I love the concept of Fairphone but I can't believe they're still selling their phone for €530. It's worth maybe 1/5th that, if that. Is it just hubris? I hope not, because even if their phones command a reasonable price premium over competitors, it's worth it to some people. They're definitely filling a need. It would be a shame if few of their phones get into people's hands because they price them too far above cost (because, let's face it, it's almost impossible to turn a profit as a small phone manufacturer).
That's what they need to charge to make money. I think it demonstrates how repairability and fairness isn't worth it - I can just buy 4 equivalent phones for the same price (like the Nokia 5) and throw them out when broken.
You're missing the point here. Repairability and fairness isn't worth "it in the current world state".
In a true fair world, manufacturers would be charged for all externalities (pollution from mining, paying decent wages that ensure people don't starve, recycling thrown out electronics, etc), all phones would cost that. Currently, those externalities are just ignored, with the expected consequences.
