Fairphone’s latest handset, the 6 Plus, champions repairability and long-term use with modular design, ethical sourcing, and extended software support, though it sacrifices some performance and camera flexibility.
Fairphone’s latest handset is not trying to win on speed. It is trying to win on longevity, and on that measure the Fairphone 6 Plus makes a strong case. Trusted Reviews says the phone combines straightforward repair access, a bright OLED display and dependable battery life, but still falls short of similarly priced rivals in raw performance and camera flexibility. The result is a device aimed squarely at users who value ownership, maintenance and longer service life over headline specifications.
The new model is best understood as a revised version of the Fairphone 6 rather than a clean-sheet successor. Trusted Reviews says the main hardware changes are a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, 12GB of RAM and Android 16, along with a new Cobalt Blue finish. Fairphone has also kept the modular design central to the product, with user-replaceable parts including the display, battery, cameras, loudspeaker, USB-C port and rear cover. TechRadar notes that this genuine modularity is part of Fairphone’s wider rebuttal to phones that merely look repairable, but still rely on glued-in components.
That philosophy remains the phone’s biggest selling point. According to Fairphone’s own materials quoted by Trusted Reviews, the company links the new Cobalt Blue colour to its work on conflict minerals and the Fair Cobalt Alliance, while the handset itself carries a five-year warranty and software support through 2033. Other reviews of the standard Fairphone 6, including those from Tech Advisor, The Guardian and Notebookcheck, draw the same broad conclusion: the phone is built to be kept in service for years, and its modular architecture is what sets it apart from almost every mainstream rival. Factually also reports that the device uses 12 user-replaceable parts and has been scored highly by iFixit for repairability.
There are compromises, however. Trusted Reviews says the 6.31-inch OLED panel is sharp, bright and easy to use, with a 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO behaviour that can scale between 10Hz and 120Hz. Battery life is solid rather than exceptional, but the 4,415mAh cell can still last a day comfortably and supports 30W wired charging. The lack of wireless charging is less surprising in this category than it once was, but the absence of a larger battery is notable given the phone’s asking price.
Performance is where the Fairphone 6 Plus looks less convincing. Trusted Reviews found the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 to be an improvement over the previous model, but still behind several mid-range competitors, particularly under heavier multi-threaded and 3D workloads. The camera system is also unchanged, with a 50MP main sensor and 13MP ultrawide, but no telephoto lens. That leaves zoom shots softer than they should be at this price. For buyers who prioritise easy repairs, ethical branding and long software support, the Fairphone 6 Plus remains unusual and appealing. For anyone seeking the best performance per pound, it is still an expensive compromise.
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