'We want to set an example': Fairphone opens up about FairBuds

Fairphone is a company from the Netherlands that makes products you can repair yourself and use for a long time. They just released wireless earbuds called FairBuds that you can fix yourself. For the most part. We wanted to learn more, so we talked to them.

We'll do a detailed review later, but for now, enjoy this interview.

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===DISCLOSURES===
✅ We bought the Fairphone Fairbuds with our own money.
✅ No one got input at any stage in the creation of this video. All opinions and bad jokes are strictly our own.
✅ Affiliate shopping and merchandise links above earn us commission.

00:00 Introduction
00:48 The history of Fairbuds
01:29 Challenges and trade-offs
04:13 Modularity and IP ratings
05:41 Repairability by the user
07:47 Battery types
09:39 Schematics
10:08 Who's the competition?
10:44 Materials, recycling, fair use
13:41 Longevity and support
15:29 Upcoming updates
16:38 Sound, codecs and tuning
19:20 Who's this for?
21:23 Money, pricing & availability
22:59 The future of the industry

[IncredibleJim]

this guy really knows what he is doing and is too logical for the tech space. a breath of fresh air and DHRME also does so well to show how much the environment means to them. I wish more tech companies would put the environment as top priority around design. Soo much ewaste out there.

[Paddy]

Full credit to the Dutch for developing a product we can do things for ourselves with. I mean, even the simple fact of being able to change the batteries so easily is a game-changer, something the likes of Apple (and others) should also be doing.

[Throdin]

A really good interview. Thank you guys for investing the time to showcase a fairer alternative to the disposable earbuds that are so commonplace. Really glad I've come across you while looking for a fairbud review :)

[Zchlowder]

I’m so excited. I don’t know what it is, but just seeing the word forever. Hope this is what we’ve all been waiting for. Battery replaceable earbud?

[samuelcgeorge]

Please request them to come to India. We need tech like this. Price will be an issue for a price sensitive market like India but there are buyers who will consider the longevity to offset the initial high cost.

[MissFoxification]

I wouldn't buy it without LDAC. Most of my music is high def and I use a parametric EQ to tune my audio. Perhaps they can partner with Poweramp to provide an exceptional EQ/tuning experience as well too.
For the price of these I'd expect LDAC or aptX HD at least. If they were "cheap and cheerful" without LDAC they would be fine for podcasts but not really for music and should cost less.
I just don't know if I'd get better sound than my Soundcore Liberty's. They are different technologies and you can only do so much with one moving membrane.
Thanks for the interview, it's good food for thought.

[calixtomontes]

Thank you for this great interview. I wish that other startup companies will follow and do interview with you guys. I liked the mindset and what they want to bring to the table in their products. I hope that they come out soon and that they can be purchased in the US. Once again, thank you for your great insight and presentations. Hasta Pronto! Take care. 👍👌

[ELJefeReviews]

This is really cool! Love to see what they are doing. Thanks for this coverage my dudes!

[seefeel]

Please to hear they're a Dutch company. Can't wait for review!

[GuitarSlayer]

Seeing a puck cell hing out of an earbud for reload-esque battery replacement hit me like a brick.

Like im still emotionally reeling from how that made me feel.

[oranska]

fantastische video, guys! meer hiervan graag. het is een mooie aanvulling op jullie ‘testportefeuille’ en geeft diepte aan wat jullie doen

[ndrdst]

I'm using a regular semi-professional audio tuning app to dial in the sound of my FP XL, I don't care what kind of presets they come with. I don't think audio device makers should try to hit the sweet spot of every single user if it means compromising too much, it's way better to provide good hardware and leave the audio tuning to the personal taste of the customer.

[ezrapardede]

i just kinda wish they make an actually competitive product, and look appealing to a lot of demographics, current phone that they make seems only be appealing to the most serious of environmentalists which sadly won't be enough to make them bigger as a brand

hope they'll keep getting better and bigger as a brand, so in the end if other follows, we as costumer will be benefited

[burhanbudak]

Alternative to LDAC that is both free on decoder is Opus and LC3. LDAC would just increase the price. Opus(Open source) and LC3(replacement for SBC so source available) now exists on all Android phones as of Android 13.

[Avioto]

This is very exciting, if your review is positive I will definitely get a pair.

[johngalt]

Awesome Fairbuds 👍… But, recently got Earfun Air 3 Pro based on your review

[santanuhajra]

I want this this company to come in India ... And I wish main stream companies korean american chinese giants can take environment seriously. In the name of waterproof smaller design they made the whole tech industry unfair. Any way if I can buy this I will be very happy.

[kontanaizumi]

if this is even semi decent, they would be a good pick, i currently try not to get expensive with wireless earbuds because they're inherently disposable products.

[klerkusmaximus]

A second source states the Fairbuds XL has 20 Hz to 20 kHz with aptX, and aptX HD – I am no expert by any means but isn't this a bit overkill for this Hertz range? You can't use 48 kHz with them, and immediately hear sounds up to 24 kHz when the range is just up to 20 kHz. It only makes sense about the bit depth 16 Bit vs 24 Bit (but the sound quality is neglectible).

They should have just kept it at AAC, and SBC or pumped up the range to at least 25 kHz so you could use aptX to its 'full potential'.

Also the price is 250 €. Dunnow if this price tag isn't too much given all the specs. I am not sure if modularity, climate/environment friendly win over ANC, and codecs over other brands like Sony, Sennheiser and so on. We will see.

[EricS-ufmv]

The problem with these types of projects is they always focus on the wrong thing. SURE reparability is core principle for Fairphone. That's great. And SURE "green" materials is a commendable goal... although the reality is many companies play creative green accounting games to achieve the appearance of sustainability - effectively greenwashing. And SURE clever industrial design features like separating the charging case shell from the electronic guts is genius... But NONE of this matters if the actual earbuds themselves are garbage... And I'm not just talking about audio quality, which honestly is pretty easy to get 94% of 'excellent' using off-the-shelf parts. I'm talking about all the OTHER critical stuff that literally makes or breaks earbuds from a usability standpoint... touch controls accuracy/fully programmable controls/OS integration (hand-free assistant), ANC/Pass-through performance, LONG on-bud battery life, Loudness/Volume, a full fledged multiplatform app with ALL THE FEATURES, multipoint support that WORKS AS EXPECTED w/o any wonkiness, BT connection stability, BT range/performance/latency, etc... THESE are the KEY FEATURES a "repairable" earbud must deliver on 1st. 1st!!! Bc if an earbud doesn't deliver basic performance & features found in $50 earbuds, then all the effort spent on reparability & "greening" the the product is pointless.