While black and white remain dominant choices for audio accessories, Fairphone’s new Fairbuds XL over-ear headphones in forest green immediately stand out from the crowd. Priced at $229, these headphones offer a compelling alternative to competitors like Nothing Headphones (1), Sony’s WH-1000XM5, and Sonos Ace by focusing on sustainability and repairability without compromising on essential features.
The Fairbuds XL represent an evolution of the noise-cancelling model first introduced in 2023, maintaining the company’s core philosophy of creating products designed to last. What truly distinguishes these headphones is their user-friendly repairability – owners can easily replace virtually every component including batteries, cushions, speaker covers, headbands, and even the drivers themselves using just basic tools like a guitar pick and screwdriver.
Design Improvements and Sound Performance
The latest iteration maintains the same repair-friendly design while incorporating several meaningful upgrades. Though the driver size remains at 40mm, Fairphone has enhanced the magnets to deliver improved bass response. Despite this bass enhancement, the overall sound signature stays pleasantly neutral, allowing both midrange frequencies and vocals to shine through clearly even in bass-heavy tracks.
Visually, the new model features subtle but distinctive changes. The speaker-to-speaker cable and joystick now match the forest green exterior instead of the previous orange accents. More importantly, the ear cushions have been redesigned with mesh material that serves dual purposes – improving voice isolation during calls while enhancing comfort during extended listening sessions.
Controls and Active Noise Cancellation
Fairphone has embraced tactile controls rather than touch sensors, incorporating a physical button and joystick for media management. The joystick handles volume, playback, and track navigation, while the button manages pairing and cycles through noise cancellation modes. This approach mirrors a growing industry trend toward more reliable physical controls, as seen in Nothing’s recent headphone releases.
The active noise cancellation performance is robust, effectively reducing neighborhood noise during home office use. While it doesn’t quite match the isolation level of Apple’s AirPods, it provides sufficient noise reduction for most environments. Battery life extends to approximately 30 hours, though this decreases when noise cancellation is activated.
Sustainability at the Core
Fairphone’s CTO Chandler Hatton explained that the company deliberately avoids rapid product cycles that contribute to planned obsolescence. Instead, they focus on backward compatibility and thoughtful iterations. This philosophy extends to materials sourcing, with the Fairbuds XL incorporating fair-mined and recycled materials throughout their construction.
Even the packaging reflects this eco-conscious approach, containing only the essentials: the headphones, a protective pouch, and a quick start guide. This minimalist packaging reduces waste while still providing adequate protection during shipping.
One minor drawback is the absence of a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack, with the headphones relying solely on USB-C connectivity. While this aligns with current industry trends, it limits compatibility with older audio equipment unless users purchase Fairphone’s separate USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for approximately $15.
U.S. Market Expansion
The Fairbuds XL represent an important step in Fairphone’s expansion into the U.S. market. Under new management, the company aims to demonstrate its ability to produce and distribute sustainable electronics at scale. American customers will benefit from the same three-year warranty and access to replacement parts as European users have enjoyed.
Initially available directly through Fairphone’s website, the headphones will soon launch on Amazon for U.S. customers alongside the company’s $99 wireless earbuds. This expanded distribution should make sustainable audio options more accessible to American consumers seeking environmentally responsible alternatives.
The Repairability Advantage
What truly distinguishes the Fairbuds XL from mainstream competitors is their exceptional repairability. When components eventually wear out, users can easily order replacements and install them following the company’s detailed tutorial videos available on YouTube. This approach dramatically extends the product’s lifespan compared to conventional headphones that often become landfill when a single component fails.
For consumers concerned about electronic waste and environmental impact, this repairability factor may outweigh minor performance differences compared to leading noise-cancelling headphones. The Fairbuds XL demonstrate that sustainability and functionality can successfully coexist in consumer electronics.