Over two years after Fairphone first tried to prove that headphones could be made like Lego for adults, the Dutch company has quietly refined the idea. The Fairbuds XL Gen 2 keep the modular soul of the originals — parts you can swap yourself — but add new drivers, fresher fabrics and a few practical tweaks that matter in daily use.
What changed (and what you can keep)
Fairphone hasn’t reinvented the wheel; it has sharpened one edge. The headline upgrade is new 40 mm dynamic drivers with stronger magnets and a re‑tuned audio profile that several outlets heard as cleaner bass and crisper mids and highs. Fairphone is selling those driver units separately — €61.95 for the left module and €39.95 for the right — and crucially they’re backward compatible so first‑gen owners can upgrade without trashing the cans.
Beyond drivers, the Gen 2 swaps PU leather for more breathable Bird’s Eye fabric on the ear cushions and headband, adds subtle aesthetic tweaks (forest green and horizon black), and improves wind noise reduction for calls. The battery is still user‑replaceable — remove a cover on the left cup and pop it out — and Fairphone rates endurance at about 30 hours with ANC off and roughly 20 hours with it on, a modest bump from the first model.
Connectivity supports AAC, SBC and aptX HD over Bluetooth; Fairphone lists the radios as modern and dual‑device friendly, and the headphones include a USB‑C port for charging. A small joystick for playback and volume returns, along with a dedicated ANC button that reviewers continue to praise for its tactile reliability.
Repairability as a feature, not a footnote
This is where Fairphone still stands apart. The Gen 2 remains modular: cushions, headband, drivers, speaker covers, the left‑side battery and more are user‑replaceable with simple tools. The company publishes repair tutorials and sells genuine spare parts — an approach meant to combat what Fairphone’s CTO called “planned obsolescence.” A three‑year warranty and Longtime certification (a European label for longevity and repairability) underline the ethos.
If you’re curious about Fairphone’s wider push into the U.S. market — and what it means for availability and support — the company’s strategy is outlined in its market expansion piece, where headphones are only the opening move in a broader effort to sell repairable tech outside Europe Fairphone Plants a Flag in the U.S., Starting with Repairable Headphones and a Phone Push.
How they sound and feel in real life
Across the reviews, impressions converge: the XL Gen 2 are comfortable for long sessions, thanks to the mesh fabric and a headband that breathes. The joystick remains one of the most practical control schemes on any modern pair of cans — simple, intuitive and satisfying to use.
On sound, the consensus is “better, but not revolutionary.” The new magnets and tuning deliver punchier bass without completely overwhelming vocals or mids, which preserves clarity for podcasts and vocal‑forward tracks. They’re not trying to beat the absolute top tier of noise‑cancelling audiophile cans, but for listeners who want a lively, engaging sound and the option to repair them in five years, they hit a sweet spot.
Active noise cancellation is solid in everyday settings — good at muting buses, chatter and keyboard clack — though it doesn’t quite match the absolute best ANC in the market. If ultra‑quiet commuting is your priority, flagship ANC sets remain the benchmark; for context, Apple’s ANC performance on AirPods Pro is often the point of comparison for many listeners — and if you want to check current prices, the AirPods Pro are widely used as a reference.
Materials, ethics and the small things that add up
Fairphone leans heavily into traceable and recycled inputs this round: fair‑mined cobalt, recycled rare earths in the magnets, high percentages of recycled aluminum and plastics, and assembly using renewable energy. Packaging is minimal (one pouch and a quick‑start guide) and Fairphone pledges to recycle an equal mass of e‑waste to every pair sold.
Small practical additions reviewers called out: automatic power‑off after a period of inactivity, improved wind‑noise mitigation in calls, IP54 ingress protection, and a clearer, more muted branding that aims for a subdued, premium look.
Pricing and availability — and what to expect in the US
In Europe the Fairbuds XL Gen 2 retail for €249/£219. Fairphone plans a U.S. launch later in the month with a $229 price tag and distribution through Amazon; spare‑parts availability in the U.S. may lag the European store, however, which is an important caveat for buyers who value immediate access to replacement modules. For more on Fairphone’s U.S. rollout and its broader ambitions, see the company’s expansion coverage Fairphone Plants a Flag in the U.S., Starting with Repairable Headphones and a Phone Push.
A note on software and apps: Fairphone’s approach emphasizes longevity over flashy software tricks, so the companion app focuses on firmware updates, an EQ and ordering parts rather than a sprawling ecosystem of features. That fits the brand, though it also means the experience sits closer to practical than pulsing with novelty — a sensible contrast to the rapid‑update cycle you see in other corners of mobile and audio. As the Android landscape diversifies (with more services and assistants landing on phones), hardware makers who focus on openness and long support windows may find more receptive users; an example of new apps arriving on Android is OpenAI’s consumer push, which recently landed on Android devices OpenAI’s Sora Lands on Android as Debate Over Deepfakes and Brand Rights Intensifies.
If you want headphones that treat repairability as a core feature instead of a marketing line, the Fairbuds XL Gen 2 make a persuasive case. They won’t unseat the very best in noise cancellation or win audiophile plaudits for sonic subtlety, but they bring practical improvements where many companies still cut corners: materials, replaceable modules, and a three‑year promise that nudges you to think long term about what you buy.