Fairphone Fairbuds
Not sold at any shop we monitor today, so not in our ranking.
Before you buy, compare it with 2 recommended alternatives
No shop here sells this model today, so beside it the highest-scored model of the same type that one does, and the cheapest of the top 10.
Green is the best of these 3, also when they share the lead.
| This model Fairphone Fairbuds | Cheapest of the top 10 Xiaomi Redmi Buds 6 Pro Best on 1 fact | Highest score here Soundcore Liberty 5 Best on 1 fact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most important facts | |||
| The lowest price today at a shop that delivers to you, delivery included. A price with an asterisk comes from a shop abroad, and its delivery cost is our own estimate. Lowest price | – | 49 €Amazon.de best | 99 €Soundcore (brand store) |
| Our own score out of 10: 60% the maker’s facts and 40% shop ratings. Price does not count. Score | best | ||
| The average of the stars buyers give at the shops, with the number of reviews behind it. We only compare it from 20 reviews. Customer rating | – | – | ★ 4.4 · 30 reviews |
| How the headphones cancel outside noise with microphones. Hybrid uses microphones outside and inside the cup, adaptive also adjusts to the sound around you. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| – | Adaptive | Adaptive |
| How long the headphones or the earbuds play on one charge with noise cancelling on, as the maker states it. In this comparisonWhen it matters
When it matters less
Source
| 5 h | – | 8 h |
| What the headphones or one earbud weigh. Lighter is more comfortable for hours at a time. In this comparisonWhen it matters
When it matters less
Source
| 5 g | 5.2 g | 4.6 g |
| The Bluetooth version. A newer one connects more steadily and uses less power, if the phone has it too. In this comparisonSource
| 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| How well they resist water and dust, as the IP code states. IPX4 survives sweat and rain, IPX7 a short dip in water. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| IP54 | IP54 | IP55 |
| How the sound is packed for Bluetooth. AAC suits iPhones, aptX and LDAC carry more detail from Android phones that support them. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| SBC, AAC | AAC, LDAC | AAC, LDAC |
| Connected to two devices at once, such as a phone and a laptop, and switching by itself to the one that plays. When it matters
When it matters less
Source
| yes | yes | yes |
Facts as the maker states them. A dash means the maker does not name it. Each model’s page gives the source of every fact. Noise is the maker’s own figure, so we do not judge it, and a customer rating only counts from 20 reviews.
Fairphone Fairbuds specifications
The numbers that matter first, then every fact by group. As published by the maker or the shop we read it from.
Fairphone · on the market since June 2024
Build and fit 11 facts
- Form factor
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
How the headphones sit: over the ear, on the ear, in the ear canal, in the outer ear, beside the ear or on the cheekbone.
- In-ear
- True wireless
96 of the 184 models we track have this.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
Two separate earbuds with no wire between them, charged in a case.
- yes
- Wireless
153 of the 184 models we track have this.
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
They play over Bluetooth, without a cable to the phone.
- yes
- Wired connection
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
The plug for a cable, so you can also listen wired, for instance on a plane or with a battery that has run out.
- None
- Audio over USB-C
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
They play sound over a USB-C cable, straight from a phone or a laptop. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
- Driver type
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The kind of speaker inside. Dynamic drivers are the most common. Planar and electrostatic ones are mostly found in expensive headphones for home listening.
- Dynamic
- Driver size
Among the models we track
11 mm on this model
Lowest
4.7 mm Highest
56 mm Middle
12 mmLower than 62 of the 107 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The diameter of the speaker inside. A bigger driver does not by itself mean better sound.
- 11 mm
- Weight
Among the models we track
5 g on this model
Lowest
3.1 g Highest
451 g Middle
8.6 gLower than 134 of the 168 models we track.
When it matters
- Wearing them for hours at a desk or on a flight.
- Running or the gym, where a heavy earbud works loose.
When it matters less
- Short listens, where comfort hardly has time to matter.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
What the headphones or one earbud weigh. Lighter is more comfortable for hours at a time.
- 5 g
- Water and dust resistance
When it matters
- Running and the gym, where sweat gets in.
- Cycling or walking in the rain.
When it matters less
- Listening indoors only.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How well they resist water and dust, as the IP code states. IPX4 survives sweat and rain, IPX7 a short dip in water.
- IP54
- Controls
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How you play, pause and change the volume on the headphones themselves.
- Touch
- Microphones
Among the models we track
6 on this model
Lowest
0 Highest
10 Middle
6Higher than 39 of the 90 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How many microphones the maker counts, for calls and noise cancelling together.
- 6
Sound 7 facts
- Lowest frequency
Among the models we track
20 Hz on this model
Lowest
4 Hz Highest
50 Hz Middle
20 HzHigher than 51 of the 104 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The lowest tone the maker says they play. It says little about how the bass actually sounds.
- 20 Hz
- Highest frequency
Among the models we track
20,000 Hz on this model
Lowest
16,000 Hz Highest
80,000 Hz Middle
29,000 HzLower than 65 of the 104 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The highest tone the maker says they play. Adult hearing stops well below most figures.
- 20,000 Hz
- Impedance
Among the models we track
16 Ω on this model
Lowest
15 Ω Highest
520 Ω Middle
32 ΩLower than 51 of the 75 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The electrical resistance. Wired headphones with a high impedance need an amplifier to play loud enough.
- 16 Ω
- Sensitivity
Among the models we track
104 dB SPL on this model
Lowest
91 dB SPL Highest
122 dB SPL Middle
100 dB SPLHigher than 39 of the 58 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How loud they play on a given signal. A higher figure plays louder from a weak source, such as a phone.
- 104 dB SPL
- Equaliser in the app
105 of the 106 models we track have this.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
You can adjust bass and treble in the maker’s app.
- yes
- Equaliser bands
Among the models we track
8 on this model
Lowest
2 Highest
12 Middle
5Higher than 19 of the 32 models we track.
Source: fairphone.com · checked on 1 Nov
How many frequency bands the app’s equaliser lets you adjust.
- 8
- Spatial audio
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
Sound that seems to come from around you rather than from inside your head. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
Noise cancelling 1 fact
- Hearing aid function
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
Can work as a hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss, where the maker has it approved. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
Wireless 8 facts
- Bluetooth version
Among the models we track
5.3 on this model
Lowest
5 Highest
6.1 Middle
5.3Lower than 43 of the 141 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The Bluetooth version. A newer one connects more steadily and uses less power, if the phone has it too.
- 5.3
- Bluetooth codecs
When it matters
- Lossless or high-resolution music from an Android phone that supports aptX or LDAC.
- An iPhone, where AAC is the codec that counts.
When it matters less
- Podcasts, calls and streaming at normal quality.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How the sound is packed for Bluetooth. AAC suits iPhones, aptX and LDAC carry more detail from Android phones that support them.
- SBC, AAC
- Multipoint
115 of the 117 models we track have this.
When it matters
- Switching between a laptop for calls and a phone for music.
- Working from home with two devices on the desk.
When it matters less
- Using them with one phone only.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
Connected to two devices at once, such as a phone and a laptop, and switching by itself to the one that plays.
- yes
- Devices connected at once
Among the models we track
2 on this model
Lowest
2 Highest
3 Middle
2Lower than 5 of the 64 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How many devices they stay connected to at once.
- 2
- LE Audio
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
The newer Bluetooth standard for sound, with the LC3 codec: better sound on less power, with phones that support it. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
- Auracast
Source: assumed, not named by the maker · checked on 1 Nov
Can listen to a Bluetooth broadcast, such as a TV, an airport announcement or a friend sharing music. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no (assumed)
- Made for
Source: derived, no source of its own · checked on 1 Nov
Whose phones the headphones are made for. Some features, such as one-tap pairing or spatial audio, work only with that maker’s phones.
- Any phone
- Wireless range
Among the models we track
10 m on this model
Lowest
9 m Highest
40 m Middle
10 mLower than 11 of the 68 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How far from the phone the maker says the connection holds, without walls in between.
- 10 m
Battery 8 facts
- Battery life with noise cancelling
Among the models we track
5 h on this model
Lowest
4 h Highest
75 h Middle
8 hLower than 99 of the 108 models we track.
When it matters
- Long flights or a full working day.
- Travelling where you cannot charge.
When it matters less
- An hour of listening a day, which any model manages for a week.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How long the headphones or the earbuds play on one charge with noise cancelling on, as the maker states it.
- 5 h
- Battery life without noise cancelling
Among the models we track
6 h on this model
Lowest
5 h Highest
135 h Middle
10 hLower than 113 of the 123 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How long they play on one charge with noise cancelling off.
- 6 h
- Battery life with the case
Among the models we track
26 h on this model
Lowest
18 h Highest
60 h Middle
36 hLower than 72 of the 86 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How long the earbuds play in total with the charges stored in their case.
- 26 h
- Fast charge time
Among the models we track
10 min on this model
Lowest
3 min Highest
20 min Middle
10 minHigher than 50 of the 132 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How many minutes of charging give the playback below.
- 10 min
- Playback from a fast charge
Among the models we track
1.5 h on this model
Lowest
1 h Highest
15 h Middle
3 hLower than 90 of the 132 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How many hours of playback a short fast charge gives.
- 1.5 h
- Full charge time
Among the models we track
120 min on this model
Lowest
40 min Highest
210 min Middle
120 minHigher than 42 of the 95 models we track.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
How long a full charge takes.
- 120 min
- Wireless charging
55 of the 64 models we track have this.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The case or the headphones charge on a Qi pad, without a cable.
- no
- Charging port
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The plug the headphones or their case charge through.
- USB-C
In use 3 facts
- Wear detection
57 of the 58 models we track have this.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The music pauses when you take them off and plays on when you put them back.
- yes
- Voice assistants
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The voice assistants you can call up from the headphones.
- Siri, Google Assistant
- App
Source: fairphone.com · checked on 1 Nov
The name of the maker’s app.
- Fairbuds
Warranty and support 2 facts
- Warranty
Among the models we track
3 years on this model
Lowest
1 year Highest
3 years Middle
2 yearsHigher than 28 of the 30 models we track.
When it matters
- A robot with a dock full of pumps and moving parts, where more can break.
- An expensive robot you plan to keep for years.
When it matters less
- For a cheap robot you would replace rather than repair, the extra years count for less.
Source: web.archive.org · checked on 1 Nov
The warranty the maker gives in Germany. Consumer law here stands apart from it and can last longer.
- 3 years
- Launched
Source: fairphone.com · checked on 1 Nov
The month the model came out, as far as the maker or a register shows.
- 2024-04-09
Sources: web.archive.org · fairphone.com
Our score
Confidence: medium. Fewer than 300 owners’ ratings at the shops. The highest score today is 9.8.
-
Owners’ ratings 40%–
Owners’ ratings, 40%: none yet at the shops that deliver to Germany, so this part is left out and the score is the features part alone.
-
Features 60%7.0
45 of 72 points for the maker’s facts, the other 28 counted at the market’s average share of 89%.
- Price never countsA sale can’t lift a model. Today’s lowest price sits beside the score, checked every morning.
- Too few facts, no rankOnly headphones whose type and enough of whose facts are known are ranked. The rest get a provisional score.
- Reviewers beside, not insideReviewers’ picks are shown next to the score and do not count in it.
Frequently asked questions about the Fairphone Fairbuds
How do buyers rate the Fairphone Fairbuds?
Buyers rate the Fairphone Fairbuds 4.1 out of 5, from 5 reviews at Coolblue (NL). We read the ratings on 1 November 2026.
How long does the battery of the Fairphone Fairbuds last?
The maker states up to 5 hours of play with noise cancelling on, and 6 hours with it off. With the charging case, that comes to 26 hours in all. A 10-minute charge gives 1.5 hours of play.
Can the Fairphone Fairbuds connect to two devices at once?
Yes, it can stay connected to 2 devices at a time, such as a phone and a laptop.
Which Bluetooth codecs does the Fairphone Fairbuds support?
It supports SBC and AAC. Every current phone plays over these codecs.
Is the Fairphone Fairbuds water resistant?
It is rated IP54. That protects it against splashing water from any direction, such as rain and sweat.
How much does the Fairphone Fairbuds weigh?
Each earbud of the Fairphone Fairbuds weighs 5 g.
The maker
Fairphone
- Reviews on Trustpilot
- Headquarters: Netherlands
- Founded in 2013
Fairphone is a Dutch company based in Amsterdam, registered as FairPhone B.V. It began in 2010 as a project to raise awareness of conflict minerals in consumer electronics and was set up as a social enterprise in 2013. It makes smartphones built to be repaired and kept for longer, and sells spare parts alongside them. Its audio range includes the Fairbuds earbuds and the Fairbuds XL over-ear headphones.
