Android Authority lists five Android phones to buy instead of Fairphone Gen 6 Plus

The outlet describes Fairphone as a Dutch brand known for sustainable materials, long software support and user-replaceable parts. Its phones were for a long time sold mostly in Europe, and the Gen 6 Plus expands that with a U.S. launch. The device is a mid-range phone with software support through 2033 and 12 user-replaceable parts, yet Android Authority says there are more powerful and feature-rich options around the same price.

The first alternative is the HMD Skyline, which costs about $400 and is the closest rival on repairability. It allows users to replace the battery and display with minimal effort, while adding a 108MP main camera, a separate telephoto camera, a larger battery with wireless charging and a slimmer body. It runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, slightly behind the Fairphone’s Gen 4 chip, but has 8GB of RAM, 256GB of expandable storage and a 144Hz POLED display compared with the Fairphone’s 120Hz.

Android Authority is less impressed with the HMD Skyline’s software commitment: two years of OS upgrades and three years of security updates. Launched with Android 14 in 2024, the Skyline is expected to stop at Android 16, whereas Fairphone promises at least six major Android OS upgrades. Even so, the article calls it “not a perfect replacement, but it’s about as close of one as you’ll find.”

Google’s Pixel 10a, priced under $500, is described as the best dual-camera smartphone at that level. It is lighter than the Fairphone, has IP68-rated waterproofing, a much larger battery, wireless charging and several Pixel-exclusive AI features. The Pixel 10a is nearly identical to the Pixel 9a, but Android Authority says the newer model is lighter and has slightly faster wired charging and a few more AI features, while lacking built-in magnets for Qi2 wireless charging.

For a more premium device near the Fairphone’s price, Android Authority picks the Google Pixel 10. It has an aluminum-and-glass design that matches the more expensive Pixel 10 Pro, a display of the same size as the Pixel 10a but with tougher glass, 12GB of RAM, a 10.8MP rear telephoto camera and built-in magnets for Qi2 charging and Pixelsnap accessories. The Tensor G5 chip should be comparable or better than the Fairphone’s mid-range chip, though the article says it is less suited to gaming than Qualcomm’s flagship silicon. The Pixel 10 launched in 2025 at $799, and some color variants were listed at around $730.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is offered as a flagship alternative. The 256GB Navy model was listed at $680 on Amazon, according to Android Authority, and still has six OS upgrades remaining. It uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for gaming and heavy multitasking and has an Ultra-Wideband chip for precise tracking of Bluetooth trackers such as the Google Pixel Tag. The outlet says it was frustrated by the S25 Plus’s lack of meaningful camera, design or battery changes from earlier models, but recommends it for anyone who does not already own a Galaxy S24 Plus.

The fifth phone in the roundup is the Motorola Razr Plus (2025), which the article treats as a foldable in the same general price range as the Fairphone Gen 6 Plus.