What it is
The Fairphone 6 is a modular, repairable smartphone designed to last a decade. Users can replace the screen, battery, camera, speaker, USB-C port, and other modules with a single screwdriver. The phone uses fair-trade gold, recycled aluminum, and conflict-free tin. Fairphone guarantees 7 years of Android OS and security updates. The company publishes its full supply chain, including the names and audit results of every supplier and smelter.
Why we picked this
A typical smartphone lasts 2.5 years before replacement, generating 60 to 70 kg of CO2 equivalent in manufacturing emissions each time. The Fairphone 6 is designed to last 7 to 10 years by making every failure point user-replaceable. Cracked screen? Buy a $50 module and swap it in 10 minutes. Battery degraded? Same thing. This is how phones should have always worked, but the industry chose planned obsolescence because it sells more units. Fairphone proves that repairability and fair labor practices are compatible with a competitive product.
Key takeaways
- Modular design makes screen, battery, camera, and port replacements possible with a single standard screwdriver, extending usable lifespan to 7 to 10 years.
- Fairphone achieved a perfect 10/10 repairability score from iFixit, the highest rating ever given to a smartphone.
- The company publishes complete supply chain transparency reports naming every supplier, smelter, and refiner, setting a standard no other phone manufacturer matches.