Bas van Abel, Tessa Wernink, and Miquel Ballester started Fairphone in January 2013. The company existed as a campaign for two and a half years before launching. The company aims to reduce environmental impact through recycled materials and fair labor. The design focuses on modularity to prevent electronic waste. For every phone sold, the company takes one back to promote circular use through reuse and recycling. While the original Fairphone earned a 7/10 repairability score from iFixit, every model from the Fairphone 2 to the Fairphone 6 earned a 10/10 score. Fairphone uses recycled aluminum, magnesium, tin, nickel, zinc, copper, and plastics. The company also integrates Fairtrade gold into its supply chain. Final assembly happens in a factory that supports living wages and uses renewable energy. The company became a registered B Corporation in April 2015. By February 2022, Fairphone had sold around 400,000 devices. In 2026, the company reached a best-selling year with 145,259 units sold. A consortium of impact investors led by Invest-NL and the ABN AMRO Sustainable Impact Fund invested €49 million in Fairphone in 2023.
Modular hardware and the Murena partnership
The Fairphone 6 remains the best choice for users seeking long-term hardware durability. Murena sells this model in the United States for $899 with /e/OS pre-installed. This version only works on T-Mobile and its partner networks. The device includes 12 modular components that users replace with a screwdriver. The battery requires four screws for security, a change from the tool-free design of the Fairphone 5.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.31-inch LTPO OLED |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB (plus microSD) |
| Battery | 4415 mAh |
| Processor | Snapdragon Gen 4 |
| USB Version | USB 2.0 |
The hardware includes a physical "Moments" switch to reduce digital distractions. You probably already know that modularity simplifies repairs, but this device also provides a physical button to activate a minimalist mode that limits the mobile interface to five essential apps. The camera and microphone lock functions rely on software, which makes the physical yellow switch less effective than advertised. The USB 2.0 port feels outdated for a 2025 release, and the phone lacks wireless charging. The Snapdragon Gen 4 processor is the fastest industrial chip from Qualcomm, although it is not the most cutting-edge consumer technology. If you rely on Verizon, does the lack of network compatibility make this purchase a waste of money?
Longevity and European repair rules
Fairphone guarantees software updates and spare parts availability until 2033. This commitment targets the industry trend of short product lifecycles. EU ecodesign rules require manufacturers to provide repair information and parts for at least seven years after a product leaves the market. These rules also require smartphones to survive 45 accidental drops and retain 80% of battery capacity after 800 charging cycles. Manufacturers must provide tools and spare parts at a reasonable price. Fairphone supports this longevity with a five-year warranty. The Murena version of the Fairphone 6 receives firmware patches from Fairphone that Murena weaves into /e/ updates, which helps maintain the privacy-focused nature of the device for its users to provide a better experience. Murena customer support takes weeks to respond to users reporting screen issues like dead pixels or green lines. Murena also does not sell Fairphone 6 parts on its own website. Independent repairers can use 3D-printed parts to fix devices under these new EU regulations. The EU also plans to create an online platform to help consumers find repair facilities. These rules aim to reduce electronic waste across the region.
