Fairbuds XL is Fairphone’s first take on wireless headphones. Now, if this is the first time you’ve heard about Fairphone, it’s a brand with a unique motto. Fairphone aims to offer products that are as fair as possible. It delivers that by providing electronics that users can change from the inside, making each product highly user-repairable.
The story is the same with the Fairbuds XL headphones. While almost all wireless headphones have zero user-replaceable internal parts, you can change everything inside Fairphone’s XL headphones. And this repairability is exactly what makes the FairBuds XL headphones stand out from all the Bluetooth headphones in the market.
Environmentally Sound Design Is Fairbud XL’s Main Highlight
Fairphone has taken a multi-directional approach in making the Fairbuds XL environmentally friendly. First of all, Fairphone has focused heavily on using recycled materials for the construction of the headphones. To be precise, the headset utilizes 100% recycled aluminum and over 80% recycled plastics.
In addition, the Fairbuds XL is a pair of headphones that’s truly yours. Each part of the headset is self-repairable. None of the components are glued shut to the body. And what’s more important is that the headset’s spare parts are readily available in Fairphone’s web shop.
Of course, you can’t just repair a pair of headphones even when you have easy access to all the parts you need. To make the whole repair process user-friendly, Fairphone offers in-depth video tutorials. These tutorials walk you through the replacement process of each part. You don’t need to guess anything while going through the repair.
How Modular Is the Fairbud XL?
The entire Fairbud XL headphone is made of modular parts. These parts are not only repairable but also replaceable. Thanks to this modular design, you can get an extended use out of the wireless headphones. Want to know which parts are modular? Here’s a quick look at each of them:
Battery
Even when a wireless headset utilizes long-lasting parts, there’s always concern about the battery. The thing is, as the internal battery goes through tens of charging cycles, its capacity degrades. And over time, it can get to a point where you may not even get an hour of runtime after a full charging session. But you don’t need to worry about this on the Fairbuds XL headphones.
The battery of the Fairbuds XL is 100% modular, and you can replace it when the battery life degrades too much. As a matter of fact, the battery is one of the simplest parts to fix on the headset. You don’t even need to put in too much time in its replacement process.
Ear Cushions and Headband
I have a pair of gaming headphones that I have used for almost two years now. And due to prolonged use, it’s ear cushions have flaky leather now. This is pretty much the case for most headphones that feature leather ear cushions. While it’s generally easy to replace headsets’ ear cushions, Fairbuds XL takes things to the next level.
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The ear cushions on the Fairbuds XL pop off with minimal effort. Thanks to this, you can replace them pretty much instantaneously. The story is the same for the headband. You can replace it and its cover without putting too much effort or time. This modularity enables you to reclaim the original comfort level after using the headset for an extended time.
Speaker and Speaker Covers
Regarding wireless headphones, there’s nothing more important than their sound quality. And like me, you might’ve also faced scenarios where the sound from the left or right driver feels muted or distorted. In the case of most headphones, making a repair in this regard means visiting a professional repair shop. But that’s not the case for the Fairbuds XL.
Alongside all the other components of the headset, the speaker and the speaker cover of the Fairbuds XL are replaceable. And while the process isn’t as easy as the other parts mentioned above, it’s still pretty straightforward.
USB-C Charging Port
The charging port is a pretty important aspect of a wireless headset. Without it working properly, you get zero sound from the headphones. Now, it’s rare to find the charging port malfunctioning if you carefully handle the headphones.
But sometimes, accidental splashes of water can fry up the USB port. Well, no matter what ruins the USB-C port of the Fairbuds XL, you can easily install a new USB-C module on it. And like the repair process of all the other modular parts, Fairphone offers a video tutorial for replacing the USB-C port.
Other Highlights of the Fairbuds XL
It’s not just the modularity that makes the Fairbuds XL a worthy pick as your next headphones. The headset also comes with some impressive specs and features.
Superior Sound Quality
Fairphone has packed 40mm dynamic drivers into the Fairbuds XL. These drivers excel in delivering well-balanced sound and natural audio reproduction. Thanks to this, all the audio you hear from the headset will match your taste and your mood.
Hybrid ANC
Like some of the leading headphones in the market, the Fairbuds XL comes with a Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This ANC tech can eliminate the background noise during playback and offer you a highly immersive listening experience.
Industry-leading Battery Life
You can fully count on the battery life of the Fairbuds XL. With a full charge, this wireless headset can deliver up to 30 hours of playtime. And thanks to the fast charging feature, the battery can go from 0% to 100% in just 3 hours. Also, it’s worth noting that the battery is rated for 500 cycles.
Advanced Features of Fairbuds XL
The Fairbuds XL comes with advanced wireless tech. Like the high-end headphones, it has dual point connectivity, allowing you to keep the headset connected to two different devices at the same time. Also, the headphones have a dedicated companion app. You can use it to tune the audio and quickly install software updates.
