In my first support request in September 2024 I got a response after 11 days (7 business days).
But I would be exceedingly disappointed in Fairphone if they cut someone off at the 2-year mark when these parts clearly break frequently.
I tore one of my old ones apart last time, the plastic is moulded onto the metal hinge, there’s no way they could ship just one half of the band.
What they could do though is re-engineer the part to be metal on both sides, or at least a more forgiving plastic.
I’d happily trade recycled-blended plastic for a new-plastic part that breaks leading to multiple scrap parts going to landfill. Plastic recycling was always a con, and lending it respectability by trying to make a long-lived product with rubbish material is just deepening the sustainability problem.
They live on my desk, go on and off my head gently (but pulling open enough to go over my ears). It’s not as if I’m stretching them out particularly wide or twisting them.
The break is in the exact same place as last time, and there is clearly more strain going onto these brackets than the plastic can handle, either because of the particular mix, or because the strain is just too focused to ever work with a pure-plastic part.
It’s worth noting that the lower half of the bracket below the hinge is metal, so clearly that side was expected to deal with stresses.
I appreciate that re-tooling a part isn’t an instant process, but it was stated by support in December 2023 that this manufacturing issue with the plastic had been addressed. And yet here we are over a year later with replaced-parts still breaking.
because @0nn0, @BerserkBamse and @djsf asked about 3d printable version of the plastic piece: After mine broke for the 2nd time I started to design the piece but user pavelb was faster and delivered this wonderful piece (i printed it and it works):
So before ordering the replacement piece: check if you only need the plastic part and maybe you have access to a 3d Printer or to a hackspace, fablab, open workshop in your area…
I love that somebody out there just fixed this problem for all of us! <3
I ordered 2 replacement headband bases myself, and left a note on my support ticket with the order number and asking to be refunded once they work they way through the queue…
Somewhat interestingly, the replacements I received were both manufactured November 2023, so after this issue was first reported (July 2023?) but before the acknowledgement from Fairphone in December 2023 which stated:
[…] the issue was addressed in the manufacturing / material composition process.
So it’s quite possible that this second set will break too… we’ll see. I might ask whether the parts come with an additional warranty period…
It’s cool to see a 3D-print pattern for the weak part though! I was mistaken before, the plastic half is not moulded onto the metal-hinge.
Just want to add my voice to this thread, got the green ones and they worked fine for about 9 months before the right headband base snapped. I then noticed some hairline fractures on the left side.
I ordered two replacement ones and fitted them fine, within a month the right one snapped again.
Still waiting to hear back from support after over a week (though if this thread is to be believed, I may be waiting longer still). The manufacturing date on the replacements is Nov 2023.
Thanks for this. Got a local 3d printing shop to do this for me (got a few spares as well just in case) and it fits perfectly. Now fingers crossed it’s made of stronger stuff than the original part.
Seeing how Fairphone apparantly does read this forum, I’ll add the 2 cents of a potential future customer: I research my purchases, checking exactly for problems like this, and though I am very eager to buy the Fairbuds-XL, I can’t until I see there is a fix for this. It has been two years since the problem was identified and a year and a half ago since they concluded it was a manufacturing issue related to the coating - which does not seem to be true, considering all the recent posts. It does appear to be a design issue, so unless FP is ignoring that, I would hope that they are working hard on a redesign of the headphones / headband. I don’t know how long something like that would take, but I am very curious to find out if they are doing that at all.
As things are now, there is no reason whatsoever for me (or anyone, actually) to buy the Fairbuds-XL. I wish they had some kind of transparant way of letting customers know what they are working on (for example like Supernote has - they have a Trello board indicating which improvements are being worked on, very informative!). Again, I’d love to buy this, but it has to work properly first.
I’ve been waiting two months now for customer to get back to me about the fifth set of broken headband arms in a year. I really like this product but this is a fatal flaw that makes it impossible to recommend until there is a solution for it. I would pay if there was a reliable replacement or a durable third party part (I don’t have a 3D printer so I can’t just make them myself every time I need them).
So according to reddit, you can use acetone to weld the pieces together.
In the long run, though, this is unacceptable. This so called “eco” brand is pure greenwashing with how it designs utter flimsy tat without bothering to iterate on the design because they think selling the replacement parts at a MARKUP is somehow “circular economics”.
I’m still repairing my fairbuds because I LIKE them, and because some folks pulled 3d models out of the aether to allow us to print our own replacements. Meanwhile this company is pretending they give two shits about any of the ethics or sustainability that is plastered on their website.
I’ve used a flame to heat a small carpet tack and melt it into the pieces to hold it together, and then used a 3d printer pen to reinforce the joint before finishing with tape. It looks terrible, but at least I can wait until my 3D printed part comes in the mail…
For what its worth, do NOT buy this part from Fairphone. You can order the same part from most 3D printing companies for WAY less, and with WAY higher strength. Fairphone makes bank on selling you flimsy replacement tat which they call “sustainable”.
The issue is unfortunately still not resolved. December of 2025 and I am purchasing Headband Base for 3rd time for the cost of 28 euros with the transport… In this point it is better to buy an unrepairable product from competition which is built with regards on quality. I would understand issue during the first year but I can not understand how after so much time Fairphone did not come with a solution of better design.
That indeed sounds quite bad. This isn’t covered by the warranty? Not that it makes it okay that it breaks so often. I hope mine will keep going strong. 2 years now and nothing broke or wore off. And I do use them almost daily and put it in my backpack where it gets a beating as well.
In my opinion it is covered but first 2 times i just purchased spare part… As I was thinking that I somehow mechanically damaged it. But as it is always broken in the same part I see it as a design issue.
So I created support ticket on 7th of Decemeber and still no reply and my patience is not infinite. Next time it breaks i will not continue using it and give it to my friend that got XL as a gift from me so it can serve as a stock of spare parts…
If you want to travel and you put your Fairbuds into the bag, you will close the headband base and it is ok… but when you want to open it the pressure that is applied when opening is too much…
I would like also to share that my headband base broke… for the second time.
Ok, it is not the same (the left, previously it was the right one) but still i found it not fair not acceptable.
Especially the price of the spare part!
2 Headbands base replacement (in One year an half) are close to 15 % of the price that i paid for my fairbuds XL.
I would encourage Fairphone to address seriously the concern, it they want to keep their attractive or be consistent with their communication.
On my side, i found the 3D model for replacement, but no skill nor direct access to a 3D printer, i am looking for online spare parts :(, hopefully more reliable than the official one
I would be glad if some hints/repairs could be shared…
Thanks, and lets hope for an serious answer from that company.
Well, i would be surprise, especially as i don’t have anymore the invoice.
So, yes i tried. At least that will be in their logs somehow.
That been said, out of my PERSONAL issue, i still think that they should somehow communicate or provide an alternative to all their customers, which give them trust to choose their product.
The FairbudsXL seems ultra easy to repair, which is a very good thing. But this should not prevent to address seriously a possible defect. It will re-inforce the trust if they would consider that path, instead of addressing individually complaints.
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