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Fairphone’s reported 2025 growth is meaningful: more customers are paying for a phone designed to last, with replaceable parts, long software support and optional privacy-focused software. It does not prove that the world has rejected disposable phones. It proves that longevity is commercially viable for a growing segment—and that the Fairphone (Gen. 6) is unusually practical to repair, provided you accept regional, performance and service trade-offs.
What Fairphone’s “record growth” actually means
In its Q4 2025 announcement, Fairphone reported approximately 83% average year-on-year growth for the quarter (contemporary coverage reported 83.7%), said it was on track to exceed $500 million in total sales, and said cumulative sales had passed one million devices since the company was founded. These are company-reported figures, not independently audited evidence of a worldwide change in buying habits. Fairphone’s Q4 2025 release
Fairphone’s 2025 Impact Report separately says the company sold nearly 150,000 devices during 2025, its strongest annual performance to date. Impact Report summary That figure is annual device sales; it is not the same as quarterly growth, cumulative units, revenue, profit or market share.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches- Quarterly growth: the change in sales over a quarter compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
- Annual device sales: units sold during 2025.
- Cumulative sales: all devices sold since founding.
- Revenue: money generated, which can rise because of prices, accessories or channel changes even without equivalent unit growth.
- Market share: Fairphone’s portion of the wider smartphone market, a figure these announcements do not establish.
An 83% increase can look dramatic when the starting base is small. The releases also do not isolate how much growth came from new phones, accessories, geographic expansion, retail distribution or demand specifically for repairability. Fairphone interprets the results as evidence of growing interest in durable, ethical technology. The narrower conclusion supported by the numbers is that demand is rising among Fairphone’s customers and that some buyers will pay for a different ownership model.
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Why repairable phones are becoming more appealing
Several pressures make the proposition easier to understand, although none is proven to be the specific cause of Fairphone’s 2025 growth:
- Phones cost more, so replacing a functioning device after one failure feels wasteful.
- Battery degradation is a familiar reason to abandon an otherwise usable phone.
- Broken screens and charging ports can make repairs seem uneconomic when the device is glued together.
- Longer software-support periods make hardware repair relevant for more years.
- Some buyers want a de-Googled operating system or stronger control over data.
- Environmental fatigue with annual upgrade cycles has made e-waste and product lifespan part of the purchase decision.
- Right-to-repair laws and coverage have made parts, tools and serviceability more visible.
- Keeping the same data, accessories and familiar device can be less disruptive than migrating to a new phone.
What you can replace in the Fairphone (Gen. 6)
Fairphone’s Gen. 6 product page describes 12 DIY-replaceable modules. The company’s repair and disposal document lists a broader set that its service organization can replace. Those categories are not identical: a part being serviceable does not necessarily mean it is a sensible home repair.
| Replaceable or serviceable component | Typical implication |
|---|---|
| Battery; upper and lower back covers | Accessible maintenance for wear and cosmetic damage |
| Display; top unit | Addresses common screen and front-module failures |
| Wide, ultra-wide and selfie cameras | Individual camera modules can be replaced |
| Earpiece; loudspeaker and vibration unit | Audio and haptic components are modular |
| USB-C port | Charging-port replacement without replacing the whole phone |
| Mid-frame; main PCBA and sub-PCBA; main flexible circuit board | Serviceable core assemblies, generally not casual repairs |
| Volume key; fingerprint sensor; toggle key; SIM tray | Smaller controls and sensor-related parts |
The component list is documented in Fairphone’s Gen. 6 repair information PDF. Parts are model-specific: Gen. 6 components should not be assumed compatible with Fairphone 5. Nor is the phone upgradeable in the laptop sense; you cannot freely swap in a newer processor or redesign the camera system.
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What a normal DIY repair involves
For a straightforward battery, display or USB-C replacement, Fairphone says the procedure can take roughly five to 10 minutes. That estimate applies to listed simple procedures, not every failure.
- Diagnose the symptom. Use the Fairphone repair portal and the model-specific guide rather than ordering the first visibly related part.
- Check warranty coverage. A manufacturing defect may be covered; opening the phone does not automatically make every later problem a warranty claim.
- Update and back up the phone. A software fault can mimic hardware failure, and a repair can put data at risk.
- Obtain the exact Gen. 6 part. Verify the model and region before buying.
- Use the right tools. Gen. 6 repairs generally use a Torx T5 screwdriver; a plastic prying tool can help open the device. Follow the Gen. 6 repair instructions.
- Test every affected function. Check charging, display, cameras, audio, buttons, fingerprint recognition and connectivity before closing the repair out.
Do not treat every failure as a five-minute module swap. Fairphone says certain sensor faults require professional repair. A serious drop can damage several internal parts, and liquid can cause oxidation and delayed failures. Its accidental-damage guidance recommends assessment rather than replacing only the visibly damaged component. Core-board faults may need a specialized repair center.
Parts prices are not the same as completed repair prices
Fairphone lists these Gen. 6 parts prices, excluding shipping:
| Part | Listed price |
|---|---|
| Battery | €39.95 |
| Display | €89.95 |
| USB-C port | €19.95 |
| Back cover | €24.90 |
| Camera | €69.95 |
| Selfie camera | €34.95 |
The prices are useful signals, not a universal ownership-cost calculation. Fairphone’s page compares selected manufacturer repair prices and claims savings of 57% to 86%, but that comparison uses Fairphone-selected examples. Your total can include shipping, tools, diagnosis, labor and a failed repair attempt.
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Warranty: five years is conditional
Fairphone’s warranty page says qualifying Gen. 6 purchases made in 2025, 2026 or 2027 can receive five years of total coverage: two years of standard warranty plus up to three additional years after registration. The exact terms depend on the purchase date, model, seller and applicable conditions. Formal warranty terms apply.
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- Register within the required period to obtain the extended coverage.
- Claims normally go through the original seller or reseller.
- Drops, liquid exposure and other user-caused damage are treated differently from manufacturing defects.
- Second-hand owners may need proof of purchase and may not receive identical coverage.
- Replacing one module does not reset or extend the warranty for the entire phone.
The US version has materially different trade-offs
In the United States, the official route is through Murena, which sells the Gen. 6 with the privacy-oriented /e/OS operating system. Fairphone says this version is optimized specifically for T-Mobile; that is not a promise of full compatibility with every US carrier. Murena handles support, troubleshooting and repairs for its customers, and an in-warranty repair may require shipping the phone to a supported European address. Check the current non-European buying guidance and the Fairphone-Murena US FAQ before ordering.
/e/OS can appeal to privacy-focused buyers, but app compatibility and setup may differ from stock Android. US buyers should confirm their carrier, repair destination, parts availability and accessory supply—not just whether the phone is technically unlocked.
Repairability is not the same as sustainability or ethics
Repairability concerns design and access to parts. Longevity also requires software support, acceptable performance, battery life, logistics and a parts supply that continues. Ethics includes labor, sourcing, recycling and emissions. Sustainability depends partly on how long the owner actually keeps the device.
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- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Fairphone’s 2025 Impact Report says it distributed $215,000 in living-wage bonuses to 1,650 workers across five supplier factories, reduced Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 7.3% against its 2022 baseline, and sold nearly 150,000 devices. Those are claims from Fairphone’s report, not conclusions independently established here. Read the full report.
Who should buy a Fairphone?
It is a strong fit if you:
- Plan to keep the phone for many years.
- Value replaceable batteries, ports and screens enough to accept some mainstream compromises.
- Are comfortable with DIY work or with arranging professional service.
- Want long software support and, in the US, are comfortable evaluating /e/OS.
- Use a compatible carrier and have checked parts logistics for your region.
Look elsewhere if you:
- Need certainty across a broad range of US carriers.
- Prioritize top-tier gaming, camera processing or modem performance.
- Expect to replace the phone within two years.
- Do not want troubleshooting, parts ordering or shipping a device for service.
- Assume “modular” means freely upgradeable internals or immunity from water and drop damage.
Before buying, compare the complete cost: phone, parts, shipping, possible labor and the value of giving up a cheaper or more powerful mainstream model. If your current phone still has adequate software support and performance, an independent battery or screen repair may be the less expensive, less disruptive way to extend its life.
The bottom line
Fairphone’s growth shows that repairability and longevity have moved beyond an activist niche: a growing customer segment will pay for them. The Gen. 6 makes that promise unusually tangible with accessible modules, long support and published parts. It does not make every fault DIY-repairable, guarantee mass-market scale, or erase the compromises around performance, software, carrier coverage and service logistics. Buy it when those trade-offs match a genuinely long ownership horizon—not simply because a headline says the whole world has changed.
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