare for the upgrade. Visit our Android 7 Support Hub for a step-by-step guide and everything you need to know before updating (features, changes, known bugs and suggested workarounds included).

The upgrade will be rolled out over the coming weeks, so Fairphone 2 owners should keep an eye on their Fairphone Updater app! This is the second major Android upgrade for the Fairphone 2. In fact, our ethical, modular device is the only phone on the market with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset to make this upgrade.
Over the past year, our own software team and external partners have been actively developing Android 7 for the Fairphone 2. It has been a challenging process. For a small company like Fairphone, this was a big investment (in terms of hours worked, external development and certification costs) — but a crucial one in acknowledging the role software plays in smartphone longevity.

Why should you update?

While Android 7 isn’t too different from the Android 6 experience Fairphone 2 users are already familiar with, this upgrade offers a variety of benefits, including some new features to look forward to:

  • Help out your battery with Doze Mode 2.0: The Doze feature, introduced in Marshmallow (Android 6) and further refined in Nougat, keeps battery use low when you’re not using your phone.
  • Make the most of your data plan by keeping background apps in check with Data Saver: Android 7 keeps an eye on those apps quietly running in the background and eating up your data plan. Data Saver lets you keep those apps from running unless on WiFi.
  • No more lists cluttering up your pull-down window, thanks to bundled notifications: Android 7 bundles your notifications for clean, easy access. You can even respond to most notifications directly in a pop-up window without fully opening the relevant app.
  • Work in two apps simultaneously with the new split-screen mode: use more than one app in a single screen without having to flip back and forth.
 

 

Visit our Android 7 Support Hub for a step-by-step guide and everything you need to know before updating (features, changes, known bugs and suggested workarounds included).

Aiming for longer-lasting over latest

As useful as such new features are, the primary motivation behind Android 7 is our goal to produce and support longer-lasting phones. This upgrade will make it possible for us to keep offering security updates for the Fairphone 2, protecting users and ensuring they can enjoy their devices for longer.

Keep an eye on the Fairphone updater over the coming weeks to see when Android 7 is available for your phone! Current Fairphone 2 owners will be encouraged to upgrade their software. The upgrade will be available in two different versions: standard and Fairphone Open. The open version is built on publicly available source code, and comes without pre-installed Google Mobile Services (GMS). And of course, any Fairphone 2 you order from us will also offer an update to Android 7.

Share this post

Related posts See all posts

  • The Fairphone 5: First Impressions

    The Fairphone 5: First Impressions

    It's been a few weeks since we unveiled the new Fairphone 5, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the rousing reception it has received. Media outlets and YouTube influencers across the world have been lauding us for changing the paradigm when it comes to software support, warranty duration, and modular design. In fact, some...

    Read more
  • MyFairphone App: Keep your Fairphone future-proof

    MyFairphone App: Keep your Fairphone future-proof

    Back in 2020, we launched the My Fairphone app, giving you direct access to various tools to troubleshoot your device, help from our support team at the tap of a button, discussions with the Fairphone community, and gamified challenges for a more sustainable lifestyle. With the recent launch of the new Fairphone 5, we want...

    Read more

Fairphone Newsletter

Get recurring updates on all things Fairphone

Sign up to our newsletter and get €5 off on your next order.

The €5 discount code will be sent by email. The code can be used on any orders from €75. By subscribing you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy. We ask for your name and email so that you can receive our newsletter for awesome Fairphone projects and product updates. You can withdraw or update permission at any time.

Close