Want a Sustainable Android? The Modular Fairphone 6 Delivers

Sustainable tech leader Fairphone unveiled its latest modular device on Thursday at an event in Amsterdam, presenting a clear challenge to mainstream phone-makers everywhere. The Fairphone 6 is a fully repairable Android phone built to last, with what the company says is its lowest carbon footprint yet.

Fairphone is a phone-maker like no other. Rather than being just another tech company making a generic Android phone, Fairphone is a value-driven Dutch social enterprise that sources materials ethically and pays fair-wage bonuses to workers across a supply chain where factory conditions include protection from harmful chemicals and a voice in workplace decisions. It also encourages Fairphone owners to replace parts rather than discard their devices and upgrade frequently.

While this is technically the Fairphone 6, the company wants it to be known as just the Fairphone — the thinking being that you shouldn’t need to upgrade your phone every few years to the next generation of devices. Fairphone promises seven Android updates and support for software and repairable parts through 2033 with this device.

Fairphone’s previous phone — the Fairphone 5 — scored 7/10 in our review. But it also earned a 10/10 teardown score from iFixit. iFixit is a leader in providing the tools and knowledge for people to repair their electronics and has been at the forefront of pushing right-to-repair legislation.

The Fairphone is entirely modular, with replaceable elements that make it both easy to fix and more fun. You can replace the battery, screen, camera, ports, and other components — and snap off the rear cover to attach accessories like a carry cord or card holder.

A lime green switch on the side of the phone allows you to toggle between the standard Android 15 interface, complete with all the Google Gemini AI features you might expect, and a pared-back monochrome “essentials” interface that offers access to core fuctions, including calling, messaging and web browsing.

Our biggest criticisms of the Fairphone 5 were the poor battery life and camera performance. According to Fairphone, its new device packs a bigger battery that can last 53 hours, along with an AI-enhanced 50-megapixel camera. We’re hoping that these live up to their promise, which will be crucial to truly future-proof this phone as the rest of the industry sticks to its annual upgrade cycle.

The chip inside is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 from Qualcomm, which also provides the chips for all of the best Android phones on the market. Its performance will also help determine the longevity of the phone. 

The Fairphone 6 will be available for £499 ($680) from YourCoop and AO in the UK and through Murena in the US.