Fairphone Fairbuds 2 Review: Repairable Earbuds Gain Better Battery Life and a Fresh Design
Fairphone, the company best known for making modular smartphones that consumers can repair themselves, has expanded its audio lineup with the launch of the Fairbuds 2. These second-generation true wireless earbuds arrive in the UK and Europe at £99 / €119, with a $119 US release scheduled for November 2nd. They follow the original Fairbuds, which earned attention in 2024 for offering something almost unheard of in the world of wireless audio: user-replaceable batteries. The new model keeps that core promise but aims to fix some of the biggest weaknesses of its predecessor, including battery life, design, and audio performance.
The most immediately visible change is the redesign. Fairphone has moved away from the rounded, stemless look of the first Fairbuds and adopted a stemmed design, which will feel familiar to anyone who has used mainstream earbuds from Apple or Samsung. The Fairbuds 2 are available in black or green, and the charging case has been shrunk dramatically. It is now 37 percent smaller than the original case, a significant improvement that makes the product much easier to carry around. This matters because repairable earbuds have often been bulkier and less convenient than their disposable counterparts. With this new model, Fairphone is proving that ease of repair and compact design do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Battery life is one of the biggest upgrades. The original Fairbuds offered respectable but unremarkable endurance, and the new version nearly doubles it. On a full charge, the earbuds can last up to eight hours on their own, and with the charging case, that total reaches 40 hours, according to Fairphone. If you use active noise cancellation, the numbers drop to six hours per charge, which is still competitive for the price range. Charging is done over USB-C, and a full top-up takes about two hours. There is no support for Qi wireless charging, which might disappoint some users, but it is worth noting that Apple’s $129 AirPods 5 also lack wireless charging. For a brand that prioritizes simplicity and longevity, the decision to stick with a wired charging method is understandable, since it reduces complexity and keeps costs down.
Audio quality has also been given attention. The Fairbuds 2 use new bio-cellulose dynamic drivers, still 11mm in size, which Fairphone says deliver improved sound compared to the first generation. There is also refined active noise cancellation and support for the LDAC codec, which allows for higher-resolution wireless audio on compatible Android devices. Multipoint connectivity is included, so you can connect the earbuds to two devices at once, which is useful for switching between a laptop and a phone. A five-band equalizer in the companion app gives users the ability to fine-tune the sound to their preferences.
After spending a couple of weeks with the Fairbuds 2, the overall impression is positive, though not without caveats. These are not the most polished or premium-sounding earbuds you can buy for around $120. Compared to the best mid-range options from Sony or Samsung, they lack a bit of refinement. The sound quality is good, but it can be a little muddy at times, and the soundstage is not as expansive as some other earbuds in this price range. That said, there are no serious complaints either. The earbuds look attractive, the touch controls are simple and responsive, and the overall listening experience is enjoyable for most genres of music. The active noise cancellation is also impressive for the price, doing a solid job of canceling out the low-frequency hum of traffic, office chatter, and other common background noise.
Of course, the main reason to choose Fairbuds over the competition is repairability. This remains a relatively unique feature in the earbuds market, though European legal changes are starting to push other manufacturers in the same direction. The Fairbuds 2 offer the same repairability as the first generation, and in some ways, that is the most impressive thing about them. The battery in each earbud can be removed in less than a minute without any tools. The battery inside the charging case is also replaceable, though it requires a single T5 screw to access. In total, there are seven user-replaceable parts, including the eartips and sleeves. Spare parts will be available on Fairphone’s website, allowing users to keep their earbuds alive for years rather than throwing them away when the battery degrades, which is something that cannot be said for almost any other earbuds on the market.
The Fairbuds 2 also come with an IP54 rating, which means they are protected against splashes of water, rain, and sweat. They are not fully waterproof, so they should not be submerged, but they are more than suitable for workouts and use in bad weather. Fairphone is also backing the product with a three-year warranty, which adds an extra layer of confidence for buyers. This combination of replaceable parts, environmental protection, and a long warranty period makes the Fairbuds 2 one of the most sustainable options in the wireless audio market.
Beyond the hardware itself, Fairphone continues to emphasize transparency in its supply chain. The company says that 49 percent of the materials used in the Fairbuds 2 are “fair and recycled.” This includes recycled plastics and rare earth minerals, as well as cobalt, gold, and silver sourced through fair mining credits. These credits are designed to support responsible mining practices in regions where materials like gold and cobalt are often extracted under dangerous and exploitative conditions. Fairphone also states that the earbuds are assembled under fair working conditions, something that cannot be verified for most consumer electronics products. While no electronic device can truly be called ethical in a world of complex global supply chains, Fairphone’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement sets it apart from the vast majority of its competitors.
The Fairbuds 2 are not for everyone. If you absolutely need the best possible audio quality, the most aggressive noise cancellation, or the most seamless integration with a specific smartphone ecosystem, there are better options elsewhere. Apple, Sony, and others offer earbuds with more advanced features and more polished performance. But those products are often difficult or impossible to repair, and many are designed to be replaced within two or three years. The Fairbuds 2 offer a different kind of value. They are good enough for everyday listening, with solid sound, respectable ANC, and a comfortable design, but their real strength lies in their longevity. When a battery starts to degrade, you do not need to buy a whole new pair of earbuds. You can simply order a replacement battery and install it yourself in under a minute.
As the European Union’s right-to-repair regulations begin to force manufacturers to make batteries more user-replaceable, Fairphone is already years ahead of the curve. The company has built its entire brand around the idea that consumers deserve to control the lifespan of their devices. With the Fairbuds 2, that philosophy is applied to earbuds in a way that is both practical and accessible. The price is reasonable, the design is competitive, and the repairability is unmatched. It may not be the flashiest earbuds on the shelf, but for anyone who cares about sustainability, ethical sourcing, and reducing electronic waste, the Fairbuds 2 make a compelling case as the most responsible choice in the segment.
