Buying the official /e/OS Fairphone 3: stability inquiry

/e/OS Devices Fairphone
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Hi,

Apologies if this is the wrong category. It’s more of a “pre sales question”.

I’m very much tempted to buy the official Fairphone 3 package through e.foundation. However, before I hit that “buy” button (I almost did!), I decided to look around the forum.

There seem to be a few reports about audio not working during audio/video calls in apps like Signal, Wire, WhatsApp, etc. … LiveDisplay (night light) doesn’t seem to be working either?

Reports:
https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/backlog/-/issues/1220
https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/backlog/-/issues/1223
https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/backlog/-/issues/1240

The shop page of e.foundation states:

Brand new phone
Fully functional and tested​

Is it fully functional and tested?

If I buy this phone, will these audio/video calls work? Sadly, it’s a must for work and some family members.

I’d love to use this phone in combination with /e/OS.

Thanks!

EDIT: as per archje request, I’ve added the links to the reports I mentioned.

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Could you please link to these reports so that a clearer opinion can be formed!

The /e/ OS ROM IMG-e-0.9-p-2020042851613-dev-FP3 and was developed in just a few months is the first public release. It is still in “beta” state like all other builds. This is not a bad thing, but you have to expect that nothing is perfect yet.

Our @Ingo_FP_Angel is an experienced FP user, even before /e/. Maybe you can get precise information from him.

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Done, I have added them to my first post.

That’s good to hear. Eager to hear his feedback.

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I can only comment on the LiveDisplay issue. That has been fixed and is now working in the testing branch. I’m relatively new to /e/, but I’d assume that fix will be included in the next OTA release.

Personally, I never do videocalls on the phone and I don’t have any of the reported apps on my phone.
I have tried Jitsi app on stock ROM once and it turned out it wasn’t usable with Blokada. After whitelisting Jitsi in Blokada it worked.

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Yes the fixes cleared in testing are included in the next OTA releases.

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Great. :slight_smile:

Is the videoconferencing problem also planned? An audio problem in video conferencing is a serious problem in corona times.

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That’s great to hear. Thanks for the feedback. :ok_hand:

Also curious about the audio problem being planned, though. It’s the only thing right now holding me from buying it.

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I pre-ordered a FP3 with /e/ and I’m also concerned with the audio problems that @tactleneck and @Fairphoner mention. I hope that the /e/ staff can check for this and for basic functions before delivering. :crossed_fingers:

Glad to hear that some fixes are already included in the next OTA releases! :raised_hands:

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Microphone / Speaker problem is not fixed yet afaik. It is also happening in voice-calls. I tried with Jitsi, Riot, Conversations (other users with Signal, Wire, Whatsapp), so it seems to affect all calls over internet. No response yet to the gitlab issue…
@Manoj: Any news from the developers? Very annoning to run around with the laptop for calling in times where no “reallife-meetings” are allowed :smiley:

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Reassure me, does the basic phone function works on your luxius but ethical pocket-computer ?..

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Normal phonecalls work just fine for me, didn’t have any problems with that. Also recording voice works.

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Update on the microphone/speaker issue:
some gitlab issues have been closed and merged into this one issue which is now assigned to a developer. Thanks team /e/!
https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/backlog/-/issues/1198

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Audio/microphone issue in VOIP seems to be fixed! Shipping in the next update. Awesome!

https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/backlog/-/issues/1198

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