Fairphone (Gen.6) or iPhone 17: which lasts longer?
Overall rating, EU class, updates, battery and protection of both smartphones side by side, from the suppliers’ entries in EPREL (as of 2 November 2026).
Result
The Fairphone (Gen.6) has EU repairability class A and scores 7.8 out of 10 in our overall rating from eight EPREL values; the iPhone 17 has class C and 4.8 out of 10.
The Fairphone (Gen.6) gets updates for longer according to its supplier (8 instead of 5 years); the battery is user-replaceable only on the Fairphone (Gen.6).
The battery of the Fairphone (Gen.6) lasts longer per charge (54 instead of 41 hours); in the drop test the Fairphone (Gen.6) survives more drops (300 instead of 180); only the iPhone 17 is waterproof (IP68).
On overall rating, EU repairability index, updates, replaceable battery, battery life, drop resistance and scratch resistance, the Fairphone (Gen.6) is ahead; on water protection, the iPhone 17.
All values compared
Bold is the better value where the devices differ. Grey below: the typical value across all smartphones (median, our own calculation).
| Value | Fairphone (Gen.6) | Apple iPhone 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall ratingtypical 5.6 | 7.8 out of 10 | 4.8 out of 10 |
| EU classtypical 3.38 | A · index 4.16 out of 5 | C · index 2.82 out of 5 |
| Updatestypical 5 years | 8 years | 5 years |
| Battery | Replaceable | Built in |
| Battery lifetypical 58 h | 54 h | 41 h |
| Charge cyclestypical 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Drop resistancetypical 270 | 300 drops · class A | 180 drops · class B |
| Water protectiontypical IP68 | IP55 · jet-proof | IP68 · waterproof |
| Scratch resistancetypical Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 5 |
| On the market since | 06/2025 | 09/2025 |
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Frequently asked questions
Which gets updates for longer, the Fairphone (Gen.6) or the iPhone 17?
According to the suppliers in EPREL, the Fairphone (Gen.6) gets 8 years of operating system updates and the iPhone 17 5 years, both counted from the end of sales.
On which can you replace the battery yourself?
According to the suppliers in EPREL, you can replace the battery yourself only on the Fairphone (Gen.6), not on the iPhone 17.
Which is easier to repair, the Fairphone (Gen.6) or the iPhone 17?
By EU repairability class, the Fairphone (Gen.6) is class A and the iPhone 17 class C (index 4.16 and 2.82 out of 5). In our overall rating from eight EPREL values, the Fairphone (Gen.6) is ahead with 7.8 out of 10 against 4.8 for the iPhone 17.
Sources
Laws and regulations in their current version, linked to the source.
- EPREL, European Product Registry for Energy LabellingEuropäische Kommission · Database · 13 Oct 2026
- EPREL public data disclaimerEuropäische Kommission · Database · 13 Oct 2026
- EPREL Public API terms and conditionsEuropäische Kommission · Guidance · 3 Jun 2024
- Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1669 (energy labelling of smartphones and slate tablets)EUR-Lex · EU regulation · 16 Jun 2023
- German Act against Unfair Competition (UWG)Bundesministerium der Justiz · Law · 27 Sept 2026