The smartphone industry has long grappled with Android’s update conundrum. While Apple devices receive software support for years, many Android phones are abandoned after just two or three updates. Fairphone, the sustainable smartphone manufacturer, has developed a clever workaround to this persistent problem. Their Fairphone 5 demonstrates how creative engineering can extend a device’s software lifespan significantly beyond industry standards.

How the Android update ecosystem creates a software longevity problem

Android’s update infrastructure presents unique challenges that often result in premature software obsolescence. Unlike Apple’s vertically integrated ecosystem, Android updates must navigate a complex supply chain before reaching end users. Google develops the core Android operating system through AOSP (Android Open Source Project), but this code then requires significant modification by both chipmakers and device manufacturers.

The process typically works as follows: Google releases new Android versions, chipmakers like Qualcomm and MediaTek adapt this code to work with their processors, and finally, manufacturers add their custom interfaces (Samsung’s One UI, Xiaomi’s MIUI, etc.) before pushing updates to consumers. This multi-layered approach creates bottlenecks that delay or prevent updates from reaching older devices.

Despite Google’s attempts to streamline this process through initiatives like Project Treble, which separates system updates from manufacturer customizations, a fundamental obstacle remains. Chipmakers eventually cease supporting older processors, making it difficult for manufacturers to deliver new Android versions regardless of their intentions.

This chipset support limitation has traditionally been the primary reason many Android phones stop receiving major updates after just 2-3 years, even when the hardware remains perfectly capable of running newer software. The problem is particularly evident in mid-range and budget devices, where profit margins don’t justify extended software development resources.

Fairphone’s innovative approach to extended software support

Fairphone has implemented a remarkably clever solution to Android’s update problem with their Fairphone 5. Rather than using a traditional smartphone processor, the company selected Qualcomm’s QCM6490 chip—a processor typically reserved for industrial and commercial IoT (Internet of Things) applications.

This strategic hardware choice makes all the difference. Industrial components are designed for environments where longevity and reliability are paramount, unlike consumer electronics, where annual upgrades are the norm. The QCM6490 comes with Qualcomm’s commitment to provide driver support for approximately five years, significantly longer than typical smartphone processors receive.

Performance-wise, the QCM6490 is comparable to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G, positioning it as a capable mid-range processor. It supports modern connectivity standards including Wi-Fi 6E and offers sufficient power for everyday smartphone tasks. While not competing with flagship processors in benchmarks, it provides a balanced experience focused on sustainability rather than spec supremacy.

This innovative approach allows Fairphone to promise an unprecedented 8-10 years of software support for the Fairphone 5, doubling the industry standard even among the best manufacturers. The first five years will include major Android version updates, while the remaining period will focus on security patches and stability improvements.

Why major manufacturers haven’t adopted similar strategies

If Fairphone’s solution seems so effective, why haven’t Samsung, Xiaomi, or other major players implemented similar approaches? The answer lies in different business priorities and market positioning. Mainstream manufacturers operate on business models that encourage regular hardware upgrades, with software support acting primarily as a selling point rather than a sustainability feature.

Some larger companies have attempted to address the update problem through vertical integration. Samsung develops its Exynos processors, Google creates Tensor chips, and Huawei had HiSilicon before trade restrictions. These in-house solutions theoretically allow for better control over the update cycle, but the development and production of competitive mobile processors require enormous resources.

Additionally, consumer expectations for flagship devices center on cutting-edge performance and features. Industrial-grade processors like the QCM6490 offer longevity at the expense of some performance advantages that the latest Snapdragon or MediaTek flagship chips provide. This tradeoff makes more sense for Fairphone’s sustainability-focused audience than for manufacturers competing primarily on specifications and yearly innovation.

Another factor is scale. Fairphone operates with smaller production volumes, allowing them to make hardware choices that might not be feasible for companies shipping hundreds of millions of devices annually. The supply of industrial IoT processors might not meet the demands of the broader smartphone market.

The future of sustainable software support in mobile technology

Fairphone’s innovative approach may signal a turning point in how we think about smartphone longevity. As consumers become increasingly concerned about electronic waste and environmental impact, extended software support could become a more significant purchasing factor.

Google has recognized this shift, working to improve Android’s update infrastructure through Project Mainline, which allows core components to be updated directly through the Play Store. The European Union’s proposed right-to-repair legislation may soon require longer support periods for electronic devices, potentially forcing manufacturers to prioritize software longevity.

For technically inclined users, community-maintained Android distributions like LineageOS have long provided an alternative path to extended support. However, these solutions require unlocked bootloaders and technical knowledge beyond most consumers’ comfort level.

The ideal scenario would involve chipmakers releasing driver source code after official support ends, enabling the community or manufacturers to maintain updates independently. Unfortunately, intellectual property concerns make this unlikely in the near term.

Fairphone’s achievement with the Fairphone 5 demonstrates that with creative thinking and prioritization of sustainability, Android’s update problem has workable solutions. As consumer preferences evolve and regulatory pressure increases, we may see more manufacturers adopting similar approaches to extend the useful life of mobile devices through sustained software support.