How do you choose a sustainable smartphone?
Compare different brands based on sustainability
| Fairphone | Samsung | Nokia | Apple iPhone | Other brands | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average lifespan | 5 to 8 years | 2 to 4 years | 2 to 4 years | 3 to 5 years | 1 to 3 years |
| Software updates | 5 to 8 years | 4 years | 3 years | 5 years | Minimum of 2 years |
| Security updates | 5 to 8 years | 5 years | 3 years | 5 years | Minimum of 2 years |
| Recycled material smartphone | Yes, partly | No | Yes, partly | No | No |
| Replace parts yourself | Yes | No | Some models | No | No |
| Refurbished via Coolblue | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Sustainable smartphone
Want to buy a sustainable smartphone? Check the following:
- What's the lifespan of your smartphone?
- How long will you receive updates?
- Is the device made or sustainable materials?
- Part replacement
- Is your smartphone also available as a refurbished model?
- Does your smartphone have a quality mark?
- Sustainable acessories
Lifespan of a smartphone
Manufacturing a smartphone is bad for the environment. This means that actually help the world by using your smartphone for longer. Currently, we use our devices 2.5 to 3 years on average. Want to use your smartphone for longer? Carefully check the update policy of the smartphone. We'll tell you more about that later in this article. In addition, you can extend the lifespan of your smartphone if you protect it well with a case and screen protector.
Update policy
Smartphones with a good update policy are secure and fast for longer. They last longer, which makes them more durable. Thanks to software updates, you can keep using the latest apps and functions. In addition, your device remains fast. Security updates ensure that you can safely use your smartphone. How long you'll receive updates differs per brand:
- Apple iPhone: software updates for 5 years, security updates for 5 years
- Fairphone: software updates for 5 years, security updates for 5 years
- Samsung: software updates for 4 years, security updates for 5 years
- Nokia: software updates for 3 years, security updates for 3 years
- Other brands: software and security updates for up to 2 years
Sustainable materials
Manufacturing smartphones is bad for the environment, which is why various manufacturers use sustainable or recycled materials. Fairphone is uniquely good at this. These smartphones largely consist of recycled materials. In addition, Fairphone chooses environmentally-friendly factories with good working conditions. The Nokia devices from 2022 and newer partly consist of recycled materials. Other brands are using more and more sustainable materials, but it's often limited to the packaging. And with the environment in mind, Apple and Samsung no longer include phone chargers.
Part replacement
Is 1 part of your smartphone broken? It's more sustainable to have your device repaired than to buy a new smartphone. Our experts are ready for you in our stores. Do you want a Fairphone? Having it repaired is much more affordable in that case. In addition, you can easily do it yourself. Fairphone models have separate replaceable parts. You can easily replace the battery or camera yourself, even if you're not very technical. You can order separate parts via Fairphone. In addition to that, all you need is a screwdriver.
Refurbished
A refurbished smartphone is a used phone you can buy at an affordable price. At Coolblue, we only have refurbished iPhone models at the moment. We refurbish iPhone models that have been traded in and give it a second life. Is there a crack in the screen or is the battery worn out? We'll replace it first. You may sometimes find some traces of use on the devices, such as small superficial scratches. Do you also want to give your smartphone a second life? Take it to a Coolblue store and get a discount on your new smartphone.
Quality marks
There are various quality marks that indicate that a manufacturer makes sustainable smartphones. Nokia has a platinum Ecovadis quality mark, for example. This means that Nokia was one of the most sustainable companies in 2022 with an Ecovadis quality mark. Ecovadis judges aspects like the environment, sustainability, and working conditions. Fairphone also has various quality marks. It's the only smartphone manufacturer with a fair-trade quality mark, for example. Fairphone pays fair wages and guarantees good working conditions in all factories.
Sustainable accessories
Did you choose a sustainable smartphone? Complete your purchase with sustainable accessories, such as sustainable phone cases. We have cases made of recycled or biodegradable materials. This means that the case isn't harmful for the environment when you throw it away. In addition, cheap is usually expensive in the end. More affordable cases don't last as long, so you'll have to buy a new case more often.
