Fairphone entered the headphone market with its TWS buds in 2021, now the company has introduced its first over-ear headphones. This seems closer to the spirit of the Fairphone as it is not only made from recycled materials but is also very easy to repair.
The design of the new Fairbuds XL is modular with 11 parts, so the headphones are easy to disassemble and repair. Something like replacing ear pads is simple and doesn’t even require tools. The battery can also be replaced once it begins to decrease in capacity (it will be at 80% after 500 charge cycles). Here is a schematic showing all the parts:
Avoiding e-waste is one part of Fairphone’s mission, the responsible sourcing of materials and components is another. Fairbuds XL are made with 100% recycled aluminum and 80% recycled plastic and with a 100% recycled fabric case. Even the electronics inside use 100% recycled tin solder paste.
That’s not all, Fairphone also takes care of the assembly line workers: it tries to create good working conditions for them and ensures that they receive a decent wage.
The new Fairbuds XL from Fairphone
Ok, but how are the Fairbuds XL as headphones? They have 40mm drivers and use Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD (plus AAC and SBC), along with multipoint connectivity. They can also be used in wired mode via the USB-C port, although they don’t have a 3.5mm jack (and neither does the latest Fairphone smartphone).
The headphones are powered by a user-replaceable 800mAh battery. This will last 26 hours with active noise cancellation enabled, 30 hours without it. You can adjust Fairbuds XL settings using the Fairbuds app available for Android and iOS.
Fairbuds XL in green
Fairbuds XL in black
The headphones weigh 330g and are IP54 rated for dust and splash resistance. They have a foldable design for easy carrying.
The Fairbuds XL are already available in Europe through the Fairphone shop for €250/£220. Note that no charger is included in the retail box, not even a charging cable (any USB-C cable will do, however). Also, spare parts are not yet available, so we don’t know the prices.
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