Dutch consumer electronics manufacturer Fairphone has been a pioneer in developing sustainable and easily repairable products, most notably smartphones. It celebrated its 10th anniversary at the beginning of the year and its latest offering are the Fairbuds XL over-the-ear headphones.
Released for pre-order in mid-May, the units push the envelope for modular design as other more established brands also seek to offer their takes on the concept.
The Fairbuds XL cost £219 excluding shipping (currently available to the UK and EU). The company recommends that consumers buy a 1.2m USB C-to-USB C cable for wired listening at £39.15 (though much cheaper alternatives are available). A port converter for a traditional 3.5mm headphone socket is also on offer for £11.95.
What most catches the attention is the range of modules that can be replaced: the battery, the speaker-to-speaker cable, the earcap covers, the headband, the ear cushion, the headband base, the speaker...