It’s been almost a month since we released our new Fairbuds to the world. With replaceable batteries in the earbuds and the charging case and a design that’s built to last, the Fairbuds are a modular marvel that’s all about that premium sound. It’s no wonder that, within days of its release, iFixit gave the sleek earbuds a perfect 10/10 score on their teardown, making it the first ever wireless earbuds to get one. It’s not just iFixit. Almost every major media outlet that we shared the Fairbuds with have come back with glowing reviews, commending our latest Fairphone device on its swappable ..read more

32-year old Mei has just gotten off her shift at a factory for one of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer suppliers in Shanghai. She has a three-year-old who she hardly sees. Costs are increasing, while funds are always tight. That’s why Mei is still working 14 hour shifts, pulling overtime as much as she can, staying in a dormitory with others like her, hundreds of kilometers away from her family. Days off are a rarity. “Isn’t that illegal?” “We sign time cards that say we work 8 hours. But that is not the truth.” “Why do it then? Why stay so far away? Why work so much overtime ..read more

We’re so proud of the Fairbuds, our first fully modular earbuds that are all about premium sound, designed to last. With seven replaceable parts, removable batteries in the earbuds and the charging case, and a three-year extended warranty, the Fairbuds are built to go on and on and on.  Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on repairing the new Fairbuds. All you need is a standard Philips screwdriver. A prying tool, like a pair of tweezers or this plastic triangle, will make opening up things easier, but it isn’t essential. Keep in mind, before you start repairing your Fairbuds, make sure ..read more

Titanium is key: The new Fairbuds feature 11mm titanium-coated drivers for better, cleaner, richer sound. During the development process, we evaluated several different driver types. This was done from both from an objective perspective, measuring and comparing frequency curves and harmonic distortion, as well as a more subjective approach, in the form of listening tests. We zeroed in on titanium as it is low in density but high in strength. That means our earbud drivers remain lightweight and ensure superfast responses, but are also strong enough to resonate high-fidelity, high-quality, cryst ..read more

Imagine this: You’re strolling through the streets of Amsterdam, fresh stroopwafel in hand, about to take a picture for the ‘gram framed against the beautiful Amstel River. Out of nowhere, a seagull swoops in, sending both your sugary treat and your smartphone flying into the canal, never to be seen again. (This actually happened to one of our colleagues, by the way!) So now you’re in the market for two things—first, a replacement stroopwafel, of course. Second, and more importantly, you need to get yourself a replacement phone. Ding, ding, ding! It’s time for some Fairphone math. If you break ..read more

We spent a day cruising through Amsterdam to get a good feel for the before and after of the Fairphone 4 camera upgrade IRL. As you can see, much fun was had. Check it out. Spoiler alert: Photos are richer, sharper, and more true to life with better contrast, while videos are buttery smooth and ultra-high def, thanks to improved video stabilization and 4K capabilities. “Incredibly happy with the update. Photos are quicker, crisper, better. It’s just like having a new phone – as everything else about the phone was already great. It makes a world of a difference.” “How did you do it? I’m truly ..read more

Allow us to tell you a little story. The story of the little mainboard that could. A couple of years back, we received an old Fairphone 3 through our reuse and recycle program (aka the R&R program), one that had been lovingly used for almost four years at the time. After the phone had been dismantled at our repair centerwe found that both the top module and the mainboard were still in perfect working condition. As luck would have it, we had just received another Fairphone 3 that required a working mainboard. And so began the mainboard’s new journey, helping to extend the life of a second d ..read more

Our new Fair Materials Roadmap 2030 extends our list of focus materials from 14 to 23 materials. With this, we take our fair material sourcing to the next level and challenge the industry to step up in addressing some of the biggest challenges we are facing. More than 10 years ago, Fairphone started out to prove that it is possible to create a smartphone with materials that are not just “conflict-free”, but that also benefits the people mining these materials. We have come a long way since then: In 2017 and in 2021, we released our initial Fair Materials Roadmaps, putting a focus first on 10 ..read more

It’s been two weeks since we re-introduced the Fairphone 4, now with a vastly improved camera experience. With faster shot-on-shot time, better low-light imaging and snappier autofocus, shooting with the Fairphone 4 is like working with a brand-new camera. Photos are richer, sharper, and more true to life with better contrast, while videos are buttery smooth and ultra-high def, thanks to improved video stabilization and 4K capabilities.  Having said that, sometimes, the best hardware in the world isn’t enough for the best results. We asked our in-house photography expert, Jan Köhler, to w ..read more

We couldn’t have asked for a better ending at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. As a Fairphone supporter, you’ll be happy to know that we just won a GLOMO for ‘Best Mobile Innovation for Climate Action’! Judged by prominent experts in the mobile sector, making it to the GLOMOs shortlist in itself is a matter of pride. It is a huge mark of respect from contemporaries within the industry, lauding our commitment to sustainability.  “But wait. What are the GLOMOs?” Hollywood has the Oscars. The smartphone industry has the GLOMOs. Short for Global Mobile Awards, the GLOMOs are aw ..read more