For consumers tired of replacing an entire phone because of a cracked screen or aging battery, Fairphone is bringing a different approach to the U.S. smartphone market.
The Dutch electronics company’s latest device, the Fairphone 6 Plus, is now available in the U.S. for $650. The Android 16-powered smartphone is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks and is offered in three colors: cobalt blue, horizon black and forest green.
While the Fairphone 6 Plus is not a dramatic departure from last year’s Fairphone 6, the company is betting that its focus on repairability and sustainability will help it stand out in a market dominated by sealed smartphones that can be difficult and expensive to fix.
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The new model is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor and comes with 12GB of RAM, compared with 8GB on the previous model. It retains the 6.31-inch OLED display, 50MP main camera and 256GB of storage.
But the hardware upgrades are not the main reason Fairphone wants consumers to pay attention.
The company says owners can use a screwdriver to replace 12 different components, including the screen, battery, cameras and SIM tray. That means a damaged or worn-out part does not necessarily have to spell the end of the phone.
Fairphone also offers a five-year warranty and says the device will receive Android software support through 2033.
The company has made sustainability a central part of its business model. Fairphone says it is 100% e-waste neutral and that its phones use 50% recycled or fair factory-made materials.
That approach stands in contrast to many flagship smartphones from major manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung, where replacing individual components can be considerably more complicated. Consumers often turn to authorized repair programs or independent repair shops when batteries deteriorate or screens break, but those repairs can add significantly to the cost of owning a phone.
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Fairphone’s model is built around the idea that making repairs easier can keep devices in use for longer and reduce electronic waste. The approach also aligns with the growing push for right-to-repair policies, with consumer advocates calling for stronger repair protections across the US.
Gay Gordon-Byrne, executive director of The Repair Association, welcomed Fairphone’s decision to expand the 6 Plus to the American market.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of consumer interest and interest in teardowns and evaluations,” Gordon-Byrne said.
For Fairphone, the challenge now is convincing American consumers that a smartphone does not have to be disposable. The 6 Plus may not compete with the biggest flagship phones on specs alone, but its appeal lies in giving owners something increasingly rare in the smartphone market: the ability to keep the phone they already own and fix it themselves.