Fairphone’s Most Repairable Phone Yet Now Available in the US for $650
Fairphone is selling directly in the United States for the first time, offering their most repairable phone yet, the $650 Gen 6+. This device boasts twelve user-replaceable parts and seven years of software updates, arriving from a continent that has recently implemented strict repairability laws.
Key Features:
- Price: $650
- Replaceable Parts: Twelve, accessible with just one screwdriver.
- Display: 6.31-inch LTPO OLED, supporting 10Hz to 120Hz refresh rates and peaking at 1,400 nits.
- Storage: 256GB, with a microSD slot.
- Memory: 12GB RAM (a notable upgrade during a global memory shortage).
- Battery: 4,415 mAh, supporting 30W charging.
- Water Resistance: IP55 rating.
- Sustainability: Around half the phone is made from recycled materials.
- Software Support: Android 16, with seven years of software updates.
- Design: Cobalt Blue, referencing the mining behind most phone batteries.
Regulatory Difference:
The Gen 6+ arrives in the US at a time when Europe has implemented strict ecodesign and energy labeling rules for phones, requiring key spare parts to be available within five to ten working days for seven years after discontinuation, five years of operating system updates, and batteries retaining 80% capacity after 800 cycles. Phones in the EU also carry a repairability grade from A to E on their energy labels. This regulation is absent in the US, making Fairphone’s approach unique in this market.
Market Positioning:
This midrange phone represents Europe’s ongoing debate about smartphone manufacturing and its focus on durability. The Gen 6+ offers a clear answer: a device designed to last, now available on T-Mobile and AT&T, with an Amazon listing upcoming.