Damien Wilde / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The Android 14 replace for the Fairphone 4 is not going to be launched this yr as initially deliberate.
- The delay is attributed to technical points that require assist from Qualcomm.
- Fairphone goals to supply extra details about the replace early subsequent yr.
It appears like Fairphone 4 customers hoping for an Android 14 improve this yr should maintain off a bit longer, as Fairphone has introduced a delay within the rollout. Launched initially with Android 11, the Fairphone 4 was due for an Android 14 replace by the top of this yr. Nevertheless, a latest replace from an organization consultant signifies that customers could not see it till someday subsequent yr.
For these unfamiliar, Fairphone is a novel participant within the smartphone market, dedicated to sustainability and moral manufacturing practices. The corporate is well-regarded for its clear method to sourcing supplies and its dedication to producing telephones that last more than the common lifespan of many different units. In an business the place frequent upgrades and disposability are sometimes the norm, every Fairphone mannequin is designed to be repairable and supported for prolonged durations.
A Fairphone worker posted the next replace on the corporate’s neighborhood discussion board:
Hello all,
UPDATE: Sadly, we received’t have the ability to roll out the Android 14 replace for Fairphone 4 customers simply but. There are some points now we have run into for which we’ll want Qualcomm’s assist on. That is taking somewhat longer than we anticipated. Because it stands, we don’t see the replace rolling by in 2024. Hopefully, we must always know extra by early subsequent yr. We’re actually sorry about this sudden improvement, and we’re working around the clock to get it out as quickly as potential.
Thanks once more in your persistence.
The Fairphone 4, launched in 2021 with Android 11, obtained the Android 13 replace final fall. Concurrent with the Android 13 replace, Fairphone prolonged the system’s assist window by a yr, from 2026 to 2027, promising customers updates by Android 15.
In the meantime, house owners of the newer Fairphone 5 already obtained the Android 14 replace earlier this yr, which introduced in plenty of new options. With Android 14, Fairphone 5 customers take pleasure in a refreshed interface that features a default darkish mode, better customization of the Again and Latest buttons, and an enhanced six-digit PIN choice for higher safety. Different updates embrace extra transparency in app information permissions, refined quantity controls by cut up sliders, and a flash notification choice for alerts.
These updates give a style of what Fairphone 4 customers can count on as soon as Android 14 arrives for his or her system. Fairphone has assured customers that it’s working diligently to expedite the replace course of and goals to supply additional data early subsequent yr.