Fairphone FairBuds 2 review: repairable earbuds with modest sound

TechRadar’s Tom Bedford describes the Fairphone FairBuds 2 as an eco-conscious, repairable pair of wireless earbuds with sound and battery life that are merely adequate. The review says they lack PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” and are made with recycled parts. Their sustainability and repairability are the main reasons Bedford finds them easy to recommend.

Fairphone unveiled the FairBuds 2 on October 14, 2026, around two years after the original Fairbuds launched in 2024. They cost $119 or £99. The earbuds are rated for 6 hours of listening with active noise cancellation (ANC) on, or 8 hours with ANC off. Their case provides up to 40 hours, though the review estimates about 32 hours with ANC on.

Bedford found the ANC effective, and praised the app’s equalizer presets. The simple design and sound quality were less impressive: the earbuds are “just fine,” in his assessment, and the battery life is not especially competitive. He says testing yielded slightly more listening time than Fairphone’s ratings, but not enough to call battery life good.

The review’s overall view is that the FairBuds 2 are a middling audio option whose eco-friendly construction, repairability and lack of PFAS help them stand out.