News

The Fairphone 3 is an ethical smartphone with modular parts

A smartphone that cares for the people and the planet

Published

August 30, 2019

Kenrick Buduan

The smartphone industry is plagued by ethical problems such as human exploitation and e-waste production. Fairphone — a Dutch company that aims to reduce e-waste and exploitation — has taken the wraps off its Fairphone 3.

Ethical by Design

Like its predecessors, the Fairphone 3 retain its modular design where all of its components are swappable for a spare part. All of its components — yes, all of it — can be taken out and replaced with another identical component. This is made possible with a modular design that replaces adhesives with Phillips screws which conjoins all the smartphone components together. Every spare part is also purchasable through Fairphone’s online store.

There is no shortage of components to take apart — the display, the cameras, and the speakers are all replaceable. And not to forget the battery which can be easily removed and swapped with another battery — harking back to the days when smartphones had removable batteries. As such, the phone can easily be repaired when something goes wrong. This ensures that the phone lasts longer and doesn’t end up in a landfill.

The components of the Fairphone 3 are also made mostly from recycled components. Fairphone sourced all of its components in places and industries which ensure good working conditions for its workers, making it an “ethical” smartphone.

There is no USB-C charger or earphone in the box as Fairphone believes that most users have them nowadays. And sticking with its ethos, the Fairphone 3 ships with a mini screwdriver on the box.

Specs and Availability

The Fairphone 3 is a modest smartphone for 2019. It features a 5.7 inch 18:9 display with bezels on both sides. The processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 which can be seen in budget devices. The device also has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. While that seems inadequate for a device that is built to last, Fairphone adds a MicroSD card slot which most smartphones today doesn’t have.

The 12MP rear camera and 8MP selfie camera are adequate for everyday tasks. The device runs Android 9 Pie out of the box. Keeping the lights on is a 3,000 mAh battery which seems inadequate for 2019. On the flip side, the device retains a headphone jack which is absent on most smartphones nowadays.

The phone is available starting September for US$ 500.

That steep price seems justifiable considering the efforts Fairphone made into producing an ethical smartphone that cares for the people and the planet. The phone is the Fairphone’s third smartphone iteration that features a modular design. Its predecessor, the Fairphone 2, was released last 2015 — so it was due time that Fairphone release another successor.

News

Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

But Apple will continue to sell the current model.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.

According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.

If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.

Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.

To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.

However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.

Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.

Enterprise

OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme

Both brands were previously rumored for restructuring early this year.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

OnePlus has a problem. For a while now, rumors have swirled about the company’s dissolution. For their part, the company has continued to deny the reports, citing business as usual. Likely to their dismay, the reports just keep coming. Today, sources have hinted that OnePlus has merged with realme.

Back in January, it was rumored that OnePlus would be closing up shop this year. Since the company very quickly denied the rumors, the report hardly made waves. However, a suspected merger with realme is more difficult to debunk.

For one, realme is itself in a very interesting position. Also back in January, realme was reportedly moving back into being a sub-brand of OPPO. Coupled together with the OnePlus debacle, all this internal restructuring seems par for the course.

According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, OnePlus and realme have already concluded the merger. The two brands have reportedly united their Chinese and international operations under one roof. Likewise, their marketing will be the same. Pete Lau will still be the main head for this new division.

As with anything of this nature, take this with a grain of salt. OPPO, OnePlus, and realme have not issued any official statements concerning a merger or a shutdown for any brand.