Fairphone’s latest repairable earbuds are smaller, lighter, and longer-lasting
Repairable, ethical phone brand Fairphone has released its second pair of earbuds. The Fairbuds 2 are just as repairable as the first generation, but deliver improved audio and almost twice the battery life. The Fairbuds 2 are out now in the UK and Europe from £99 / €119, and a US launch at $119 will […]
Fairphone, the ethical phone brand, has unveiled its second generation of repairable earbuds, the Fairbuds 2. These new earbuds share the same repairability as the original Fairbuds but come with enhanced audio quality and approximately double the battery life. The Fairbuds 2 are now available in the UK and Europe for £99/€119, with a US release of $119 on November 2nd.
The design of the Fairbuds 2 has been revamped, featuring a stemmed design in black or green and a case that is 37% smaller than the first generation. Despite the compact size, Fairphone has managed to almost double the battery life, which now lasts for 40 hours without active noise cancellation, eight hours without ANC, and six hours with ANC. Charging is accomplished via USB-C and takes a couple of hours for a full charge. Unfortunately, Qi wireless charging is not supported.
The Fairbuds 2 incorporate new bio-cellulose dynamic drivers and refined active noise cancellation, alongside support for the LDAC codec. Multipoint connectivity allows for connections with two devices simultaneously, and the earbuds come with a five-band equalizer in the app for fine-tuning audio. The Fairbuds 2 have received positive feedback from the reporter, who describes them as looking great, having simple touch controls that work well, and delivering good audio quality, albeit with some muddiness.
The active noise cancellation has impressed the reporter, effectively reducing most background noise.
The most striking feature of the Fairbuds 2, however, is their repairability. The earbuds can have their batteries replaced in under a minute without any tools, and a single T5 screw separates the battery in the case. Spare parts are available for purchase on Fairphone's website, totaling seven user-replaceable components, including eartips and sleeves. An IP54 rating offers some protection against rain and sweat, though it is not waterproof, and a three-year warranty provides additional peace of mind.
Written by urgent.news from The Verge's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
