The Fairbuds XL Might Be the Easiest Headphones to Fix
Fairphone upgraded pretty much everything from the last generation, and what I realized is that these might be the most repair friendly headphones ever made.
Meet the new Fairbuds XL.
Almost every component is modular. Almost every part is replaceable. And yes, the wire running through the headband is literally just a USB C cable. I wish more companies did that.
Let us break down what is new, what is repairable, and the bizarre fact that Fairphone still managed to make this whole thing IP54 water and dust resistant.
What’s New With the Fairbuds XL
Fairphone took the last generation Fairbuds XL and tightened things up. Improved sound, Same internal design, and parts that the average person can actually replace at home.
Here are the highlights.
1. Almost Every Part Is Replaceable
The ear cushions come off instantly. The drivers can be removed with a few Phillips screws. Even the battery module can be swapped out without heat or glue. You can practically build these things from a parts catalogue.
2. The Headband Uses a USB C Cable Inside
Yes, a normal USB C cable. If the headband wire fails, you can replace it with one you already own. This is one of those design choices that feels too logical to be real.
3. Still IP54 Rated
This is the part that confused me. Usually, modular and water resistant do not belong in the same sentence. Somehow Fairphone pulled off an IP54 rating, which means splashes and dust are not going to kill these headphones.
4. More Comfortable Materials
The ear cushions and headband now use softer, more breathable fabrics, making them more comfortable for long listening sessions without compromising durability.
Teardown Experience
Taking these apart felt more like working on a small gadget kit than a high end pair of headphones.
I opened the ear cups and was greeted with clean modules, clear cable routing, and parts labeled in a way that encourages you to fix things yourself. Replacing the battery took less than two minutes. The drivers came out with minimal effort. And when I reached the headband, seeing a USB C cable running through it made my day.
It’s the kind of thoughtful design that makes you appreciate how much care went into making these headphones both durable and repairable.
Can You Take This And Put That There?
Fairphone loves modularity, which always leads me to one question. How far can you go with part swapping? Could you mix older generation components? Could you repurpose modules into other projects? Could you combine parts to build your own weird hybrid headset?
I will be testing that soon, because part modularity always opens the door for experiments. And when companies design products like Lego sets, someone has to find the limits.
Final Thoughts
The new Fairbuds XL are not competing to be the most high tech headphones. They are competing to be the most repairable. And they win that category by a mile.
If more companies built headphones like this, we would see fewer dead devices and more people fixing their own gear. Fairphone proves it is possible.
See you in the next article!
