Fairphone launches Gen. 6+ smartphone in US for $650

Fairphone has launched its first officially available smartphone in the United States, the Fairphone Gen. 6+, after more than a decade of offering sustainable and repairable phones primarily through third-party retailers. The device is now directly accessible to consumers, marking a significant milestone for the company and its expansion into the U.S. market.

The Gen. 6+ is a follow-up to last year's Fairphone 6 and features several upgrades. It is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip and boasts 12GB of DDR5 RAM. The phone has a 6.3-inch OLED display with a variable 120Hz refresh rate and comes with 256GB of internal storage, expandable via a microSD card. Its 50-megapixel main camera, equipped with a Sony Lytia 700C sensor, is complemented by a new Gallery app, a feature long-requested by users. Priced at $650, this mid-range device aims to deliver solid performance without breaking the bank.

Sustainability remains central to Fairphone's mission. The Gen. 6+ is constructed from over 50 percent fair and recycled materials, boasting the smallest carbon footprint of any of its devices at approximately 30 kilograms. Fairphone claims it is the only fully e-waste neutral smartphone available in the U.S. Additionally, the new cobalt blue color symbolizes the company's commitment to ethical mining practices, with minerals sourced responsibly through partnerships with organizations like the Fair Cobalt Alliance.

The Fairphone Gen. 6+ runs on a clean install of Android 16 and promises at least seven years of software updates. It will be available directly from Fairphone and on Amazon.com, though it is not certified to work with Verizon. The device will be fully unlocked, supporting T-Mobile and AT&T networks. In the fourth quarter of this year, Fairphone also plans to release an updated version of its wireless earbuds, the Fairbuds 2, which are expected to feature enhanced battery life and audio quality.