Repairable smartphones need a futureproof processor too

The self-repairable Fairphone 5 has given us much to discuss, whether we’re missing the days of replaceable batteries or in awe at the phone’s best-in-class update policy and eco-credentials. But equally intriguing is the processor powering the phone — a previously unseen Qualcomm QCM6490.

Poking around Qualcomm’s documentation, the QCM6490 is built for IoT applications rather than phones. This explains the phone’s long-term support, as wireless products deployed in the field for many years need to remain secure. The Fairphone 5 will receive five years of Android OS updates and seven years of security patches. That eclipses the best smartphone update promises of four OS and five years of security, though the updates will arrive at a slower cadence.