Fairphone Gen 6+ brings repairable design to US market at $650
Dutch smartphone maker Fairphone has launched the Gen 6+ in the US, a $650 device designed for longevity and easy self-repair, challenging mainstream glued designs.
The phone's design departs from the typical glass-and-aluminum construction filled with glue, gaskets, and tiny screws. Fairphone says its goal is to let users "fully own" their device, prioritizing the ability to take it apart and put it back together for repairs.
Fairphone CTO Chandler Hatton told Ars Technica that the company aims to deliver a compelling mobile experience while enabling ownership at a deeper level. The phone targets buyers willing to accept trade-offs in exchange for easier maintenance.
The launch comes as major manufacturers like Google, Samsung, and Apple promise software support for up to seven or eight years, but Fairphone argues that hardware longevity depends on the ability to physically repair a device. Without that, even a decade of software updates may not keep a phone in use.
Fairphone, which has built its reputation on ethical sourcing and repairability in Europe, is now testing that approach in the US market with a handset that challenges the industry's reliance on sealed, difficult-to-open devices.