Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Aug 19
Fairphone 6+ Wins ZDNET Review at $649, Offering 11 Repairable Parts and 8 Years of Updates
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · Aug 19

Fairphone 6+ Wins ZDNET Review at $649, Offering 11 Repairable Parts and 8 Years of Updates

1 articles · Updated · ZDNet · Aug 19

Summary

  • $649 Fairphone 6+ emerged from ZDNET's review as a rare long-term Android buy, praised for pairing solid midrange-to-upper-midrange performance with unusually easy repairability.
  • 11 user-replaceable parts — including the battery, display, cameras and USB-C port — can be swapped with the included Torx screwdriver, reinforcing Fairphone's pitch that owners can keep one phone for years.
  • Geekbench 7 scores of 1,124 single-core and 3,519 multi-core trailed the Pixel 9 Pro's 1,695 and 4,379, but the reviewer said the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and 12GB RAM still delivered smooth everyday use.
  • The 6.31-inch OLED phone ships unlocked in the US for AT&T and T-Mobile, adds microSD expansion up to 2TB, and includes a 5-year warranty plus 8 years of software updates.
  • The review framed the device as a response to flagship phones that often top $1,000, arguing its lower price and $39.95 replacement battery make sustainability more practical for budget-conscious buyers.

Insights

Will Fairphone’s radically cheap DIY replacement parts finally force major smartphone brands to abandon their highly profitable planned obsolescence?
Can a midrange processor truly keep the Fairphone 6+ running smoothly through its unprecedented eight years of promised software updates?
Are consumers ready to sacrifice flagship processing speeds for a $649 device that guarantees ethical sourcing and total repairability?