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Fairphone 5 was a standout 2024 choice if you valued repairability and long-term use: Fairphone reported 10 replaceable modules, an iFixit repairability score of 10/10, a five-year warranty and eight years of software support. But no available common-method comparison establishes one objectively “most sustainable” phone across the 2024 market. The Samsung Galaxy S24 is a useful mainstream comparison, with a documented recycled-paper packaging claim and product environmental reporting. This is a retrospective guide: Fairphone ended Fairphone 5 sales and production on 12 January 2026, though existing owners can still get support and parts.
What are the most sustainable phones?
“Most sustainable” depends on what matters most to you: keeping a phone in service, replacing a broken part instead of the whole device, choosing products with material-sourcing commitments, or reducing lifecycle emissions. The available evidence covers several of these factors for Fairphone 5 and Galaxy S24, but it does not rank all meaningful 2024 phones using one independent, common method.
For a buyer whose priority was repairability and longevity, Fairphone 5 is the strongest documented example here. That is a narrower verdict than saying it had the lowest environmental impact overall. A phone’s actual impact also depends on how long it is used, whether it is repaired, how it was made, and what happens to it when it is no longer wanted.
Best eco-friendly phones 2024: how the main options compare
| Phone | Repair and support evidence | Materials and packaging | Footprint and lifecycle evidence | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairphone 5 | Fairphone’s 2024 Impact Report lists 10 replaceable modules, an iFixit repairability score of 10/10, a five-year warranty and eight years of software support. Fairphone’s FAQ says the model was planned to receive eight years of security updates. | Fairphone reports 76% fair materials averaged across 14 focus materials. Separately, other Fairphone pages describe more than 36% of the device’s total weight as recycled and other fair materials. These percentages refer to different measures and scopes. | Fairphone reports 42.1 kg CO2e for the 265 GB model and 35 kg CO2e for the 128 GB model, based on three years of industry-average use. Fraunhofer IZM also modelled three-, five-, eight- and ten-year use scenarios. | Someone prioritizing repairability, replacement parts and a longer supported life. |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 series | The cited sustainability materials establish packaging and product-reporting facts, but do not provide a comparable repairability score, warranty term or support-duration figure for this comparison. | Samsung’s 2024 Sustainability Report says the Galaxy S24 series package boxes used 100% recycled paper. | Samsung’s Galaxy S24 product environmental report gives product and lifecycle information and states a UL ECOLOGO certification for the US market. Its results should not be directly compared with Fairphone’s footprint figures without aligning methods, boundaries and use duration. | A mainstream alternative for buyers who want product-level environmental reporting and a documented recycled-packaging claim. |
These are not equivalent proof points: Fairphone’s module count and repairability score describe repair potential, while recycled packaging is one part of a phone’s overall footprint. Neither set of claims, on its own, establishes a universal winner.
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#1 Best Overall
- Privacy smartphone
- Privacy Fairphone
- Compatible with T-Mobile and its MVNOs
- Compatible with T-Mobile and its MVNOs. This phone isn't compatible with Verizon network.
Which phone is easiest to repair and keep for longer?
Fairphone 5: strongest repairability evidence
Fairphone’s 2024 Impact Report lists 10 replaceable modules and an iFixit score of 10/10. The same report lists a five-year warranty and eight years of software support. Fairphone’s product FAQ describes eight years of security updates as the plan for Fairphone 5; treat that as the company’s stated support commitment, not a guarantee of a particular owner’s experience or an assurance that every future app will remain compatible.
Replaceable modules can make a repair more practical than replacing an entire phone, but repairability does not itself ensure a long service life. Owners still need suitable parts, tools or repair help, and a device that meets their needs. Fairphone says support and parts for Fairphone 5 will remain available until at least 2031.
Rank #2
- Unlocked for GSM Carriers like T-Mobile and not compatible with Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular. Dual SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM) both 5G enabled
- Android 15 (Software updates until 2033)
- 6.31" inch, Full HD LTPO P-OLED, 1116x2484 resolution, 431ppi, Gorilla Glass 7i
- 10-120 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz touch screen sample rate
- 256GB UFS3.1 storage, microSD up to 2TB external storage capacity, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
Galaxy S24: useful mainstream comparison, not a repairability winner on this evidence
Samsung’s cited 2024 materials support a packaging claim and provide a product environmental report, including a US-market UL ECOLOGO certification statement. They do not establish a directly comparable repairability score or support term in the facts available here. That is not proof the Galaxy S24 cannot be repaired or supported; it means these specific documented claims are insufficient to rank it against Fairphone 5 on those measures.
What do Fairphone 5’s footprint figures mean?
Fairphone’s 2024 Impact Report, published in 2025, lists a footprint of 42.1 kg CO2e for the 265 GB Fairphone 5 and 35 kg CO2e for the 128 GB model. Both figures use an assumed three-year industry-average usage time. They are company-reported product figures, not a direct measurement of every owner’s personal emissions.
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- This is a phone Unlocked for GSM Carriers like T-Mobile (Excluding Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular) and not compatible with any CDMA Network Carriers. Dual SIM (Nano-SIM slot 4FF, eSIM), Networks: 2G GSM, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G
- 6.46 inch FullHD+, OLED touchscreen with Pixelworks Processor, 90Hz Screen, 20:9 aspect ratio, 1224x2700 resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 0.7mm, fully laminated with oleophobic coating
- Qualcomm QCM 6490, 64-bit Octa-Core processor, Processor speed up to 2.7GHz, Qualcomm Adreno 642L @ 812MHz
- 128GB Storage, 6GB RAM, up to 2TB microSD (SD 3.0) External storage
- Main Camera: 50MP + 50MP, Front Camera: 50MP
Do not compare those totals with a different manufacturer’s lifecycle figure unless the assessment boundaries, assumptions and use period match. A result based on another model, region or assumed service life may count different stages or use different methods.
What the longer-use scenarios do—and do not—show
Fraunhofer IZM’s Fairphone 5 lifecycle assessment models three-, five-, eight- and ten-year use cases. In the five-, eight- and ten-year scenarios, it assumes one, two and three battery replacements, respectively. These are scenarios, not a prediction that every phone will last that long or that every owner will achieve a particular footprint.
Rank #4
- Unlocked for GSM Carriers like T-Mobile and not compatible with Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular. Dual SIM (nano-SIM + eSIM) both 5G enabled
- Android 15 (Software updates until 2033)
- 6.31" inch, Full HD LTPO P-OLED, 1116x2484 resolution, 431ppi, Gorilla Glass 7i
- 10-120 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz touch screen sample rate
- 256GB UFS3.1 storage, microSD up to 2TB external storage capacity, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
How should you interpret the materials and climate claims?
Fair materials and recycled content are different metrics
Fairphone’s 2024 report gives a 76% figure for fair materials averaged across 14 focus materials. Other Fairphone pages describe more than 36% of the device’s total weight as recycled and other fair materials. The figures use different definitions and scopes; they should not be combined or treated as two ways of expressing the same percentage. They are manufacturer disclosures, not a complete independent assessment of every material’s upstream impacts.
A company-wide emissions change is not a phone-specific result
Fairphone’s 2024 Impact Report highlights a 48% company-wide greenhouse-gas reduction compared with 2022. That figure concerns Fairphone as a company; it is not a measured reduction in Fairphone 5’s product footprint.
Best Value
- Fast Charging Capability: Supports up to 140W Power Delivery (PD), ensuring rapid charging for a variety of devices including laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
- 10FT Long Cable: Extended length provides flexibility and convenience for charging devices even from a distance.
- Durable and Long-Lasting: Built with a 30,000-bend lifespan, this cable is designed to withstand daily wear and tear, making it ideal for long-term use.
- Eco-Friendly Design: 46% of the cable's exterior is made from bio-based materials, contributing to environmental sustainability without compromising durability.
- Universal Compatibility: Works seamlessly with all USB-C devices, providing a reliable and efficient charging solution for multiple gadgets.
Samsung’s packaging claim has a limited scope
Samsung’s 2024 Sustainability Report says the Galaxy S24 series package boxes used 100% recycled paper. That claim applies to the packaging material described, not the entire phone or its total lifecycle impact. The separate Galaxy S24 product environmental report includes a US-market UL ECOLOGO certification statement; the geography matters, and the certification is not a head-to-head sustainability ranking against Fairphone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Fairphone 5 still available to buy?
No longer from Fairphone itself. The company says Fairphone 5 sales and production stopped on 12 January 2026. Remaining stock at resellers varies, so availability and condition depend on the seller and location. Fairphone says existing owners can continue to receive support and buy parts until at least 2031. Check that any second-hand or remaining-stock phone is the model and storage capacity you want, and verify warranty coverage and parts availability before paying.
Quick Recap
How to choose an eco-friendlier phone without overclaiming
- Decide what “sustainable” means for your use. If repairability and keeping one device longer are your priorities, look for replaceable parts and a clear support commitment. If materials or packaging matter more, check the scope of those claims rather than treating them as whole-device scores.
- Check how long the phone will remain useful to you. Software support matters alongside physical repair: a phone that still works but no longer receives updates may not be a practical long-term choice.
- Read footprint figures with their assumptions attached. Check model and storage variant, assumed years of use, assessment scope and who reported the result. Do not compare totals from different manufacturers as if they came from one test.
- Consider repair and end-of-life options before purchase. Ask whether replacement parts and service are accessible where you live, and whether you have a route to reuse or recycle the phone when you are done with it. The evidence summarized here does not establish a complete, comparable end-of-life ranking for these models.
- Prefer the phone you can use well for longer. A repairable device or a product with environmental disclosures cannot guarantee a lower personal footprint if it does not suit your needs or is replaced quickly.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
