Check on features before to buy/install FP5
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Hi,
I have been using FP3+ for about 4 years with Ubuntu-Touch as my main/only phone. Even through it indicates support for bluetooth, GPS and some others, I had never managed to get them fully working. I would like to check the status on them before to buy the FP5 and install UbuntuTouch.
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Bluetooth
Bluetooth: Does bluetooth work for hand-free calls? (e.g. in the car, using the car microphone for calls) -
GPS/Galileo/etc
GPS/similars: Does it work at all? (on the FP3, I never managed to get any position, it just wait for reception for hours). -
IDLE
Does it correctly handle application in IDLE? The FP3 battery last for days with all applications closed, but battery get drained terribly with every simple application not fully closed (e.g. Call, Clock or Notes). The battery last 5-6 days normally and maybe 1-2 days with open applications. -
NFC
NFC: Never managed to get it working on FP3, for example, I have a radio that uses NFC to connect the Bluetooth, it works with my wife Android phone, but not with the FP3.
I assume that other aspects of the FP3 works at least equally for the FP5, like USB connection with the PC, calls, etc.
Could I kindly ask you to confirm if this is expected to work with the FP5?
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Hi! I've been daily driving Ubuntu Touch since around March.
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Bluetooth:
It has been working really well for months now. My car is too old, so I haven't tried any bluetooth stuff there, but it works well for connecting compatible smart watches, music listening on my stereo and through headphones. Calls work very well through my headphones. -
GPS:
It works, but with the usual UT limitations because there is no A-GPS. Getting first fix, or getting a fix after not having used gps for a while takes some time, up to an hour, and you need to be outside or close to a window to get the fix. -
IDLE:
Some power saving functions have been implemented, but app suspension seems incomplete at the moment, at least on 20.04 devel. I get around 1,5 days of battery time on moderate use, but have to charge each evening if I use the phone a lot. -
NFC
I haven't tried it yet, but it seems there are few apps for UT that actually use NFC. I would not expect using NFC to connect to a radio to work.
Other notable stuff:
Calls: Works fine, including VoLTE.
SMS/MMS: I have sometimes not received every MMS sent to me.
Waydroid: Works well.
Connection to PC: Works well both for Linux and Windows for me.
Wifi/network: Sometimes disconnects from wifi, and I have to manually reconnect. If I lose Wifi connection, I have to manually turn on mobile data.It is also worth to note that the FP5 has no stable release channel yet. Development is very active on this phone right now, and new and improved things turn up often. I am very happy with my FP5, but some workarounds are needed now and then.
Edit: I just want to add that this is my experience with the phone, with my particular installation. Refer to the device page to see a more general list.
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@Ida_ I'm also considering to switch to FP5, but I'm curious about 5G. Do you perhaps have a subscription with 5G internet, and does that work?
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Thank you for your help.
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@rdfrs I'm not sure I understand your question, but I use 5G on my FP5 for surfing the web, chat messages etc. when I'm not on a wifi network, as long as there is a 5G connection available. Sometimes I only have 4G/LTE available where I am. I can use 5G on my phone (it switches automatically between 2G, 4G/LTE and 5G depending on what's available), or I can turn on the hotspot available in the network settings menu to make a wifi hotspot to connect my computer with and share internet access. It works very well.
5G is included in my regular phone plan that I pay for every month.
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@Ida_ thank you! That sounds perfect
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Bluetooth experience might still be the same or slightly improved. Honestly UT's bluetooth is kind of a hit or miss. Some devices work well on certain UT devices but some don't so it'll be like a lottery and depends on your luck
GPS works but still won't have AGPS which helps getting your initial location quickly. This is a general issue in UT. Best way to use GPS in UT is to try using mobile data and get out somewhere open and without a roof. Once you get the initial fix, it usually works fine.
As for idle battery drain, FP5 has recently got proper device sleep implementation which helps on this regard however it still has some quirks because of this. For example, Wifi can be finicky coming from a sleep. Also, FP5 has a weird bug where apps don't suspend even when in the background so this still adds to the battery drain if you have apps open. Now I'm thinking maybe the FP3 also has this bug?
Lastly, NFC works but UT doesn't really have any implementation of utilizing it yet so even if it works, connecting to your bluetooth device wouldn't work. Shouldn't it be possible to manually connect though?
In any case, I personally don't daily drive my FP5 yet. In my opinion, it's not ready yet, at least compared to the FP4 which is stable and works well for me.
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Honestly UT's bluetooth is kind of a hit or miss.
But I suppose that all FP5 works the same right? so if someone confirms it is working properly for hand-free calls, I should get the same result?
Now I'm thinking maybe the FP3 also has this bug?
Probably yes: I am closing all my apps after usage all the time, and when I forget to do it, I found my phone low very soon.
Also, the FP3+ has an issue that when I start the phone under 10%, it does not connect to the network (like if it has no SIM).
It also seems to drain the battery faster than some low-power USB-A chargers, even if I shutdown it (because in OFF, it still shows the bootloader while charging, which consume quite some power).
I found myself few times with my phone at 8%, the charger of my car and unable to make a simple call. Very annoying!Shouldn't it be possible to manually connect though?
Yes, that usually works for Audio output. NFC is just for convenience, maybe payments (never tried yet).
In any case, I personally don't daily drive my FP5 yet. In my opinion, it's not ready yet, at least compared to the FP4 which is stable and works well for me.
That is precisely why I am asking, because considering the UBPort page, it shows exactly like the FP4.
https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/fp5/ -
”But I suppose that all FP5 works the same right? so if someone confirms it is working properly for hand-free calls, I should get the same result?
Yes, it should work similarly however it will still depend on the device you are connecting to. If it it works on the cars of others doesn't mean it'll work yours.
That is precisely why I am asking, because considering the UBPort page, it shows exactly like the FP4.
https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/fp5/There are nuances that won't be reflected in that list so it may seem like they're the same but the actual experience may be slightly different. I think the main factor right now is that the development of the FP5 is quite active so there are still many big changes such as the sleep behavior. There's no stable channel yet as well so you'll be stuck with the dev channel.
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My experience with Fairphone 5:
- Bluetooth:
Working in my car for receiving and sending calls. Works also connected to a Pebble watch.
- GPS:
Works for me, it takes 10 to 20 minutes to get a fix, in the open air or at the balcony of my place (1st floor of a building 9 floors high). Sometimes it takes longer, if I don't see a fix in 20 minutes I restart the phone.
- IDLE:
Using the current development image the battery lasts for the whole day, unless using Waydroid for too long. I haven't seen the background apps draining battery so far.
- NFC
I use it with Waydroid in the transport system of my city, no issues.
Calls: No issues, 5G or Volte are working.
SMS/MMS: SMS fine, I don't use MMS.
Waydroid: Very fluid, but it hangs often when put in the background. Not a big deal because it starts in seconds.
Connection to PC: No issues to mount the device in Linux, or connect with adb.
Wifi/network: Disconnects if moving between WIFI antenna, but otherwise no issues.