Fairbuds XL Headphones
Fairbuds XL Headphones Reviews
Materials look good, nice sound quality but I was disappointed. Maybe I have had many expectations about the appearance and volume levels. I understand I should care about ears healthy habits but sometimes I just want to feel the depth of the music, with this headphones I can not...
Sound isn't way better than my old DOQAUS Care 1 headphones, (£30 headphones), unless they are for some reason connected by cable and Bluetooth, but then has a tinny noise in the background. They sound better but for the price I paid I was expecting something to blow me away, which they did only in the circumstances I laid out above. The build and colour and texture is incredible, very good battery life. But to be honest the only reason I didn't return them and bought an older model of Sony WH for a lesser price is because I'm expecting them to last for a very long time and be easily repairable, which should be the case.
Excellent manufacturing quality, audio quality is also really good, the noise cancelling sometimes struggles if it’s windy outside it’s never a huge problem, battery last a long time, days using them during commute and gym. I’m very satisfied with the product
I love these headphones! They have soft comfortable fabric instead of leather or faux leather to the ears. You can replace the parts and are ethical! I’m so pleased I bought them! Great sound quality and noise cancelling.
I’m in love with my new Fairbuds XL in Forest Green! The color is gorgeous—earthy, stylish, and a perfect match for my upcoming Fairphone 6 /e/OS purchase. It’s refreshing to see a product that aligns with my values of sustainability and ethical consumption. The sound quality is outstanding, and the setup was effortless. They’re intuitive and a joy to use daily. The ANC is impressive, though like many high-end headphones, it could be slightly better in windy conditions—a small compromise for an otherwise excellent experience. What truly sets these apart is Fairphone’s commitment to repairability and longevity. Knowing that these headphones are built to last and can be repaired if needed is a game-changer. It’s a step in the right direction as I continue moving away from big tech and toward brands that prioritize ethics, transparency, and environmental responsibility. If you’re looking for headphones that deliver on performance, sustainability, and values, the Fairbuds XL are a must-have. Highly recommend!
I'm very happy with the sound and build quality. I'd love the software to be a bit more customisable though - since I don't like noise cancelling (even though it's pretty good on the Fairbuds), it would be great if I could power the headphones on and have them in NC mode off by default, instead of on.
Good as advertised! However, they are slightly heavy.
Overall good quality, battery life is decent, sound quality is good. I wear my headphones around roughly 10-14 hours a day, most headphones I had started to feel uncomfortable on the ears after a few hours, especially when wearing glasses. The fairbuds xl are okay in that regard, but certainly not the best. Especially on the left side it starts to feel a bit uncomfortable to wear after a couple hours, but it's passable. Besides that the only thing I find a bit annoying is the autopairng, whenever no device is connected, it automatically goes into pairing mode. To me pairing should always be a explicit thing to do and I don't want my headphones to be in pairing mode all the time when I forget to turn them off, especially when they don't turn off automatically when unused for a long time... Overall a good experience.
I had them for a few weeks and they work very nicely. Bluetooth connection with phone and computer, battery, noise cancellation all wtithout problems. I use them for phone calls primarily.
Comfortable and solid sound - love that I will be able to repair when needed
bad microphone, barely usable for calls, not so handy
Hello, we are sorry to hear about your experience. We really appreciate the feedback to help us improve your experience. We’ll make sure to pass your feedback along to our team. If you need any support you can reach out directly to our support team via fairphone.com/contact. Best, Best, Diego
On the whole I am satisfied and these are quite comfy to wear even with a tight grip. Cycling between the modes could be slightly faster and cause less drastic and sudden changes in loudness. If that was ironed out somehow these would get 5/5 from me. Would definitely buy again though.
I was genuinely excited when Fairphone announced a refreshed version of the Fairbuds XL. I strongly believe in their vision of more sustainable, repairable technology — which is exactly why I chose these over far more popular alternatives in the same price range. First Impressions Build quality is immediately impressive. The plastics feel noticeably more solid than competitors at this price point, and the top-of-head cushion is comfortable and well-made. The ear cups are soft and appear to use breathable materials, though they run a little small — something people with larger ears may want to keep in mind. The repairability story is where Fairphone truly shines. The replaceable battery is easy to access, the Type-C to Type-C cable connection between the ear cups is an elegant solution, and the repair guides make self-servicing look genuinely approachable. This is the kind of design philosophy the industry needs more of. After Daily Use My biggest complaint is the ANC. It only really holds up in calm, controlled environments like a quiet office. The slightest bump, gust of wind, or even adjusting the cups produces a distracting crackling sound — an issue that disappears the moment ANC is switched off. Hopefully this is something that can be addressed through firmware. Sound quality is a mixed bag. Volume is good, and the lows and highs are decent, but the mids lack definition and the overall presentation feels a touch muffled. It's not unlistenable, but audiophiles will notice. Comfort becomes an issue over longer sessions. As someone with larger ears, I find the ear cup cushions press quite hard after about an hour of wear. An optional larger cushion size — very much in the spirit of Fairphone's modular approach — would go a long way. Battery life, on the other hand, is excellent. With daily commute listening sessions, I easily get two weeks between charges. Final Thoughts Despite its shortcomings, I don't regret this purchase. The repairability, the ethical materials sourcing, and the overall build quality earn genuine respect. But there is clear room for improvement: larger ear cup cushions as a purchasable accessory, and a meaningful ANC software update would make these significantly easier to recommend without caveats.
Sounds great, bluetooth pairs very easily (with my phone and laptop at the same time!), comfortable, amazingly powerful active noise cancellation. But: the springs work in the folding cups are very strong, and the plastic at the join very hard and sharp. My second time unfolding them, they snapped open on the purlicue of my hand and drew blood! I just don't fold them up now. Otherwise, very happy!
They sound great, they function perfectly, plus they look great :)
Got for the wife who travels for work, she's thrilled... I have Fairphones 6 & 4 (work & home), my son has a Fairphone 5, my sister has my Fairbuds (I discovered I can no longer get along with in ear headphones after using Shokz OpenSwim) and I got these for my wife who is an avid Apple user but very happy with these...
I'm very satisfied with the phone, specs are not insane, but price is still worth it for sustainability.
Sound quality is excellent and they are very comfortable.
The headphones feel well built, but not with a premium quality. The fabric textures are a bit odd and translate to some hollow scraping sounds when wearing them without sound. The noise cancellation also sounds odd. I generally like to turn it off so I can jear other sounds, but outside sounds like wind are either being passed through to the headphones speakers, or their construction amplifies it. It doesn't feel like the noise system is turn off, just switched to a different mode. My two other criticisms are battery life and that the joystick makes it took easy to skip forward/backward when I just want to control the volume. These were bought to replace some cheap Amazon headphones, both those had better battery life and didn't have the strange sound from deactivating the noise cancellation. I know fairphone tech costs more, but the price difference between these and the cheapo Amazon ones is a bit strap for what you get. (£60 vs £130)
I like my Fairbuds. The sound is very clean and warm, microphone is doing great job even outside on windy days, and the wearing comfort is very high compared to all my previous headphones. However there are some issues, I suppose related to software. Often I have a problem with connecting two devices at once. I have to enter pairing mode, and only then both devices connect. Two times I have experienced Fairbuds turning off randomly during listening to a podcast, the battery was not low. I can add that they are still a little bit to loud on the minimal setting. I would like them to be queitter when I listen in silent surrounding. Overall I am happy with my Fairbuds and I hope they will only get better in the future.
The headphones sound fine, have a decent battery life and work well enough. As with any device, there are compromises, so I've compiled a pros and cons list below. Pros: - Repairability! - Competitive price - Decent sound - Multipoint pairing works well - Did I mention repairability? Cons: - ANC is not great - The cups are a bit too shallow for my ears - The "announcer lady" is slow when switching modes - Super barebones app (no default mode, for example; it always starts in ANC on)
I bought my Fairbuds XL because I got tired of having to buy new headphones every time the electronics died. The sound is good, they look stylish and I really appreciate that the headphones are repairable. The only downside is that the green cloth becomes dirty quickly. I wish the material was more dirt repellent.
ANC is the worse I have tried. You only can use it indoors (and that if you stay still and power off the ceiling fans), the minimum amount of wind is unbeatable for this product. Same for "ambient sound". Two stars only because of repairability and fair trade but the product itself is not worth even half the price. Don't buy it if you plan to use it while housekeeping or running.
Hello, we’re sorry to hear about your journey. We really appreciate the feedback to help us improve your experience. We’ll make sure to pass your feedback along to our team. If there is anything we can do at this point, do not hesitate to reach out to us via https://support.fairphone.com/. Best, Diego
I have tried the Fairbuds XL and I was impressed...the sound quality us excellenr
The sound quality is great, and I like how all the voices around me are toned down even when the headphones are off. The battery capacity is also great and the materials are made to last (in contrast to my previous headphones).
The headphones are durable, look good and are most important of all, repairable. Even if the sound quality is lacking the repairability aspect make it a 5/5 for me. I like the look of the gen1 version more but this looks nice as well. Good job fair phone team
The noisecanceling is not working enough too cancel out noise in a supermarket. So not effective at all.
Hello Femke, thanks for sharing your experience. We’ll make sure to pass your feedback along to our team. If there’s something we can help with at this point, do not hesitate to reach out via https://support.fairphone.com/. Best, Diego
Repair-ability 10/10. No other pair of headphones even come close. However, the ANC is frankly useless outside because of wind not being effectively filtered, but even enhanced. I also rarely use "Ambient sound mode". Bluetooth offers great freedom, allowing me to walk to the kitchen and get a cup of coffee without pausing what I was listening to. The ability to pair two devices at the same time is a massive game-changer. Battery is good. Charging is fast. Fix the ANC and make these as comfortable as a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO and you will win my heart. Maybe the ANC can be fixed simply via new firmware. The comfort could likely be fixed by offering even beefier cushions.
Using it for roughly two weeks, very comfortable, the controls feel great, noise cancellation is OK, mic is very solid when plugged with USB, dual connectivity is convenient for laptop & phone co-usage, using it for music, podcasts, and calls. The repairability is the cherry on top.
They are not comfortable, after longer use unbearable. Old Bose is so much better.
Overall I like the headphones quite a lot. While I wrote a lot about things I didn't like this much, assume things I didnt write about - I liked. Sound is quite good, for general users. For listening to heavies genres like dubstep, I recommend having some effects / equalizer, like Viper. Top fabric feels a bit plastic-like, but rest of fabric feels really nice. The headphones casing doesn't make any noises during normal use (the cups are mounted in such a way that they can move around a bit - completely silently). Joystick is tactile and very satisfying to use. Clamping force is okay, could be stronger, though it's up to personal preference. I like them strong. The housing feels quite solid. It's awesome that the headphones have swappable batteries. There are few things that could be improved, and importantly, I think all of them could even be improved via over-the-air updates: The headphones self-shut-down when not used. Great for battery life. However this feature could be configurable over the app (the delay they wait, en/dis-able). There is no way to disable ANC by default on startup, and the headphones don't buffer button presses. So for me, every time I boot them up I need to wait for voiceline (they connect pretty much immediately), press the button to go to awareness mode, wait again, press the button again to finally disable ANC (I do it on any ANC headphones, since ANC causes severe headaches for me, personally, but I have to admit that this is one of most gentle implementations I ever tried on that regard). It could be so much better if I could turn them on, double-tap the button right away and have the ANC shut off instantly, or at least after cycling the voicelines. One thing that could be improved also, but Im not sure if possible via OTA update, is that whenever headphones are turned on, and plugged in via usb-audio jack cable, the headphones make weird clicking / ticking noise. Shutting them down makes it go away, while they continue to play audio from jack. One thing that could be improved on hardware level is padding the USB-C port, so that it doesn't pass sound from rubbing the cable. For first connect something went wrong with handshake with my phone, and they paired in a way where the audio quality was very bad. But I turned off AptX and turned it back on, this solved the issue for me. Possibly bug within my phone's software.
There's a loose part one earcup which is rattling when I walk or move my head which I hasn't been resolved so far customer services. The headphones are very wind sensitive which is very disturbing when blown by a gust of wind or is even triggered by pressure changes when on the subway.
Hello Phil, thanks very much for bringing this to our attention. We’re so sorry to hear about your experience. We can see you already created a support request, and our Support Team is currently helping you. Best, Laura
Beautiful headset and very comfortable. Fits perfectly for me. Settings are easy to adjust as well. Clear sound and noise cancellation works well.
They sound very good, especially after a small adjustment with any equalizer (in the case of my cell phone, since connected to a "Sound Burger" bluetooth record player they do not require adjustment. They are comfortable, with a somewhat tight fit, but to which I adapted well after a few days. The ANC works well with all types of noise, except with the wind, they should fix it, as it makes it useless on the street. Indoors it is effective. The application does not work, but it is not necessary. The battery lasts as long as advertised. The calls have correct quality, although it should automatically go into transparency mode when you receive one and it doesn't (it's uncomfortable to talk with the ANC activated because you can hardly hear yourself and you start shouting). The construction is excellent no matter where you look at it. The customer service is slow but effective. I definitely recommend them.
Really good. Noise cancelling leaves something to be desired.
Good sound quality and more comfortable than the previous generation
Clanky audio, too tight on the head, hurts after 2h.
Hello, we really appreciate the feedback to help us improve your experience. We’ll make sure to pass your feedback along to our team. Best, Diego
Material quality feels nice, would have liked to see more sustainable materials though and less plastics. Repairability / longetivity prospects are fantastic, and one of the main reasons for my purchase. Head sizing adjustment balances being easy to change and remaining firm in place. They feel comfortable for wearing for long periods (several hours). Battery lasts for a long time as well, had them for a few weeks now and only recharged them once. Controls are pretty intuitive to use. I'd like the noise-cancellation/passthrough/off mode button to be faster in switching, and not have a voice say "NOISE CANCELLING OFF" (or just the ability to turn that off). Audio quality is good. Noise cancelling is pretty good, but noticeable when walking/cycling or in windy conditions. Noise passthrough is decent, though I don't use it often. Noise cancelling off option is nice to have and I use it when walking/cycling or in windy conditions. Microphone quality is usable but not great.
For the price could have better sound but its good. I bought this because its easy to repair :)
The extendable arm of the right earcup broke during normal use five days after receiving the product. After three follow-up emails, I have received no response from after-sales support. For a product that promotes repairability and responsibility, this silence is particularly disappointing.
Hello Pere, thanks very much for bringing this to our attention. We’re so sorry to hear about your experience & the wait you're having with our response, we're experiencing busier times on our end. We can see you already created a support request, and our Support Team will help you futher. Best, Diego
Satisfied with my purchase. Easy to connect, good feeling even wearing for a few hours straight.
Head starts hurting after an hour or so and BT latency is quite big so it not usable for gaming. Sound is good, 5 direction button is great.
Very nice quality, I like the replacable battery when it degrades it will be helpful
I really like their design and the sound quality has been top notch. The buttons are also incredibly easy to get used too contrary to my expectation. Truly the only flaw I find in them is how tightly they fit around my ears, they end up pressing my glasses against my skull so much to the point it starts hurting after a few minutes. Using them at a slight angle helps though I would love to see some design improvements made in terms of adjustability.
Excellent headphones! Very good sound quality and battery life. Very comfortable to wear, although when I lean forward/downward, they slip a bit in my head. (But I think this is a small head exclusive problem only.) The repairability is a huge bonus.
My Fairbuds XL are great. Great sound, noise cancelling and ambience sound. I am very pleased with them so far.
Absolutely lovely headphones, Sound and material choice are fantastic. My only issue is the earcups are not deep enough for my ears! Would love a purchasable set that are deeper, Only by like 5mm or so. I can still wear them just fine but can feel the inside drum bit ever so slightly. Would highly recommend them regardless as everybody's ears are different :-)
Poor passive noise control, although they sit tight (perhaps a little too tight). Poor ANC quality overall, especially noticeable in the low frequencies. Audio quality no surprise. XLs keep disconnecting randomly, reconnect is mostly too slow for phoning. But I like the design materials, and I find the orange cable – and the repairability argument – rather nifty.
Hello, we really appreciate the feedback to help us improve your experience. We’ll make sure to pass your feedback along to our team. Best, Diego
bought as present, and ecceded expectations, only minus is lack of email comunication (information about package delivery date) because system fallout before chrismas
Good. But then YOU CAN UPGRADE IT with 2025 drivers and else. Thus I grant an extra star. And I see a clear purchase path here.
Very comfortable to wear and easy to set up and use. I’ve used them for running too and they work well.
better quality & better feel than I expected. controls are really intuitive. Almost looking forward to having to replace a part but i dont feel that is going to happen any time soon
The ANC works in most cases but wind affects it in the same way as the normal microphones used for telephone calls. These microphones do also work well, the aspect that rates them down a bit is that the surrounding can be heard by the other person in the call. Over all the headphones work well, with some little problems Fairphone maybe should fix.
Very capable headphones, the noise cancellation is adequate for my needs and the EQ provided by the app is a very nice addition. Very satisfied with purchase, and especially the ability to easily change earpads and availability of spare parts
Especially batteries are looong. In a sound quality i have no how to compare
Battery life is good, quick-start guide and app are helpful when initially setting up, the noise-cancelling seems to work pretty well. The only potential issue is that sometimes the joystick will think I'm selecting front to back instead of up and down. But that's pretty rare. And they seem to work with any kind of device, which is lovely. The sound notifications to let you know you've turned your headphones on or off as well as switching between noise cancelling settings is very handy
Great quality product, I'm very happy with it, easy to set up and great sound too!
Great product. Disappointed i missed out on the sale by a few weeks it would have saved me a few euro.
Physically broke after a few days, no reply from my support ticket.
Hello Christian, thanks very much for bringing this to our attention. We’re so sorry to hear about your experience & the wait you're having with our response, we're experiencing busier times on our end. We can see you already created a support request, and our Support Team is currently helping with your case. Best, Laura
Very comfortable, easy to use, great battery life.
lightweight and fitting headphones. Powerful and steady bluetooth. Stylish layout. Clear talks and great audio.
These have exceeded my expectations. I bought them because they are sustainable, but actually the design is great. They fit over my ears rather than crushing them against my head, and the cushions are very comfortable. The sound quality is excellent, and this has actually persuaded one of my friends to buy a pair too. They are a little heavy but they feel exceptionally durable so I don’t mind. The colourway is lovely, really cool design. There are only two buttons and they are both in a place where you can’t easily set them off by accident (unless you lie down on a pillow) and the app is easy to use. I’ve been recommending them to everyone I know.
It is good, although the quality of the sound doesn’t compare to some other brands. I bought this because of the sustainability aspect, but am quite disappointed with the lack of customer service. I can’t get the headphones to charge beyond 70%. I sent an email and never heard back. Also tried the chat, but same thing. Think the idea is great, but the company needs to improve customer service
Hello Simone, thanks very much for bringing this to our attention. We’re so sorry to hear about your experience & the wait you're having with our response - we're experiencing busier times on our end. We can see you already created a support request, and we asked our Support team to get back to you as soon as possible. Best, Laura
Updatable and repairable headphones that just fit my needs. I hope ANC will be improved in future software releases, though.
Sound is perfectly balanced and transparent. I would not recommend these as studio-headphones - everything always sounds beautyful and fascinating. Fit is slightly on the firm side, but the overall build quality feels very sturdy.
The earcups of the Fairbuds are not very deep, making them a bit uncomfortable at first, a thicker foam could help with that and improve the noise cancelling. Nothing to complain about otherwise, the Fairbuds are a bit on the heavy side but they still manage to be more comfortable than my old Bose headset as far as the headband goes. The headset sounds good and works as expected. TYSM for making a bluetooth headset with replaceable batteries, this should absolutely be the industry standard, and the fact that it is not is such a shame. Question: If I were to buy a second battery for my Fairbuds so I can swap the out, would it be possible to charge one battery (out of the headset) while the other one is in use ?
Very easy set up and controls are easy to get the hang of. The cups are big enough to be very comfortable - I can happily wear them for several hours with no problems. No complaints about sound quality although I'm not generally very fussy about that. I don't generally like noise cancelling so also can't say how good that is or isn't compared to other headphones.
Although i highly respect the environnement aswell as what you do for it, i am not satisfied with the product. My main issue is that the headphones are really uncomfortable due to their weight, hard clamping, lack of airflow and leather making me sweat. I'm having a hard time listening to music for more than an hour without having head aches and feeling discomfort around my ears. As for the sound quality, there is too much bass and not enough highs, although is somewhat solved this with the equalizer.
Hello Denis, we are sorry to hear about your experience. We can see that our support team offered help with your issue and it was successfully solved. If there’s something we can help with at this point, do not hesitate to let us know. Best, Lore
Been using them for two weeks now, very nice so far.
I have just have this product for one week cant write about it this soon
Nice to wear. Easy to use. Looking good. However the sound is not as good as other headphones in the price range. Noise cancelling on the other hand is superb.
They are well manufactured. With regard to comfort, they are not very comfortable after a while using them. Connected to USB sources, the background noise is loud, too loud.
Very high quality of the sound. The only downside is that the ear-cushions aren't as soft as expected.
Very good headset, a bit pricy if not bought with a fairphone. Very happy with the green color!
These are really comfortable - I wear glasses and even after a hour or two I get no discomfort. The quality is great and the value for money is OK. The best thing is that they are fully serviceable and all parts can be replaced by the owner. So I'm looking forward to many years of use as I tend to use quality products for as long as they remain viable - I still use a film camera regularly that is 45 years old and I've had since new.
The audio of these headphones is sensational, with its three different modes you can choose whether to listen to what is happening around you or isolate yourself completely. As you can see from the videos on the site about Fairphone, the headphones are completely disassembled and repairable. There is also a very simple but useful application that allows you to further customize the audio for those who have the skills, and also provides useful suggestions for use.
The product is simple enough to use easy buy developed enough to not be limited. I really love that every part is replaceble so I'm not afraid to use it often, cause I don't need to buy a new one after one thing is broken.
I expected the best, but it was better than expected.
The noice-canceling thingie doesn't know what to do with the wind. It doesn't need to be big wind and it gets through badly. Besides that. I love it, but not worth the price.. I would take of 20-50€
I absolutely despise the voice feedback. Please give me the option to turn it into little beeps and boops (or rather disable it completely). Also the startup sound pays 1.5 times and it sounds like absolute garbage. Also the headset turns on when I plug it in to charge and I hate it. Also the BT keeps disconnecting/reconnecting to my Fairphone in 2 device mode. So overall I really hate every part of the software (noise canseling is acceptable though) but I'll still keep it and will probably buy from you again because somehow you're the only ones to make repairable stuff. Please put some more care into software, you're not a hardware only company.
Nice, comfortable and repairable headphones, noise-cancelling is not the best. Firmware upgrades are possible.
Overall nice headphones for the price. Modular and nice looking. ANC leaves a bit to be desired. Wind gives a lot of noise when blowing from certain directions and turning the head will make ambient sounds come through more or less, which can be a bit annoying when listening to music. Other ANC headphones I have used have never had this issue.
Good quality, good comfort, it was a bit expensive but I intend to use it as long as possible: it should be well worth it in the long run.
The Fairbuds XL feel very solid and fit comfortably. They pair swiftly with my work laptop and mobile phone at the same time, and switching from one to the other is easy and issue-free. I expected noise cancellation to be more noticeable, but I have never tried noise cancellation before, so I cannot compare it to other headsets. Sound quality is good for podcast and meeting content, which is what I use them for. I love that they are completely repairable, and I expect them to last about FOREVER. I use them every day at work, while cooking, when shopping groceries, and they still show no signs of wear. Update december 2024: today after charging them up to 40% i too them to the gym and they would not pair. The On button makes the switch on sound but pressing it again does not make the switch off sound, but again the switch on. I cannot pair them anymore.
It feels very high quality to the touch. The noise cancelling is very good. It is easy to take apart if you look at the tutorial videos.
Any slight touch on the headphones echoes horribly. You can hardy hear anything when it's windy. Expect them to tear off faster than other headphones, althought that is reasonably expected for a modular design.
Hi Jorge, we really appreciate that you took the time to share this feedback with us. We'll make sure to pass it along to our team. If there is anything else we can do at this point, please don't hesitate to contact us. Best, Lara
Everything and even more than I expected from the product. Highly recommend!
I love my Fairbuds XL headphones. They are comfy and feel very solid and good quality. I also love that they are made in a sustainable way and if anything breaks I can get replacement parts.
I love it but it can be a bit hard to turn it on and off sometimes, which is fine considering the good battery The joystick is really great for changing songs and volume, and its comfy and isolates well
Very comfortable to wear, execellent audio quality all around, ala in all great value for money
These are comfy and good at what they do. They block out noise well, physically, and also the noise cancelling modes work well. If one mode isn't quite right, I switch through the modes and another mode is usually providing the perfect sound balance. I like being able to control the sound profile through the app. (It'd be nice if they had a description of each of the sound profiles.)
dual Bluetooth mode glitches sometimes when connected to two devices, e.g. PC and Phone, listening to music on PC and there are audible glitches whenever notifications arrive to phone (Fairphone 3+). Over extended periods of time of wear needs to be repositioned to avoid discomfort. This wasn't the case with Jabra Evolve 75 that I had before.
Overall good but has some flaws. The vegan leather barely breathes at all, leading to sweaty ears quite quickly. The noise cancelling is good in certain environments, but it's not that great at blocking out voices. Finally, the Bluetooth software stack is not ideal, as it's not fully compatible with all versions of bluez on Linux, but this is not too difficult to work around by installing an older version of bluez. This works well with other headphones, so the Fairbuds XL are certainly doing something a little bit out of spec. Some minor notes: - the lack of a 3.5 mm port is an odd omission. I don't think an adapter is a very nice workaround - the battery remaining reported over the Bluetooth protocol and through the app do not match very well. This is quite confusing. In my phone's Bluetooth settings, it currently says 50% while the app claims 30% - Doing a factory reset on the headphones doesn't actually reset the EQ profile, which is strange
When you buy these headphones, you are making a compromise. You sacrifice quality for fair wages of workers in the supply chain and ecological materials from which the headphones are made, and you gain a product that is easy to repair. Unfortunately, according to my research, the headphones could have a manufacturing defect and are susceptible to breaking the headband base. The ear cups could be a bit larger and versions with different materials could be available. In addition, the fit of the elements could be better, e.g. the headband cover does not fit evenly on the headband. Fairphone is a relatively new brand on the market and still suffers from "childhood problems". An example would be an insufficiently tested firmware update or a poorly selected repair centre (with a lot of bad reviews).
Generally good, but has a few very annoying issues - Short battery life - Very loud sounds for e.g. when switching noise canceling mode. I always have to put them off to change noise canceling due to that. - Noise canceling does not make much of an impact and struggles badly while its windy.
Really nice sound, great design. I did find them a bit heavier than others but soon got used to it
It is a bit heavier than expected. Quality of the sound is good.
Great for video call. Noise cancelling helps to cut out noise from open space office.
Great Headset, I really love using the Fairbuds XL at work, so I wear them for multiple hours a day for the past couple of days. They are quite comfortable and only after hours I put them off for short time. Really nice. A cool thing would be a hardware mute button either at the headphone itself, or at least at the USB-C to 3,5mm-Jack cable. This would mean 5/5 stars for me :)
Love that it is fair, of good quality, and that I can repair it myself if necessary.
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We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
We actively ask customers to write product reviews via Bazaarvoice. "Verified" means that Bazaarvoice has verified that the reviewer has had a genuine experience. Learn more
- Premium Sound. Built to last.
- Active noise cancelling
- Up to 30 hours of battery runtime
- Connect via Bluetooth or USB-C
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Accessories for your Fairbuds XL Headphones
Fairbuds XL Ear Cushion (Textile)
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Fairbuds XL Headphones Battery
The Fairbuds XL replaceable battery comes with all-day power, so you can keep going and going and going.This item is out of stock
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Extra accessories for your Fairbuds XL Headphones
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• Fast 240W charging
• Three-year warranty
• Universal compatibility
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We will notify when it's available
• Quick 30W charging
• Three-year warranty
• Universal compatibility
We will notify when it’s back in stock
We will notify when it's available
- Modular with easily replaceable parts
- Now with Auto Power Off
- Seamless dual-point connectivity
Quickly swap a new one in yourself!
Fine-tuned just right.
-
Better balanced stereo image
Natural lows, mids, and highs, with a flatter, neutral sound profile that you can customize your way. -
Elevated sonic performance
Supports aptX High Definition for 24-bit wireless sound that’s pure and powerful. -
Go wireless, or get wired
Plug it in with a USB-C cable for battery-free performance. Or connect wire-free over Bluetooth. It’s your call. -
Clear voice & video calls
Dual mics and advanced noise canceling do the work for you.
Technical Specifications
Audio Performance
- 40mm Dynamic Drivers
- Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz (Covers full range of human hearing)
- Driver Impedance: 32 ohms (Compatible with most devices)
- Sensitivity: 99±2dB at 1KHZ (Level of maximum loudness with minimum power)
- Codec support: SBC, AAC, aptX HD
Noise Cancellation
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Ambient sound mode available
- Microphone: Six mics (2 left and 4 right)
Battery & Charging
- Up to 30 hours playback (ANC off)
- Up to 26 hours playback (ANC on)
- 50% charge in 15 minutes (quick charge for 15 hours of playback)
- USB-C charging port
- Battery life: 500+ charge cycles (maintains 80% capacity after 500 full charges)
- Replaceable battery
Connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.1 with dual multipoint connectivity (connect to two devices simultaneously)
- USB-C port for wired listening
- Wireless range: Up to 10 meters
- Compatible smart assistants: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri
Physical Specifications
- Weight: 330g
- Dimensions: 190mm x 180mm x 70mm
- Foldable design for portability
- Adjustable headband (fits head sizes from small to extra-large)
- Rotating earcups (90°) (folds flat for easy storage and travel)
Warranty
- Three years standard warranty
Ratings and certifications
- LONGTIME® certified for repairability and durability
- IP54-rated for dust and moisture
Materials & Durability
- Net fabric in headband
- Bird’s-eye mesh fabric in ear cushions
- PU leather in headband and ear cushions
- Modular design with nine replaceable spare parts
- 100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets
- 100% recycled tin in solder paste
- >80% recycled plastics
- 92% recycled aluminium
- 100% fair cobalt, copper and silver (via credits)
- Fairtrade Gold integrated in the suply chain
- Travel pouch made from recycled fabrics
- 100% green energy used in assembly
Controls & Features
- Joystick and ANC button
- Auto Power Off (30 Minutes)
- Customizable equalizer via Fairbuds app
Your sound, elevated.
Upgraded 40 mm drivers, stronger magnets, and a refined paper-based diaphragm work together for richer lows and accurate mids and highs.
Cut out the noise. When you want.
Our advanced noise cancelling technology lets you switch between active mode and ambient mode. You decide when to let the world in, and when to keep it out.
Upgraded smartphone app for even more control
The new Fairbuds app comes with new presets and customizable EQ settings for the upgraded Fairbuds XL.
Designed to last longer
-
Three-year warranty coverage
Three year standard warranty coverage. -
Weatherproof design
IP54-rated for light showers and heavy gym sessions. -
Replaceable battery
Swap out old batteries with new ones in a matter of minutes.
Modular design so you can keep what you love for longer
Zero glue, Simple screws. You can take the Fairbuds XL apart in minutes with a single screwdriver, and replace up to nine spare parts if you need to.
Fairer than ever
- 100% renewable energy used in assembly
- 100% e-waste neutral
- 92% recycled aluminum, 100% recycled tin in solder paste, and 100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets
Fairphone’s corporate certifications include
Fairbuds XL full impactLet’s talk about impact
Superior sound. Sustainable design.
Since we made our foray into wireless audio, we have strived to bring true longevity and sustainability to the audio segment. With the upgraded Fairbuds XL, we’re combining premium sound with modular repairability and a responsible, ethical supply chain, that is fair to people and planet.
Built to last
Our Fairbuds XL are designed for longevity with modular architecture, easily replaceable components, and long-term software support. This approach reduces electronic waste and extends the product lifecycle, ensuring your headphones last for years, not months.
- Modular design with nine replaceable spare parts
- Replaceable battery
- IP54-rated for dust and moisture
- Three years of warranty coverage.
Made with more fair and recycled materials than ever
Not only do we compensate for our material usage through responsible credit mechanisms, we also integrate Fairtrade gold in our supply chain. For the first time, we have used recycled rare earth elements in our magnets as well.
- 100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets
- 92% recycled aluminium (by total weight)
- More than 80% recycled plastics (by total weight)
- 100% recycled tin in solder paste
- 100% fair copper (via Cobalt Credits)
- 100% fair gold (via Fairtrade gold in the supply chain & Fairmined credits)
- 100% Fairmined silver (via credits)
- Recycled fabrics in travel pouch
Better for people and planet
Minimize negative impact on the environment. Maximize positive impact on factory workers and miners. That’s the goal.
Made under fairer working conditions
Final assembly occurs in factories that support living wages, worker wellbeing, and environmental impact reduction. We ensure fair working conditions throughout our supply chain
Assembled using 100% renewable energy
Manufacturing uses 100% renewable energy to support climate goals and significantly lower emissions compared to traditional audio manufacturing.
Climate Conscious
We have done our best to minimize the impact of the refreshed Fairbuds XL on the climate by avoiding and reducing carbon emissions where possible during the manufacturing process, and by contributing to climate projects.
Working with Suppliers
We team up with our suppliers to cut carbon at the source—setting climate targets and using recycled materials like aluminum, magnesium, rare earths, tin, nickel, zinc, copper, plastics, and indium.
Investing in the Planet
We offset the remaining emissions of the Fairphone 6 by supporting Gold Standard climate projects reducing CO₂ and helping local communities thrive.
We’re the first and only smartphone company to integrate Fairtrade gold into our supply chain.
Fairtrade Gold
In the box
- The new Fairbuds XL
- Quick Start Guide + Safety and Warranty Information
- Travel pouch
No unnecessary cables or accessories cluttering your space. Just the essentials to reduce e-waste.
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