Fairphone has unveiled its second-generation wireless earbuds, the Fairbuds 2, doubling down on the repairability and ethical sourcing that have become the company’s calling card. The new earbuds succeed the original Fairbuds, which arrived in 2024, and promise meaningful upgrades in battery life, audio quality, and design while keeping the user-serviceable construction that set the first model apart. The Fairbuds 2 are available now in the United Kingdom and Europe, priced at £99 or €119, with a United States launch scheduled for November 2nd at $119.
The most immediately visible change is the design. Fairphone has moved away from the original’s rounded, bud-like silhouette to a more conventional stemmed form factor. The Fairbuds 2 are offered in two color options, black and green, and the charging case has been significantly reduced in size, now measuring 37 percent smaller than the first-generation case. That shrinkage makes the case considerably more pocketable, a practical improvement that many wireless earbud users will appreciate. Despite the smaller case and redesigned hardware, Fairphone has managed to nearly double the total battery life. The buds now deliver eight hours of playback on a single charge without active noise cancellation, extending to a total of 40 hours when factoring in the charging case. With ANC enabled, the buds last roughly six hours per charge. Charging is handled over USB-C, with a full charge taking a couple of hours. Notably, there is no Qi wireless charging support, though Fairphone is not alone in that omission: Apple’s $129 AirPods 5 also lack wireless charging.
Fairphone has also focused on audio improvements. The Fairbuds 2 feature new bio-cellulose dynamic drivers. They remain the same 11mm size as the previous generation, but the new driver material is intended to provide cleaner, more natural sound. The active noise cancellation has also been refined, and the earbuds now support the LDAC codec, which allows higher-resolution wireless audio streaming on compatible Android devices. Multipoint connectivity is included, so users can pair the earbuds with two devices simultaneously and switch between them seamlessly. In the companion app, a five-band EQ provides additional control, letting listeners tailor the sound profile to their preferences.
I have been using the Fairbuds 2 for a couple of weeks, and they make a solid first impression. They are not the most polished or premium-feeling earbuds at the $120 price point, but they are also hard to fault in everyday use. The design is attractive, and the simple touch controls are responsive. Audio quality is good, though not exceptional: the sound can be a little muddy at times, and the soundstage is not as expansive as some competing buds. Still, for most listening situations, the Fairbuds 2 perform admirably. The ANC is particularly impressive, canceling out a substantial amount of background noise. Whether on a busy street, in a noisy office, or on public transport, the earbuds do a credible job of shutting out unwanted sound.
The real reason to consider the Fairbuds 2, however, remains repairability. This is where Fairphone continues to stand apart from the rest of the consumer electronics industry. The battery in each earbud can be removed in less than a minute without any tools. That is a remarkable feat of design engineering, especially at this price point. The battery inside the charging case is also replaceable, though it requires a single T5 screw to access. Fairphone will sell spare parts through its website, and the Fairbuds 2 are built around a total of seven user-replaceable components, including the eartips and sleeves. This modular approach means that when a battery eventually degrades, the user does not need to throw away the entire product and buy a new pair. Instead, a replacement part can extend the life of the earbuds significantly. An IP54 rating provides protection against rain and sweat, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor use, though they are not fully waterproof. Fairphone also backs the Fairbuds 2 with a three-year warranty, adding extra peace of mind.
Repairability is becoming a more urgent issue across the technology industry. European legal changes are beginning to force manufacturers to make user-replaceable batteries and other components more accessible, but Fairphone has been ahead of this curve for years. The company built its reputation on modular smartphones, and it is now bringing that same philosophy to accessories like earbuds. In an era when many wireless earbuds are effectively disposable, with batteries glued in and no serviceable components, the Fairbuds 2 are a refreshing alternative.
Beyond repairability, Fairphone emphasizes transparency in its supply chain and manufacturing. The company says that 49 percent of the materials used in the Fairbuds 2 are “fair and recycled.” That includes recycled plastics and rare earth minerals, as well as cobalt, gold, and silver sourced with fair mining credits. These credits are part of Fairphone’s broader effort to ensure that the raw materials in its products are extracted under responsible conditions, with a focus on supporting mining communities and reducing environmental harm. Fairphone also states that the earbuds themselves are assembled under fair working conditions, consistent with the company’s long-standing commitment to ethical labor practices.
The combination of repairability, ethical sourcing, and solid performance makes the Fairbuds 2 a compelling option for consumers who care about the broader impact of their purchases. They are not perfect earbuds. The sound quality, while good, does not match the very best in the class. The lack of wireless charging may be a dealbreaker for some. And the price, while reasonable, is not the cheapest way to get decent ANC earbuds. But the Fairbuds 2 are about more than just specifications. They represent a different approach to consumer electronics, one that prioritizes longevity, transparency, and fairness over the endless cycle of replace-and-upgrade.
For anyone who has ever thrown away a pair of earbuds because the battery stopped holding a charge, or because a single earbud died and repair was impossible, the Fairbuds 2 offer a genuinely different path. Being able to pop out a battery in under a minute, replace a cracked eartip, or swap out a tired case cell transforms the relationship between the user and the device. It encourages ownership and maintenance, rather than planned obsolescence. Fairphone’s willingness to publish details about its materials and working conditions also raises the bar for the industry, pushing other brands to think more carefully about where their components come from and who assembles them.
The Fairbuds 2 are a strong follow-up to the original Fairbuds. They keep everything that made the first generation notable, while improving the areas that needed work. The battery life is much better. The new design is more conventional, but also more practical. The case is smaller. The ANC is refined. The audio is upgraded. All of this comes without sacrificing the core values that define Fairphone as a brand. If you are looking for earbuds that sound great, last a long time, and reflect your values, the Fairbuds 2 are worth serious consideration. And if you care about being able to repair your own device, there is really nothing else like them on the market. Fairphone has once again shown that ethical, repairable technology does not have to mean compromising on quality.
Photography by Dominic Preston / The Verge
