Investing in wireless headphones? Yes, but at what cost and for how long? Anyone who has already spent 100, 150, or even more than 200 euros on this type of equipment has often wondered about its lifespan and in particular that of its batteries. Worse: the loss of one of the two headphones inevitably leads to the replacement of the product! With its Fairbuds, Fairphone provides its answer with the first durable and repairable headphones on the market. 20 minutes tested them and… dismantled them!
Strict specifications
Fairphone? The name of this manufacturer may not be completely foreign to you. Since 2013, the Dutch firm has been developing sustainable and responsible electronic devices.
Durable, because, as with its smartphones or its headphones (the Fairbuds XL), each product can be dismantled and repaired. Responsible, because the company does everything possible to manufacture its equipment using essentially recycled materials, compensates for its raw material withdrawals and monitors the working conditions of its workers. Fairphone’s first Fairbuds headphones also meet these specifications.
Up to 26 hours of listening time
Either in-ear wireless headphones offered in white or black. Made with 100% recycled plastics (and 70% recycled materials in their overall design), they are perhaps less hype aesthetically than AirPods and a little more massive.
But they are comparable in terms of size to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, one of the market benchmarks. While each earphone measures 28.7 x 24.6 x 21 mm (for 5 g), their charging case measures 65 x 65 x 27 mm (for 78 g). Each recharge allows up to 6 hours of listening time (without noise reduction) and 5 hours (with it). Up to 26 hours of listening time is promised with successive recharges in the case…
A powerful and generous sound
Bluetooth 5.3 (the latest update to the current wireless transmission standard), Fairbuds pair in a flash. They have full touch controls (from Play/Pause to activating noise reduction or Transparency mode), but also, via their application, a valuable eight-band equalizer to adjust the bass level according to your tastes , treble and midrange.
From a purely acoustic point of view, their reproduction is very pleasant, even powerful, although we cannot speak of a “Fairphone sound signature”. The integrated 11 mm speakers (compared to 9 mm most often) offer generous sound reproduction, not devoid of detail in the high frequencies, nor bass for songs that are a little punchy. They can therefore be suitable for most musical registers, but also for all uses, their IP54 protection standard guaranteeing them resistance to water and perspiration. For its part, the noise reduction is quite common, far below what we can find for Bose or Sony headphones which remain the masters of the game in this area.
Apple, Samsung and JBL in the crosshairs
For use as a hands-free kit, Fairphone has equipped its Fairbuds with ENC (for Environmental Noise Cancelation) in order to eliminate unwanted background noise. Our tests are rather convincing in use for the user of the headphones, who benefit from excellent listening to the corresponding sound. The results seem a little more mixed for his correspondent.
As a result, we can say that after several hours of testing, the Fairbuds are rather good wireless headphones, which are in the upper average of the basket. Sold for 149 euros, they are the same price as Apple’s AirPods 2, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 or JBL’s Tune 120. And they don’t have to be ashamed of their competitors. Which competitors do not offer what makes Fairphone’s real strength: repair!
Spare parts and video tutorials
The idea here is obviously not to send your headphones for after-sales service, although they are guaranteed for three years, instead of two, in the event of a serious problem. But in addition, Fairphone’s DNA consists of offering a removable product, certain components of which are interchangeable by its user.
Is the battery in the Fairbuds charging case showing signs of weakness? With a screwdriver, the case can be dismantled and its battery can be replaced (sold for 12.95 euros on the Fairphone website).
Are the earphones also in the dumps? With the flick of a fingernail, it can be replaced. All you have to do is remove a small silicone cover to reveal the battery housing (a sort of button cell) which can be replaced with a brand new battery (sold for 9.95 euros in pairs).
Likewise, it is possible to replace the housing cover (12.95 euros) if it is broken; the complete case (39.95 euros); or even one of the headphones, left or right of your choice, in case of loss (44.95 euros each). And you don’t need to be a DIY expert.
Not only are repairs easy, taking just a few minutes, but Fairphone also offers video tutorials on its site. This will undoubtedly extend the life of your equipment.
Encouraging progress
Ethical and not fake, Fairbuds? If the brand is still struggling to technically match its potential competitors on the market, but is getting very close, it must be recognized that a fierce desire to push its own limits in the design of its products drives it.
In 2021, the manufacturer had already launched its Fairphone True Wireless Stereo (TWS), its first wireless headphones. So, they were only made from 30% recycled plastics and could not be dismantled. A score of only 1/10 in reparability was given to them by the iFixit website. Three years later and with their completely new repair possibilities on the market, the Fairbuds have learned their lesson and are setting the example that its rivals should follow. It’s all a question of stubbornness…and willpower, perhaps too.