Fairphone Fairbuds 2: Price, Release Date, and Repairable Design Explained

Fairphone's Fairbuds 2 arrived on October 14, with Europe getting first access and a US release following shortly after. The Fairphone Fairbuds 2 are the Dutch brand's second attempt at earbuds built around a simple idea: buds that can be opened up and fixed instead of thrown out.

Price and availability
The Fairphone Fairbuds 2 cost €119 in Europe and $119 in the US, about $30 less than what the original Fairbuds cost at its European launch when converted to dollars. Europe gets the buds first, with US buyers waiting a short while longer.

Seven replaceable parts
Fairphone built the Fairbuds 2 around seven user-replaceable components, including swappable batteries. That matters because batteries are usually the first thing to fail in wireless earbuds, and most buds on the market can't be opened without specialized tools.

Buy one bud, not a pair
As with the original Fairbuds, owners who lose or damage a single earbud can buy just that one replacement instead of a full new set. It's a small detail, but it is also the kind of repair-focused thinking that has defined Fairphone's phones for years.

Better audio this time around
The Fairbuds 2 add support for Sony's LDAC codec, which allows for higher-resolution wireless audio streaming. The original Fairbuds only supported the more basic SBC and AAC codecs, so this is a real step up in sound quality on compatible phones.

A new look
Leaked images point to a stem-style design for the Fairbuds 2, a departure from the rounded shape of the original model. Fairphone hasn't confirmed whether the new design includes touch or squeeze controls. A black colorway has been shown off, and a green version has been teased as well.

Why repairable earbuds matter
Most wireless earbuds are sealed units that get tossed once the battery degrades, typically after a year or two of regular use. By keeping the Fairbuds 2 serviceable, Fairphone is betting that buyers tired of replacing earbuds every year will pay a similar price for a pair they can actually keep using.

Fairphone's track record on repairability
Fairphone has built its entire phone lineup around the same principle: devices that owners can open, fix, and keep running well past the point where most brands expect a replacement purchase. Bringing that approach to earbuds, a product category not known for repairability, is a logical next step for the company and a point of difference from nearly every other earbuds maker on the market.

What we still don't know
Fairphone shared the Fairbuds 2 details with The Verge ahead of the full release, and the company hasn't disclosed every detail yet, including the final word on touch or squeeze controls. More specifics should arrive as the October 14 Europe launch gives way to the US release.

Protect the phone that pairs with them
The Fairphone Fairbuds 2 are designed to work with any Bluetooth phone, which means most owners will be reaching for their Android or iPhone handset just as often as their earbuds case. Komodoty makes precise, slim phone cases in materials like slim wood with a Kevlar core, aramid fiber, and Alcantara, with accurate cutouts and support for wireless charging. Browse the full lineup in Komodoty's accessories collection.