Fairphone 6+ review: a modular, repairable smartphone built to last

The Fairphone 6+ takes the Dutch manufacturer’s formula further with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor and 12 GB of RAM, while retaining the modular design and sustainability commitments that define the brand.

With a 10/10 repairability score from iFixit, 12 user-replaceable spare parts and software support announced until 2033, the Fairphone 6+ stands out above all for its repairability and longevity.

In terms of performance, it remains a mid-range smartphone, with a configuration that is more than sufficient for everyday use, multitasking and occasional gaming.

10/10 repairability: a smartphone designed to be repaired

The Fairphone 6+ is designed with screws and removable components to make repairs easier at home. A T5 Torx screwdriver provides access to the main components designed to be replaced by the user.

Fairphone states that 12 spare parts can be replaced by the user. The battery, display, USB-C port and certain parts of the rear cover can, according to the manufacturer, be replaced in less than five minutes.

Not all components are designed for at-home repairs, however. The microphones, side buttons and fingerprint sensor may require assistance from a repair service. A small amount of adhesive is also still used around the motherboard.

This design earned the Fairphone Gen. 6 a maximum repairability score of 10/10 from iFixit, a philosophy of repairability that is carried over to the Fairphone 6+.

Spare parts available directly

Fairphone sells several spare parts directly to make repairs easier without having to replace the entire smartphone.

At the time of writing, the public prices provided by Fairphone include: 

• Battery: €39.95
• AMOLED display: €89.95
• Main camera: €69.95
• USB-C port: €19.95

Fairphone also publishes its own comparison of estimated repair costs across several competing manufacturers. According to this comparison, a battery would cost around €85 on average, a display around €280, a main camera around €240 and a USB-C port repair around €120.

These amounts should be considered estimates published by Fairphone and may vary depending on the manufacturer, device and repair provider.

A modular design with interchangeable accessories

The removable rear cover is not only designed to make repairs easier. It also allows several modular accessories offered by Fairphone to be attached directly to the device.

These include:

• a card holder;
• a ring grip;
• a wrist strap.

This modularity allows you to customise the device without necessarily having to use an additional traditional case.

Display and performance: a well-equipped mid-range smartphone

120 Hz LTPO AMOLED display

The Fairphone 6+ features a 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED display with an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 10 to 120 Hz.

This variable refresh rate allows the display to prioritise smoothness when needed while reducing power consumption when showing more static content.
Fairphone states that the display offers:

• brightness of up to 1,400 nits in automatic mode;
• a minimum brightness of 2 nits;
• Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection;
• support for touch interactions with wet fingers;
• a dedicated mode for use with gloves.

The smartphone also has an IP55 rating, making it resistant to dust and water splashes. However, this certification does not mean that the phone can be submerged in water.

Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and 12 GB of RAM

The Fairphone 6+ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, built on a 4 nm process, paired with 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

This upgrade improves performance compared with the Fairphone 6, which features the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. The Fairphone 6+ nevertheless remains a mid-range smartphone rather than a direct competitor to devices equipped with the most powerful mobile processors on the market.

The configuration is more than suitable for browsing, social media, streaming, multitasking and occasional gaming.

Removable battery and battery life

The Fairphone 6+ retains a feature that has become increasingly rare in modern smartphones: a removable 4,415 mAh battery that can be replaced separately.
According to measurements provided by Fairphone, the phone can achieve up to 17 hours and 59 minutes of continuous web browsing. Actual battery life naturally depends on screen brightness, network connection, apps and how frequently the smartphone is used.

Charging is supported at 27 W, with peak power reaching 30 W. Fairphone's technical specifications indicate charging times of:

• 50% in around 30 minutes;
• 80% in around 45 minutes;
• 100% in around 85 minutes.

Fairphone also states that the battery is designed to exceed 1,000 charging cycles while retaining at least 80% of its rated capacity.
To help extend its lifespan, the phone includes features such as Eco Charge and an option to limit charging to 80%, with the device powered directly when conditions allow.

Camera: a 50 MP Sony main sensor

The Fairphone 6+ retains the three-camera setup of the Fairphone 6.

50 MP Sony LYT-700C main sensor

The 50 MP Sony LYTIA LYT-700C main sensor features optical image stabilisation (OIS).
It uses pixel binning to produce, among other things, 12.5 MP images and offers 2x in-sensor zoom, as well as digital zoom of up to 10x.

13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera

The second camera is a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with a 120° field of view, or 108° after calibration.
It also features autofocus and electronic image stabilisation.

32 MP front camera

On the front, Fairphone uses a 32 MP Samsung KD1 sensor with autofocus and electronic image stabilisation.
According to the manufacturer's detailed specifications, the front camera can record video at up to 2K resolution at 30 frames per second.

Android 16, support until 2033 and Fairphone Moments

The Fairphone 6+ runs Android 16 out of the box.
The software experience remains relatively clean. Fairphone states that it does not pre-install third-party apps apart from Google apps and its own tools.
For the Fairphone 6+, the manufacturer promises six major Android updates through 2032, along with overall software support until 2033.
A version using Murena /e/OS is also available for users looking for an environment designed without Google services.

Fairphone Moments to reduce distractions

The Fairphone 6+ also features Fairphone Moments, a function designed to reduce smartphone-related distractions.
It allows you to create simplified profiles with up to five essential apps, while choosing which contacts and notifications you want to keep.
A physical switch on the phone lets you quickly activate Fairphone Moments and switch to the simplified interface.
It is therefore not a switch that physically disables the microphones or cameras, but rather a button that allows you to quickly change the way you use the device.

Environmental and social commitments at the heart of the Fairphone 6+

Repairability is just one part of Fairphone’s approach. The manufacturer also focuses on the origin of materials, product lifespan and working conditions during production.

51% of its weight comes from recycled or more fairly sourced materials

Fairphone states that 51% of the device’s weight comes from recycled materials or materials sourced through programmes considered more fair, across 15 material categories.
The recycled materials include aluminium, copper, steel, tin, magnesium, nickel, certain plastics and rare earth elements.

Fairphone also includes gold, silver, cobalt and tungsten among the materials covered by its fairer sourcing programmes.

A reported carbon footprint of around 29.3 kg CO₂e

Fairphone estimates the smartphone’s carbon footprint at approximately 29.3 kg CO₂e over its life cycle, excluding the microSD card.
The ability to replace individual components, the long software support period and the availability of spare parts are primarily intended to extend the phone’s useful life and prevent premature replacement.

A smartphone described as “e-waste neutral”

Fairphone describes this generation as “100% e-waste neutral.”

In practice, for every smartphone sold, Fairphone states that it supports another phone to help promote its reuse, repair or recycling.

Bonuses for workers in the production chain

Fairphone also continues its Living Wage Bonus programme. These bonuses are intended to help reduce the gap between wages paid and a level of remuneration considered sufficient to cover workers’ essential needs.

Fairphone’s environmental approach therefore also includes a social dimension, integrated into its sourcing and production policies.

Fairphone 6+: what are the differences compared with the Fairphone 6?

The move to the Fairphone 6+ is more of an evolution than a complete redesign.

The main differences are:

• Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 instead of Snapdragon 7s Gen 3;
• 12 GB of RAM instead of 8 GB;
• a launch price of €649 instead of €599;
• the addition of the Cobalt Blue colour option.

The display, cameras, 4,415 mAh battery, 256 GB of storage and most of the modular design remain unchanged.

The Fairphone 6+ is therefore primarily aimed at users who are interested in Fairphone’s philosophy but want more RAM and a newer processor.