Fairphone's most repairable smartphone to date is now offered in the US for $650.
Fairphone is making its direct sales debut in the United States with the Gen 6+, priced at $650 and featuring twelve user-replaceable components. The Dutch company is entering a market lacking the EU repairability regulations that came into effect last year.
For the first time, Fairphone is selling directly in the US. The Gen 6+ is available for $650, can be disassembled with a single screwdriver, and comes from a Dutch firm operating under guidelines that the US market does not have.
Previously, Fairphones were obtained through a third party—Americans could only buy one via Murena, which delivered it pre-loaded with the degoogled /e/OS at a higher price point.
The hardware is intentionally midrange, powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip, featuring a 6.31-inch LTPO OLED display that adapts from 10Hz to 120Hz and peaks at 1,400 nits, alongside 256GB of storage and a microSD card slot.
One notable aspect, considering the current context, is that the memory has increased from 8GB to 12GB amid a global shortage that has been inflating phone prices across the sector.
The battery is removable, which adds to its cost. Fairphone rates the 4,415 mAh battery for 30W charging, and the device is rated at only IP55, due to the design which allows for easy removal rather than a completely sealed structure.
A total of twelve components can be replaced by users. All of them can be managed with a single T5 torx driver, from an $8 SIM tray to a $90 OLED screen assembly, and roughly half of the phone is constructed from recycled materials, a practice the company has long defended as sustainable.
The software support is set to last seven years. The phone ships with Android 16, and its launch color is called Cobalt Blue, referencing the mining associated with many phone batteries rather than being simply a color selection.
In Europe, much of this has now been codified into law. Ecodesign and energy labeling regulations that will take effect in June 2025 mandate the availability of key spare parts within five to ten working days for seven years following a model's discontinuation, five years of operating system updates, and batteries that retain 80% capacity after 800 charge cycles.
Phones sold in the EU also receive a repairability score ranging from A to E on the energy label. There is no equivalent in the United States, meaning Fairphone is introducing a regulatory mindset into a market that has yet to embrace it.
This is the intriguing aspect of a midrange phone. Europe has debated for years whether it can create a significant smartphone, and its most pointed answer is a device that emphasizes longevity, now compatible with T-Mobile and AT&T, with plans for an Amazon listing soon.
Other articles
Nvidia's H200 has finally arrived for Chinese consumers, although it may not be available in mainland China.
According to the Financial Times, ByteDance and Tencent have each acquired approximately 10,000 Nvidia H200 chips, but Beijing prefers that the equipment be stored in Hong Kong.
Replacing your petrol car with an electric vehicle (EV) will pay off in three years.
Recent research published in Science indicates that replacing a petrol vehicle with an electric vehicle in its first year can reduce emissions by 58% over a span of 16 years, although there are three significant exceptions.
This 1918 electric vehicle was equipped with 42 batteries and boasted a greater range than a 2011 Leaf.
A 1918 Detroit Electric showcased at Monterey boasted a range of 80 miles, surpassing that of the initial Nissan Leaf. Its downfall was attributed to its cost, not its range.
Nvidia's H200 has eventually made its way to Chinese customers, although it may not be available in mainland China.
According to the FT, ByteDance and Tencent have both acquired approximately 10,000 Nvidia H200 chips, but Beijing is requesting that the hardware be stored in Hong Kong.
OpenAI is revising its safety regulations following the breach at Hugging Face.
OpenAI is revising the Preparedness Framework following Astra's approach to a critical cyber threshold. The updated monitoring incurs approximately 20% overhead in computing resources.
Baidu's revenue declines for the fifth consecutive quarter as advertising continues to decrease.
Baidu's revenue decreased by 4% to RMB31.3 billion, marking the fifth consecutive decline, as advertising revenue declined more rapidly than gains from AI. Net income plummeted by 68%, and the stock price fell.
Fairphone's most repairable smartphone to date is now offered in the US for $650.
For the first time, Fairphone is selling directly in the US. The Gen 6+ is priced at $650, features 12 replaceable components, and offers seven years of software updates.