What you need to know
- Fairphone’s Fairbuds 2 arrive October 14, with Europe first and the US following shortly after.
- The upcoming earbuds keep their standout repairability feature with seven user-replaceable parts, including swappable batteries and individual replacement earbud purchases.
- Launching at €119 in Europe and $119 in the US, the new model drops $30 lower than its predecessor’s original European debut.
Fairphone is launching a new generation of wireless earbuds with a repair-first philosophy. The Fairbuds 2 will officially launch on October 14 and will cost $30 less than the original model at launch in Europe, when converted to US dollars at the time.
The company hasn’t disclosed every detail yet, but early information suggests more than a simple refresh. Fairphone told The Verge that the Fairbuds 2 will keep the seven modular, replaceable components, with repairability at the center of the design. That’s consistent with the original Fairbuds, which let owners swap out key components like the earbud and charging-case batteries or purchase a single replacement earbud rather than the entire set.
Fairphone has recently teased a green variant of the earbuds on X, as seen below.
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(Image credit: Fairphone)
Audio connectivity is also being improved. The Fairbuds 2 will be compatible with Sony’s LDAC codec, which allows for high-resolution audio streaming to compatible devices. The first-generation model was limited to SBC and AAC, so LDAC gives the new earbuds a more capable wireless audio pipeline.
That combo might make the Fairbuds 2 a different kind of deal: Fairphone isn’t just asking buyers to accept repairability as a trade-off for mainstream features. The addition of LDAC and a lower launch price bring the earbuds closer to traditional wireless options in terms of price and audio capability.
There could be a design change as well. Leaked images show the Fairbuds 2 adopting stems, which is a departure from the rounded design of the original earbuds. Fairphone has yet to confirm whether those will add touch or squeeze controls.
The Fairbuds 2 will be priced at €119 in Europe and $119 in the US, with the European launch happening first.