Overview
- Fairphone has launched the Fairbuds 2 for sale in the UK and Europe with a U.S. release scheduled for November 2 at $119.
- The earbuds include user-replaceable batteries in each bud and the charging case and list seven user-replaceable parts that Fairphone will sell as spares.
- Fairphone quotes up to 40 hours total runtime with the case, eight hours per bud with ANC off and six hours with ANC on, and says replacing the cells requires no glue and little tooling.
- Audio and connectivity upgrades include 11mm bio-cellulose drivers, hybrid active noise cancellation, multipoint pairing, a five-band EQ in the app, and support for Sony’s LDAC on compatible Android devices.
- The design tradeoffs are USB-C charging only, no Qi wireless charging, IP54 splash resistance, and reliance on buyers to obtain spare parts for long-term fixes which will determine the real impact on waste and product life.