Fairphone is preparing to release the second generation of modular and repairable wireless earbuds.
According to the company, the unveiling of the Fairbuds 2 will take place on October 14, featuring the same modular design as well as the audio quality improvement.
As usual, the Fairbuds 2 will feature seven replaceable parts, but this time the new earbuds will offer more than just a refurbished model.
Fairphone is implementing a Sony LDAC Bluetooth codec for the Fairbuds 2 to provide users of compatible gadgets with better sound resolution.
The Fairbuds 2 are set to launch in Europe at a price of €119, being €30 cheaper compared to the €149 initial price for the original Fairbuds in 2024.
The United States release is also scheduled, with a price tag of $119.
Fairbuds 2 Launch Date Confirmed
The company has revealed that it will launch the Fairbuds 2 on October 14th, more than two years since its original first-generation Fairbuds arrived in 2024.
Fairbuds were an extension of Fairphone’s well-established strategy to make easily serviceable, longer-lasting electronics.
Instead of sealing the battery and electronics inside the earbud, the company designed the product in a way that allowed many key components to be exchanged individually.
Here comes that same philosophy with the second-generation device.
According to the maker, the Fairbuds 2 will feature seven replaceable and modular parts, so owners can just replace the specific parts that have become damaged instead of the entire device itself.
This is especially helpful for wireless earbuds as many of these are discarded due to battery wear.
With removable batteries, the Fairbuds 2 will hopefully be useful for many years to come!
LDAC Support Comes to Fairbuds 2
The most prominent technical upgrade promised to-date is the support for LDAC.
First generation Fairbuds used SBC, the most basic of Bluetooth codecs, as well as AAC, another lower resolution Bluetooth codec.
The Fairbuds 2 will be among the first Bluetooth headsets to support LDAC, Sony’s higher resolution Bluetooth codec which can transmit vastly more audio data when the phone it is attached to is LDAC compatible.
This doesn’t mean every user will notice a dramatic difference.
It will vary on the source device, the source device’s audio quality and the quality of the Bluetooth connection.
However, LDAC does give the Fairbuds 2 a much more capable wireless audio option than the original.
It also puts the new earbuds at a competitive advantage when compared to other current wireless earbuds, which already include higher-quality Bluetooth codecs.
Seven Replaceable Components
The Fairbuds 2 are still very repairable.
Most true wireless earbuds are quite small sealed units, and once a battery or other internal component goes wrong, it’s not always possible to get them working again.
And even if the electronics still work, a gradually failing battery can eventually make a product unviable to use.
Fairphone, on the other hand, has adopted a different strategy.
As shown in Figure 4, the first-generation Fairbuds enabled users to swap out a number of their components, such as the earbud battery cells and the charging-case battery.
Fairbuds 2 will play into this modular mentality as well, offering up seven completely interchangeable parts.
At the moment, Fairphone hasn’t listed out the full breakdown of replaceable components, but this could help make fixing the earbuds easier down the line.
It also aligns with Fairphone’s wider message of how they want to make sure that if a device is used as specified, it won’t need to be updated for at least 10 years.
Fairbuds 2 Price Is Lower Than the Original
The price of the Fairbuds 2 in Europe will be €119, according to Fairphone.
That is significantly less than the first-generation Fairbuds, which debuted at €149 in 2024. The lower starting price is particularly intriguing as the new model introduces LDAC support and preserves the modular construction.
The original Fairbuds have also become more affordable since their release, giving buyers a choice once the new model arrives.
Pricing for the US is expected to be $119. Fairphone hasn’t announced the US release date yet, but European availability is scheduled for 10/14, during which time the product will be fully revealed.
More Details Expected at Launch
There are still some spec we don’t know about the Fairbuds 2.
Things like the battery life, the number of drivers, wireless charging, active noise cancellation and water resistance all require the official release before they’re known.
Those should be significant when they compare the new earphones to those available in the same price range.
The Fairbuds 2 promise to be an easy-to-understand evolution from the first version for now.
Fairphone is retaining the unique selling point for its earbuds (read: repairability) and bringing support for LDAC as well as a cheaper launch price in Europe.
The Fairbuds 2 is set to launch October 14 and will carry a European price of €119. A $119 US edition is also in the works for a later date.
Fairphone Fairbuds 2: Expected Specifications
| Category | Fairbuds | Fairbuds 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | 2024 | October 14, 2026 |
| Europe Price | €149 at launch | €119 |
| US Price | $99.99 current price | $119 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Replaceable Parts | 7 | 7 |
| Repairable Design | Yes | Yes |
Source: The Verge via Android Authority, Fairphone via X
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Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
