Fairbuds 2: Repair‑Friendly Wireless Earbuds That Prioritise Sustainability

Fairbuds 2 from Fairphone aim to break the rule that wireless earbuds are glue‑bound and non‑repairable. The pair are fully replaceable—every component can be swapped, including the battery, shell, charging case battery, USB‑C port, silicone tips, and the earbuds themselves. The exterior contains no PFAS, uses recycled plastic, and rare‑earth metals come from fair‑wage workers. At $119 the earbuds offer a green alternative for users who want to keep a device for years instead of throwing it away.

Sound and ANC

The sound is decent but not premium. Bio‑cellulose dynamic drivers give clearer highs and deeper bass than the first‑gen Fairbuds, though the low end still feels thin on some songs. Compared with other budget models like the Nothing Ear 3a, the Fairbuds hold their own in ANC—both can reduce background noise, but neither matches Bose or Sony's high‑end units.

The earbuds feel chunky and stem‑based, which some users find large. Ear‑tip sizing requires adjustment; the included smaller tips feel loose, but larger ones fit snugly. Touch controls work, and the battery can last just over six hours with ANC on. The companion app offers basic EQ presets and a transparency mode, but call quality suffers from erratic background‑noise cancellation, giving a 4/10 rating in a test.