The Fairphone Gen 6+ has arrived in the United States, offering a smartphone built for longevity and easy self-repair. Priced at EUR 560, the device comes from Fairphone, a Dutch manufacturer entering the American market with a philosophy that sets it apart from mainstream competitors: build one phone that lasts, rather than encouraging frequent upgrades.
According to Fairphone CTO Chandler Hatton, the company’s goal is to deliver a strong mobile experience while allowing users to “fully own” their devices. That means prioritizing hardware that can be maintained by the person who bought it, an approach many consumers say they want but rarely get.
A Phone Designed to Be Taken Apart
Major manufacturers such as Google, Samsung, and Apple now support their phones with software updates for close to a decade. The open question is whether the hardware can survive that long, and what happens when repairs are needed. Out-of-warranty fixes can cost so much that replacing the entire device becomes the cheaper option.
The Gen 6+ takes the opposite route. The phone features a 6.31-inch OLED display that is fully replaceable, along with modular internal components. Disassembly begins with a pair of T5 Torx screws exposed on the back panel. Once those are removed, the back cover slides off. Using the same driver, owners can extract the battery, camera modules, USB-C port, and display.
“We’re doing something that was long thought to be nearly impossible,” Hatton said, “which is delivering high-performing modular smartphones that can last for a very long time.”
This design stands in contrast to the standard modern smartphone, which packs components into a glass and aluminum body sealed with glue, gaskets, and small screws. Those phones are assembled once at the factory and are not meant to be opened by the buyer.
Sustainability and Long-Term Ownership
Fairphone builds its devices with an emphasis on sustainability. The company works to avoid conflict minerals, use recycled materials, and pay workers a living wage. Rather than selling multiple phones to the same customer over time, Fairphone aims to sell a single device that remains usable even after something breaks.
“Our goal is that every single person that purchases a Fairphone uses it for at least five years, and we track that as a KPI,” Hatton said, referring to the company’s key performance indicator for device longevity.
The repairable design also targets electronic waste and consumer costs. Replacing a screen or USB port on a typical flagship phone after a couple of years can approach the price of a new handset, creating a built-in incentive to upgrade.
“There is an incentive in terms of planned obsolescence to replace your device,” Hatton said. “On the one hand, it’s a good way to keep selling devices, but that’s simply not the proposition that we have.” Inside the Gen 6+, the layout is clean and orderly, with components organized for straightforward removal and replacement.
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Image: arstechnica.com
