I’ve never liked the idea of throwing away a perfectly good pair of earbuds simply because the batteries no longer hold a charge. Yet that’s exactly what happens with many wireless earbuds. Once the batteries wear out, replacing them can be more trouble than buying another pair. Fairphone is trying to change that with the Fairbuds 2, a pair of wireless earbuds you can actually repair. The company has also improved the sound, made the charging case smaller, and added some features missing from the original Fairbuds. I like the idea, but I wouldn’t spend $120 on earbuds just because they’re environmentally friendly. They still need to sound good, fit comfortably, and handle everyday use without becoming annoying.
Table of Contents
- My Take on the Fairphone Fairbuds 2
- What I Could Confirm About the Fairphone Fairbuds 2
- Sound Quality
- Noise Cancellation and Calls
- Battery Life and Charging
- Repairability and Replacement Parts
- Comfort and Everyday Use
- Build Quality and Sustainability
- Price, Warranty, and Returns
- Fairbuds 2 vs Nothing Ear (a)
- What Would Change My Mind
- My Verdict
My Take on the Fairphone Fairbuds 2
I like what Fairphone is doing with these earbuds, and I think the Fairbuds 2 are worth considering. But I wouldn’t call them the best wireless earbuds you can buy for the money. From the reviews I’ve read, the sound is good enough for everyday listening, the battery life is reasonable, and the noise cancellation does its job without being particularly impressive. The real selling point is that you can replace parts instead of buying another pair when something goes wrong. That makes a lot of sense to me, especially for someone who doesn’t enjoy replacing gadgets every year or two. I haven’t personally used the Fairbuds 2, so I’m judging them from the published specifications and independent reviews. And while I like the direction Fairphone has taken, there are a few things I’d want buyers to know before ordering.
What I Could Confirm About the Fairphone Fairbuds 2
Fairphone released the Fairbuds 2 in October 2026 as an upgrade to its original repairable wireless earbuds. They come with 11mm drivers, Bluetooth 6.0, active noise cancellation, LDAC support, and multipoint connectivity, which lets you connect to two devices at once. Each earbud weighs about 5.8g, and the package includes three sizes of silicone ear tips. They’re rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance, so a little sweat or light rain shouldn’t be a problem. Fairphone also redesigned the charging case to make it smaller and easier to carry. You can get them in Horizon Black or Forest Green. Nothing about that list is especially groundbreaking for wireless earbuds in this price range, and that’s fine. What makes them different is how they’re built. Fairphone has made several parts replaceable, including the batteries, which is something I’d like to see more manufacturers doing.
Sound Quality
Sound is one area where I think buyers need to keep their expectations reasonable. Fairphone has fitted the Fairbuds 2 with new bio-cellulose drivers, and the company says they produce better bass, clearer vocals, and more balanced audio than the previous model. The independent reviews I’ve seen suggest there’s an improvement, but not everyone agrees on how good they sound. Gizmodo found the vocals fairly clear but thought the bass could become muddy, while 01net was more positive about the overall sound and how well the earbuds handled different instruments. That tells me the Fairbuds 2 probably sound pleasant enough for music, podcasts, and videos, but I wouldn’t buy them expecting the kind of detail or separation you get from some better-tuned alternatives. You do get an equalizer in the companion app, which is useful if the default sound doesn’t suit you. There’s also LDAC support for compatible devices, although I wouldn’t make that the deciding factor. A higher-quality Bluetooth codec is nice to have, but it won’t fix sound tuning you don’t enjoy. For casual listening, I think these earbuds should be fine. For someone who pays close attention to bass control, vocals, and instrument detail, I’d compare them with other models before making a decision.
Noise Cancellation and Calls
The noise cancellation seems decent, but this is one area where Fairphone still has work to do. The company advertises up to 45dB of noise reduction, which sounds impressive, but independent reviews paint a more ordinary picture. The Fairbuds 2 can reduce some background noise, particularly the steady sounds you’d hear on a bus or train, but conversations and louder surroundings can still get through. I wouldn’t expect them to create the quiet listening experience offered by more expensive earbuds from Sony or Bose. The transparency mode also seems a little unnatural according to some reviewers, which could become irritating if you use it regularly. What bothers me more is the microphone performance. Gizmodo’s reviewer had trouble with outdoor calls, with background noise interfering with how clearly their voice came through. Other testing raised similar concerns in noisy environments. That’s disappointing because making calls is such a basic part of using wireless earbuds. If you mostly listen to music and take the occasional call indoors, this probably won’t bother you much. But if you regularly answer calls while walking outside, commuting, or working somewhere noisy, I’d look at other options.
Battery Life and Charging
Fairphone says the Fairbuds 2 can last up to eight hours with noise cancellation switched off or around six hours with it enabled. The charging case brings the advertised total to as much as 40 hours, and a quick ten-minute charge should give you roughly another 90 minutes of listening. Those are perfectly respectable numbers for everyday earbuds, although they’re not exceptional. I also like that the earbuds charge through USB-C, but there’s no wireless charging. Personally, I wouldn’t consider that a dealbreaker, especially if it helps keep the design simpler. What interests me more is what happens when the batteries start losing capacity. With most wireless earbuds, that usually means shorter listening sessions until you eventually replace the whole product. With the Fairbuds 2, you can replace the batteries. That’s a much bigger advantage to me than squeezing another hour out of a new pair. Of course, advertised battery life and real battery life aren’t always identical, and I haven’t seen enough long-term testing to say how well these will hold up after years of charging.
Repairability and Replacement Parts
This is where the Fairbuds 2 genuinely stand out. Fairphone has made seven components replaceable, including the batteries in both earbuds and the charging case. You don’t need special tools to remove the earbud batteries, which is a refreshing change from the usual glued-together construction. The company lists replacement earbud batteries for €9.95 and a charging case battery for €12.95. You can also buy an individual earbud if you lose one instead of purchasing an entirely new set. iFixit has given the Fairbuds 2 a 10/10 repairability score, and I can understand why. These aren’t just earbuds with a sustainability slogan printed on the packaging. Fairphone has actually designed them to be taken apart and repaired. That said, I’d still want to know how easy it is to order those replacement parts in my country. Cheap batteries aren’t much use if shipping costs more than the parts or if they become difficult to find after a few years. Fairphone also needs to keep supporting the product for the idea to work. But as far as the design itself goes, I think this is easily the best thing about the Fairbuds 2.
Comfort and Everyday Use
The Fairbuds 2 are smaller than the original model, and the charging case has been redesigned to take up less space in a pocket. That’s a welcome improvement because portability is one of the reasons people buy wireless earbuds in the first place. They also come with three ear-tip sizes, so there’s some room to adjust the fit. In Gizmodo’s testing, the earbuds initially felt loose until the reviewer switched to larger tips. That might sound minor, but getting the right fit makes a noticeable difference to comfort, bass, and noise cancellation. I also like that Fairphone included multipoint connectivity. Being able to switch between a phone and laptop without constantly reconnecting is genuinely useful, especially if you work across both devices. The touch controls and companion app cover the usual functions, including playback and sound settings. I wouldn’t describe any of these features as exciting, but they’re the things that make earbuds convenient to live with. My only hesitation is that comfort is personal, and a pair that fits one reviewer perfectly might not suit someone else’s ears. I’d pay attention to the return window if you’re unsure about the shape.
Build Quality and Sustainability
Fairphone has put a lot of effort into making the Fairbuds 2 less wasteful. The company uses recycled and responsibly sourced materials and has made the product easier to repair instead of replace. It also runs an e-waste collection programme intended to offset an equivalent weight of electronic waste for each product sold. I appreciate that, although I wouldn’t pretend buying a new electronic device has no environmental impact simply because the manufacturer has a recycling programme. The more convincing part is the repairable construction. If you can use the same earbuds for several years and replace a worn battery for a small amount, that’s a practical benefit whether or not sustainability is your main concern. What I can’t judge yet is how well the physical components will age. The Fairbuds 2 have only just launched, so there isn’t much long-term information about the case hinges, charging contacts, or how the earbuds handle repeated repairs. I wouldn’t assume they’ll last five years just because they’re repairable. But at least Fairphone has given buyers a realistic chance of keeping them working when a component wears out.
Price, Warranty, and Returns
The Fairbuds 2 launched at €119 in Europe, £99 in the UK, and $119.99 in the US. Fairphone has indicated that US availability begins in November 2026, so American buyers may have to wait a little longer. At that price, I don’t think they’re unreasonable, although there are plenty of competing earbuds offering strong sound and noise cancellation for similar money. Fairphone advertises warranty coverage of up to three years, which is reassuring, but buyers should check the terms for their country. A warranty doesn’t automatically cover accidental damage, lost earbuds, or ordinary battery wear. Fairphone’s US listing also shows a 14-day return period, which isn’t particularly generous if you need time to decide whether the fit and sound are right for you. I’d also check the cost of getting replacement parts before ordering, especially if you’re outside Europe. The Fairbuds 2 make the most financial sense when repairs are affordable and straightforward. If shipping, import charges, or limited local support make every repair expensive, some of that advantage disappears.
Fairbuds 2 vs Nothing Ear (a)
If I were comparing the Fairbuds 2 with another pair around this price, I’d look at the Nothing Ear (a). Nothing’s earbuds have earned praise for their lively sound and useful everyday features, and they’ve been around long enough for buyers to find plenty of reviews. They may be the more appealing choice if sound quality and listening enjoyment are your main priorities. The Fairbuds 2 have a different advantage. When the batteries wear out or you lose an earbud, you have more options than replacing everything. That’s the tradeoff I’d focus on rather than trying to decide which product has the longer specification list. If you enjoy upgrading your earbuds every couple of years, the Nothing Ear (a) may suit you better. If you’d rather buy once and keep using the same pair for as long as possible, Fairphone makes a stronger argument. Neither approach is wrong, but I’d personally give the Fairbuds 2 serious consideration because replaceable batteries solve a problem I’ve always disliked about wireless earbuds.
What Would Change My Mind
I’d be more enthusiastic about the Fairbuds 2 if Fairphone improved the microphones and made the noise cancellation more consistent. I’d also like to see long-term reviews from people who’ve replaced their batteries and continued using the earbuds without other problems. The repairable design is promising, but I’d feel more confident recommending them after seeing how well that promise holds up over several years.
My Verdict
I think the Fairphone Fairbuds 2 are worth buying if you care about keeping your earbuds for years rather than replacing them whenever the batteries start failing. They’re not the best choice for someone who wants outstanding sound, excellent outdoor calls, or premium noise cancellation, and I wouldn’t pretend otherwise. But they’re reasonably priced, have the everyday features most people need, and offer something genuinely useful that many competitors still don’t. I’d choose them for their repairability and long-term value, not because I expect them to outperform every other pair of $120 earbuds.
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