Fairphone has launched Fairbuds 2, its second-generation true wireless earbuds, pairing seven user-replaceable components with a lower €/$119 launch price. The new earbuds offer up to 40 hours of total playback, hybrid Active Noise Cancelling, IP54 water resistance and Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity. Fairphone says the model uses SGS-tested PFAS-free plastics and silicone in components that touch the skin, alongside fair and recycled materials. The European launch falls on International E-Waste Day, with US sales due to begin on 2 November.
Repairable Audio Design
Fairbuds 2 arrive as the global earbuds market is expected to reach 1.2 billion units sold yearly by 2030. Fairphone is making the case for a different product model in a category where sealed housings and declining battery capacity can make replacement the default outcome.
The earbuds and charging case have seven replaceable components, including batteries in both the individual earbuds and the case. Fairphone says users can replace these parts without glue or specialist tools, supported by a three-year warranty.
Raymond van Eck, CEO at Fairphone, said:
“A worn out battery should never be the reason you throw away something you love. That’s the thinking we brought to our phones, and it’s the thinking behind Fairbuds 2.”
Raymond van Eck, CEO at Fairphone, said:
“We were one of the first in this industry to prove that earbuds could be built to last, not just to sell and replace. Now we’re proving it again, with better sound, a better design, a better price and the same conviction we’ve always had: that people deserve products worth keeping. If this pushes the rest of the industry to follow, that’s exactly the point.”
Materials And E Waste
Small electronic devices present a sizeable waste challenge. Fairphone cites figures showing that fewer than 15% of small electronics are reused or responsibly recycled, while around 40,000 tonnes of headphones are thrown away each year.
Fairbuds 2 are made with approximately 49% fair and recycled materials, including recycled rare earth elements, tin, plastics, cobalt, copper, gold and silver. The speaker magnets use 100% recycled rare earth elements and the solder paste uses 100% recycled tin. Fairphone also states that assembly uses 100% renewable energy and that the product is 100% e-waste neutral, with an equivalent weight of e-waste collected and recycled for every unit sold.
The new model uses more than 70% post-consumer recycled plastics and PFAS-free plastics and silicone. Fairphone links the design decision to everyday wear, while the company’s Living Wage Bonus and Workers’ Voice programmes form part of its stated approach to production conditions.
Sound And Daily Use
The Fairbuds 2 use an 11mm dynamic driver with an organic bio-cellulose diaphragm, with sound tuning by Rotterdam-based studio Form Follows Frequency. LDAC support appears on Fairbuds for the first time, while the companion app provides presets and five-band equaliser controls.
For calls and noise management, each earbud has three microphones. Hybrid ANC reduces noise by up to 45dB, and improved passive noise cancelling is intended to support use across a wider range of ears. The earbuds can provide around 2.5 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge.
Both earbuds and the charging case are smaller than the previous Fairbuds, by 37% and 32% respectively. Users can save up to six devices, connect to two at once through multipoint connectivity, and use the app’s device-finding feature to trigger an earbud speaker when searching nearby. Automatic pause and resume activates when both earbuds are removed.
Availability And Wider Reach
Fairbuds 2 are available in Forest Green and Horizon Black. The European recommended retail price is €119 in the Netherlands, Germany and France, while the UK price is £99. In the US, where there is no presale, the earbuds will cost $119 from 2 November 2026.
The product will be sold through Fairphone’s website, select retailers and network operators. It joins the Fairbuds XL and Fairphone’s smartphone range, extending the company’s modular design approach into another commonly replaced consumer electronics category.
For buyers weighing convenience against longevity, Fairbuds 2 combine contemporary wireless audio features with accessible repair options. The product’s lower launch price places that proposition closer to mainstream earbud pricing while retaining replaceable batteries and a materially focused design.
