Fairphone's Fairbuds 2 review: The eco headphones that could persuade you to ditch your AirPods
Your choice of headphones isn't just important to you, but also to the planet. Gone are the days of our grandparents having TVs and refrigerators older than us, feeling like that household tech simply isn't built to last. How often have we seen our devices spontaneously decide to call it a day just as the warranty ends?
It's much the same with smartphones, as the seemingly indestructible Nokia has been swapped out for sealed units that feel like their screens might shatter if you breathe on them too hard. This is where Fairphone comes into play, offering devices that are not only able to be repaired easily, but that are also better for the environment than your average smartphone provider.
According to Fairphone, a surprising contributor to the tech landfill is headphones and earbuds.
With the global earbuds market tipped to reach 1.2 billion units sold every year by 2030, the fact that batteries degrade in as little as 18 months is a cause for concern when you realize most headphones include glued-shut cases. Fairphone says that just 15% of small electronics are reused or responsibly recycled, leaving around 40,000 tons of headphones being sent to the dump every year.
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This is why the Dutch electronics manufacturer is rolling out the green carpet for the new Fairbuds 2.
UNILADTech gets to grips with the Fairbuds 2
I was intrigued by how the Fairbuds 2 would compare to my battered and worn AirPods 4. No longer in their pristine condition, my AirPods are in dire need of some TLC, with problems surrounding disconnections and microphone issues getting more frequent. Then again, with daily use and a regular pummeling at the gym, those poor AirPods 4 have been through enough.
From the get-go, the Fairbuds 2 feel more robust than AirPods, coming in an angular case that looks like it's been chiseled from dark jade.
The same can be said for the Fairbuds themselves, and while not everyone will be a fan of the chunky aesthetic, I approve of this retro vibe.
It’s not just green on the outside because you wave your eco flag as you brag about the Fairbuds 2 being made from 49% fair and recycled materials that include plastics, rare earth elements, tin, cobalt, copper, gold, and silver.
Fairphone says these earbuds are 37% smaller and the charging case has been shrunk by 32% from the OG Fairbuds. Even if they might be a bit large for some, they still fit perfectly fine in my pocket.
Setting up my Fairbuds was even easier than connecting AirPods, simply opening the case and pressing one button to connect to my iPhone's Bluetooth.
Getting AirPods to connect requires a whole manual of its own, but thankfully, I figured out the Fairbuds 2 on my own.
I'll be honest that as long as my earbuds can play my gym playlist and handle a walk through the noisy city center while I’m on the phone, I'm not too fussed.
It's true that I felt there was a slightly tinnier quality to my music when testing the Fairbuds 2, but with my tunes cranked up to 11, I was really putting Miley Cyrus' "Bass Persuades" through its paces.
How much do Fairbuds 2 cost?
You don't necessarily need to stump up for the price of the AirPods Pro 3 to block out the rest of the world, as the Fairbuds 2's noise cancellation means you can fully immerse yourself in your music.
Fairphone says the Fairbuds 2 have been completely re-engineered for all-day comfort, while hybrid active noise cancelling improves on standard systems. Hybrid ANC's dual-microphone setup analyzes sound from the outside environment and inside the ear cup at the same time and is said to reduce noise by up to 45 decibels.
Chatting to friends and family on the phone, they said they couldn't tell the difference between AirPods and Fairbuds 2 in terms of microphone quality, and refreshingly, I had hardly any connection issues.
Let's get to the real selling points of the Fairbuds, where two key areas differentiate it from others available on the market.
Whereas Trump's trade tariffs and the soaring prices of chips make it feel like our tech is more expensive than ever, Fairphone has managed to launch the Fairbuds 2 at just $119/£99.
This makes the latest addition 20% cheaper than the OG Fairbuds when they launched in April 2024.
Fairphone obviously isn't afraid to cheer its green credentials, and we're sure Mother Nature is pleased. As the Fairbuds 2 have seven user-replaceable components (including the earbud and case batteries), it means you shouldn’t have to worry about their lifespan.
Final thoughts
But will I be trading in those trusty AirPods? The Fairbuds 2's design might take a bit of getting used to, but there are plenty of positives that mean I found myself leaving my AirPods at home and picking up this distant cousin.
For one, the Fairbuds 2 have up to 40 hours of total playback when compared to the AirPods 3's 24 hours. The noise cancelling might not be as great, and we don't have Apple's fancy new heart rate sensing feature, but as the AirPods Pro 3 come in at $249.00/£219, you'll find yourself questioning how much matters when there's such a big price difference.
More than that, you're saving more than just money, thanks to the Fairbuds 2 being made with so many recycled materials. That's while being produced under fair working conditions as part of Fairphone’s Living Wage Bonus and Workers’ Voice programs. That's not all, with the Fairbuds 2 using 100% renewable energy during assembly, being 100% e-waste neutral, and the company promising they're "crafted for the listener, not the landfill."
If you are somehow worried about your Fairbuds 2 kicking the bucket, a 3-year warranty should offer some more peace of mind.
Aptly launching on October 4 to celebrate E-Waste Day in Europe, the Fairbuds 2 will then go on sale in the USA on November 2nd through Fairphone.com and Amazon. The question is, will you be going for the forest green colorway or the sleek horizon black?