Fairphone (Gen. 6+) vs Galaxy A17 5G: which should you buy?
These two phones do different jobs. Get the Fairphone (Gen. 6+) for multitasking, and get the Galaxy A17 5G for casual games and streaming. The Fairphone moved to 12GB of RAM, so switching between apps is quicker and more apps stay open. The Galaxy puts a big, bright Super AMOLED screen and a large battery in your hand for very little money. Pick the job, and the phone picks itself.
Who should get the Fairphone
Get the Fairphone if you keep a lot open and keep a phone for years. It pairs that memory with a capable chip and plenty of storage, with room for a microSD card. It is built to be fixed: it opens with a T5 Torx screwdriver so you can swap parts yourself, and you can take the battery out at home. Fairphone promises years of major Android updates, so it ages slowly.
Who should get the Galaxy A17 5G
Get the Galaxy if you want a big screen for games and video and little else. The smooth screen and the long-lasting battery handle an evening of streaming without a charger. Samsung promises six years of system and security updates, so it lasts as long as the Fairphone on software.
The differences that matter
Speed comes first. The Fairphone has three times the memory, and it keeps apps open and moving. The Galaxy reloads more often.
Cameras come second. The Fairphone has a sharper selfie camera with autofocus and shoots high resolution video. It is the better phone for photos and clips.
Toughness and sound come third. The Fairphone stands up to dust and splashes a little better, and it has stereo speakers where the Galaxy does not. The Galaxy is thinner.
Price and value
Neither phone has a newer model close.
The Fairphone is the phone you keep and fix. The Galaxy is the screen you can afford today.
Fairphone (Gen. 6+) vs Galaxy A17 5G
Fairphone (Gen. 6+)
Check price
Galaxy A17 5G
$244.99 at Best Buy- Fairphone (Gen. 6+): 12GB RAMMemory−8 GB RAMGalaxy A17 5G: 4GB RAM
- Fairphone (Gen. 6+): 32MPFront camera−19 MPGalaxy A17 5G: 13MP
- Fairphone (Gen. 6+): 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED, 1116x2484, 10-120Hz adaptive refreshDisplayGalaxy A17 5G: 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, up to 90Hz
- Fairphone (Gen. 6+): 4,415mAh, removable by the ownerBatteryGalaxy A17 5G: 5,000mAh
- Fairphone (Gen. 6+): Modular: opens with a T5 Torx screwdriver so you can swap parts yourselfDesignGalaxy A17 5G: Gorilla Glass Victus front, glass fiber reinforced polymer back, plastic frame; 7.5mm thin