Smartphones have become indispensable tools, but they also carry risks that are hard to ignore. From constant data tracking to disposable design, mainstream devices often prioritize convenience and profit over privacy and sustainability. A growing number of users are asking for something different: phones that protect personal data, last longer, and avoid exploitative supply chains. Two of the most visible players in this space are Fairphone and Murena. Fairphone focuses on ethical hardware and repairability, while Murena is best known for its de-googled mobile operating system, /e/OS.
While both options stand out, they are not the only paths toward privacy and sustainability. Today, there is a wider ecosystem of alternatives, each offering a different balance of features. Some emphasize hardware-level privacy through physical kill switches, others experiment with Linux-based mobile systems, and some mirror Fairphone’s commitment to repairability but in different markets.
Fairphone has carved out a very unique identity in the smartphone market by focusing on sustainability and repairability. Unlike most phones, which are designed to be replaced every two or three years, Fairphone devices are modular. Owners can replace batteries, screens, and other components using the simplest tools. This design not only extends the life of each device but also helps reduce electronic waste.
Equally important is Fairphone’s attention to supply chain. The company highlights its use of Fairmined and recycled materials, audits its suppliers, and works toward better labour conditions in electronics manufacturing. While this cannot solve all the ethical challenges of global supply chains, Fairphone’s transparency and incremental improvements set it apart in an industry where sourcing is often opaque.
The company’s latest models, such as the Fairphone 5, promise at least eight years of software updates. This is a remarkable figure in an industry where even premium phones often receive five years of support. The trade-off, however, comes in the form of performance. Fairphone devices generally sit in the midrange category, which means they do not come with the latest iPhone or Samsung flagships in raw power, camera performance, or premium design. Still, for users who value repairability and long-term usability over having the latest features, Fairphone offers one of the most practical alternatives on the market.
Murena takes a different approach considering the space in question. Rather than building new hardware, it offers an alternative software ecosystem through /e/OS. This is an open-source fork of Android that completely strips out Google’s services and telemetry. Instead, it replaces them with privacy-respecting alternatives. For instance, Murena provides its own app store, a privacy-friendly search tool powered by Qwant, and a suite of cloud services for email, calendar, and file storage.
The goal is to make privacy accessible to everyday users without forcing them to sacrifice the familiarity of Android. Apps can still be installed from mainstream sources, but tracking is automatically limited, and users can even see what trackers are present in each app. Murena also gives users control over location services and permissions, offering a level of transparency that most stock Android builds simply do not provide.
What makes Murena particularly attractive is that it sells phones with /e/OS pre-installed. These devices often include repurposed hardware from manufacturers like Samsung or Fairphone. This means users who want to avoid the technical process of flashing a new operating system can simply purchase a Murena phone and enjoy a ready-to-use de-googled experience. For anyone concerned primarily about digital privacy rather than hardware sustainability, Murena is one of the most accessible solutions available.
Fairphone and Murena address important problems, but each has its own set of challenges and limitations. Fairphone excels in repairability and ethical sourcing, yet it ships with standard Android by default. Unless a user installs a custom ROM, they may face the usual privacy concerns tied to Google’s ecosystem.
Murena, on the other hand, offers outstanding privacy tools, but it’s hardware is not always as sustainable or modular as Fairphone’s. The company relies on existing smartphone designs, which means that users may not get the same guarantees around long-term repairability or ethically sourced components.
This is why many privacy-conscious or sustainability-minded buyers look at other options. Some want strongest possible security with hardware kill switches that can physically disconnect the microphone or modem. Others want to experiment with Linux-based systems that go beyond Android and iOS altogether. And some simply want a repairable phone that fits their budget better than Fairphone.
One of the strongest alternatives for users with strict privacy requirements is the Purism Librem 5. Unlike previously discussed devices, Purism builds its phones around Linux rather than Android. The device runs PureOS, a Debian-based operating system designed entirely around free and open-source software.
What makes the Librem 5 stand out are its hardware kill switches. With the flick of a switch, users can physically disable the device’s functions, such as the camera, microphone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or even the cellular modem. This feature gives the phone a level of assurance that no software update can match. For high-security users, say journalists, lawyers, or professionals working with sensitive data, this is a major advantage.
Purism also offers a version called the Librem 5 USA, which emphasizes, as its namesake, a domestic supply chain with critical components manufactured and assembled in the United States. This reduces reliance on opaque overseas suppliers and appeals to organizations or individuals concerned about supply-chain integrity.
The downside is cost and convenience. The Librem 5 is priced much higher than most consumer phones, and because it runs Linux, app support is also very limited. Everyday tools like banking apps or rideshare platforms may not work reliably, which means the Librem 5 is best suited of users who prioritize privacy over convenience.
For tinkerers and open-source enthusiasts, the PinePhone and PinePhone Pro offer a more affordable and experimental path. Developed by PINE64, these phones are designed to run a wide variety of Linux-based operating systems, including Ubuntu Touch, postmarketOS, and Sailfish. This makes them highly flexible platforms for testing, development, and community-driven innovation.
Like Purism, PinePhone devices often include hardware privacy switches, giving users physical control over components such as camera and modem. The difference, however, is accessibility. PinePhone models are significantly cheaper than the Librem 5, making them attractive for hobbyists or anyone curious about mobile Linux.
The trade-off is polish. These devices are not designed to replace mainstream smartphones for the average user. Performance is modest, and the app ecosystem is fragmented. However, for users who are comfortable with technical experimentation and who want to escape mainstream platforms, PinePhone represents one of the most open and customizable options presently available.
Some alternatives target organizations rather than individuals. Silent Circle’s Blackphone family, for example, was designed around secure communications for businesses and government clients. These devices make encrypted voice calls and secure messaging a priority, although availability and branding have shifted over the years.
Meanwhile, other manufacturers pursue Fairphone’s version of sustainability and repairability. Teracube offers long warranties and replaceable batteries, aiming to keep devices usable for years; boasting at the same time its safe nature for children and teens.
SHIFT, a German company, develops modular devices similar to Fairphone, with a focus on easy repairs and transparent production. These options may not offer the deep privacy protections of Murena or Purism, but they give consumers more choice in the growing movement toward repairable and longer-lasting hardware.
The smartphone market is beginning to diversify beyond the traditional Apple and Google duopoly. Fairplay and Murena show that it is possible to prioritize sustainability and privacy without giving up device usability.
No single device will satisfy everyone. Some users will accept fewer apps in exchange for hardware kill switches, while other will value modular repairability over absolute privacy. What matters most in that, in 2025, consumers finally have options. Whether they want to protect their data, reduce e-waster, or ensure that their phone aligns with their values, there is now a growing ecosystem of devices to choose from, a welcome shift in an industry long dominated by convenience at the expense of user control.
