Welcome to episode 43 of The Sideload, the 9to5Google podcast. In this episode, host Will Sattelberg sits down with 9to5’s Daniel Bader to interview Chandler Hatton, Chief Technology Officer at Fairphone. The conversation centers on the newly revealed Fairphone Gen 6+, Fairphone’s first official launch in the United States, and the company’s commitment to repairable, sustainable devices. Along the way the trio discusses hardware choices, the increasing pressure on memory and storage in modern smartphones, and what it means to build a phone designed for longevity in a market that often prioritizes short upgrade cycles.
Fairphone’s approach to modular, repair-friendly design remains a key theme throughout the interview. Chandler explains how the Gen 6+ balances user-repairability with competitive performance and modern features, while Will and Daniel explore how consumers and carriers are responding to a device that explicitly encourages long-term ownership. The discussion also touches on supply chain decisions, software support timelines, and the practical realities of offering a repairable phone in a global market. Listeners hear about the trade-offs Fairphone made to achieve repairability without sacrificing core functionality that buyers expect from a contemporary smartphone.
Sponsored by NordVPN: Listeners to The Sideload can save up to 76% on a two-year subscription alongside four extra months for free by using the sponsor’s promotion. We appreciate NordVPN for supporting this episode. The sponsorship helps keep independent podcasts like ours running and enables us to continue bringing in-depth conversations with industry guests, including leaders of companies that prioritize sustainability and design integrity.
This episode covers both the technical details and the broader context: how the Gen 6+ fits into consumer expectations in the U.S., the way Fairphone is addressing repair networks and parts availability, and what software updates and security support buyers can expect. If you are interested in the future of ethical device manufacturing, practical repairability, or the tension between ever-growing RAM requirements and the need to design devices that last, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives from both a product and a policy standpoint.
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Hosts
- Will Sattelberg
- Daniel Bader
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- Chandler Hatton
Will and Daniel guide the interview, asking practical questions about how a repair-first philosophy affects product design, pricing, and marketing. Chandler responds with technical insights, real-world examples of customer feedback, and explanations of how Fairphone prioritizes replaceable modules, documentation, and long-term software support. The episode offers useful takeaways for consumers thinking about repairability, activists advocating for right-to-repair policies, and industry observers tracking how niche approaches can influence mainstream device makers.
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