A smartphone that’s modular, easy to repair and more sustainable than competitors? That’s how the Dutch electronics-maker Fairphone markets its latest device, which is now available in the US.
The Fairphone 6 Plus with Android 16, which works on AT&T and T-Mobile’s cell networks and costs $650 through the company’s website and on Amazon, comes in cobalt blue, horizon black and forest green.
The 6 Plus is a modest hardware upgrade from the original 6 model released last year. It has a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip and 12GB of RAM, up from the previous 8GB, but the same 6.31-inch OLED screen, 50MP main camera and 256GB capacity.
The big selling point of Fairphone’s devices is that they are easier to repair and more sustainably built. A screwdriver can be used to swap out 12 parts of the phone, including the display, battery, cameras and SIM tray. The phone has a five-year warranty, and the Android software is supported until 2033, according to its website. Highlighting its sustainability efforts, Fairphone says it is 100% e-waste neutral and that its phones are made with 50% recycled or fair factory-made materials.
Modular for life
Flagship smartphones from top phone-makers, including Apple and Samsung, are typically difficult, if not impossible, for most consumers to repair or replace parts on, and doing so can void product warranties. A cottage industry of repair stores, in addition to repair services that hardware makers offer themselves, can fix problems such as failing batteries or broken screens, but repairs can be costly.
There’s also an environmental component: Having the ability to repair your own device could extend its lifecycle. That’s one of the reasons consumer advocates have pushed for right-to-repair laws in all 50 states.
Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of The Repair Association, was pleased to hear the hear that the 6 Plus would be available in the US. “I’m sure there will be a lot of consumer interest and interest in teardowns and evaluations.”
A year ago, the teardown site iFixit gave the Fairphone 6 its highest repairability rating, 10 out of 10.