These Fully-Repairable Earbuds Claim to Be the “Last Pair of Earbuds You’ll Ever Need to Buy”

Fairphone redefines earbuds sustainability with the new Fairbuds. (From: Fairphone)
Fairphone redefines earbuds sustainability with the new Fairbuds. (From: Fairphone)

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Break the cycle of waste with Fairphones’ Fairbuds.

Fairphone, the electronics brand known for its sustainability, has released its first True Wireless earbuds, the Fairbuds.

Challenging the idea that wireless earbuds are disposable, the company claims these are “the last pair of earbuds you’ll ever need to buy.”

They have a modular design that makes repairs easy, replaceable batteries on both the earbuds and case, and you can buy spare parts for DIY fixes.

“With the launch of the Fairbuds, we are leading the industry by example yet again. We are combining premium quality and longevity, bringing sustainability to the audio segment.” says Reinier Hendriks, Fairphone’s CEO.

Fairbuds Features

Wearing the new Fairphone Fairbuds. (From: Fairphone)
Wearing the new Fairphone Fairbuds. (From: Fairphone)

Despite the focus on repairability, Fairphone hasn’t compromised on premium features.

The Fairbuds feature titanium-coated 11mm drivers for rich, balanced sound, along with advanced active noise-cancellation (ANC).

You can tailor the sound to your preferences using the 8-band EQ in the dedicated Fairbuds app, available for both Android and iOS. The app can also be used to update the earbuds’ firmware.
A close look at the Fairbuds' dynamic drivers. (From: Fairphone)
A close look at the Fairbuds’ dynamic drivers. (From: Fairphone)

Aside from music listening, phone calls can also sound crystal clear. This is thanks to the Environmental Noise Canceling (ENC) with wind noise reduction powered by six onboard microphones.

They are also sweat and weather-resistant, rated IP54, making them perfect for active users.

The Fairbuds’ battery life rated at 6 hours for the earbuds, with the charging case providing an additional 20 hours. While not class-leading, it should be more than enough for most users.

But, if the batteries do degrade over time, you can simply replace them.

You can replace the batteries on both the earbuds and the charging case. (From: Fairphone)
You can replace the batteries on both the earbuds and the charging case. (From: Fairphone)

The Fairbuds (both the earbuds and charging case) are made with 70% recycled and

fair materials, an industry-leading metric.

Fairphone doesn’t just talk the sustainability talk – they walk the walk.

The Fairbuds are made from 70% recycled and fair materials, with the earbuds and charging case housing contain 30% recycled plastic (PC + ABS). The company also uses 100% recycled rare earth elements in Fairbuds production, reducing the greenhouse gas footprint.

The Fairbuds are made to be as eco-friendly as possible. (From: Fairphones)
The Fairbuds are made to be as eco-friendly as possible. (From: Fairphones)

All the gold used is Fairtrade certified, while silver and cobalt are matched with Fairmined credits to improve mining conditions.

The Fairbuds are also electronic waste neutral. So, for every pair produced, an equivalent weight of e-waste is recycled responsibly.

But, as if that’s not enough, Fairphone also invests in Gold Standard certified carbon reduction projects to offset the remaining GHG emissions from producing the Fairbuds.

The earbuds are available in two colors: black or white. (From: Fairphone)
The earbuds are available in two colors: black or white. (From: Fairphone)

Technical specifications

  • Form Factor: In-ear, true wireless
  • Driver: Titanium-coated 11 mm dynamic drivers
  • Number of drivers: 2 per earbud
  • Waterproof IP Rating: IP54
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 KHz
  • Bluetooth Version: 5.3
  • Bluetooth Audio Codec: SBC & AAC
  • Battery Life: 26 hours with charging case
  • Mic: Six microphones (three per earbud)
  • Additional features: Touch controls, multipoint connection

Where to Buy

What comes with the Fairphone Fairbuds. (From: Fairphone)
What comes with the Fairphone Fairbuds. (From: Fairphone)

The Fairphone Fairbuds are available now from Fairphone’s official website for €149 (about US$160) in black or white color options.

Each pair comes with a three-year warranty and three ear tip sizes. To reduce plastic waste, Fairphone does not include a USB-C cable or charger in the box, but these can be purchased separately if needed.

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