Originally published at: The Fairbuds XL were already good. We made them better. - Fairphone
It’s time to turn up the volume. We have a new edition of our award-winning Fairbuds XL now on sale. Launched in 2023, our first over-ear wireless Bluetooth headphones turned heads everywhere, thanks to their unique repairable and modular design, long-lasting battery life, and natural sound. The Fairbuds XL were a critic’s darling as well, picking up the prestigious IF Design award in 2024 for their sleek aesthetic that perfectly combined sustainability with style.
Cut to two years later, and we’ve made them even better. Here’s how.
- New speaker drivers for even better sound
Headphone drivers are the part that’s responsible for converting electric signals to sound waves. They are crucial to your headphone’s performance; they decide what your audio is going to sound like. We’ve popped brand-new 40mm dynamic drivers inside the upgraded Fairbuds XL, physically designed to provide more power and more thump to your sound. They are strong yet lightweight, adding to the Fairbuds XL’s wearability and comfort factor. The drivers have been specially tuned to provide even more accuracy in mid and high frequencies.
The sound’s more natural, more balanced, and more detailed, providing 24-bit sound wirelessly thanks to aptX HD codec compatibility. To sum it up, they simply sound better. Hear the difference for yourself.
- New material design for all-day comfort
The new Fairbuds XL come in the same colors as the Fairphone (Gen. 6)—Forest Green and Horizon Black—and sport the new Fairphone logo. The design changes go beyond just cosmetic, though. We gave the Fairbuds XL a material makeover, swapping out the vegan leather ear cushions with robust and durable net fabric in the headband and plush bird’s eye fabric in the ear cushions. Softer, more breathable, and comfier all around, the updated design makes the Fairbuds XL perfect for all-day wear with zero fatigue on the ears. And just like before, they are still dust and moisture resistant with an IP54 rating, making them perfect for your on-the-go lifestyle.
- Better battery life with one smart feature
The original Fairbuds XL were always lauded for their extra-long runtime. A single charge could last between 26 and 30 hours, depending on how much you use noise-cancelling. Long-haul flights were an absolute breeze, sound-wise. With the upgraded drivers, we have also introduced an Auto Power Off feature, switching your headphones off after 30 minutes of inactivity. It’s a small but truly smart tweak that makes a world of difference to battery life. Needless to say, the battery is still swappable, meaning when the time comes, you can simply pop in a new battery and keep your Fairbuds XL going even longer.
- The world’s first LONGTIME®-certified consumer audio product
The upgraded Fairbuds XL holds the distinction of being the world’s first consumer audio product that has been certified by the LONGTIME® label. They have earned this because of a combination of factors, ranging from their industry-leading repairability, their durable design and their overall longevity. The Fairbuds XL still sport the original’s modularity, with nine swappable spare parts that you can pop in and out in minutes with just a screwdriver. They also come with an additional year of warranty compared to the original edition, going from two to three years in total.
- Made fair. Made better.
The new Fairbuds XL are made with more than 50% fair and recycled materials by total weight, including 100% recycled rare earth elements in the speaker magnets, more than 90% recycled aluminum, and more than 80% recycled plastics. The copper, cobalt, silver, and gold used in the Fairbuds XL are accounted for through mineral credits, ensuring that the same amount of these materials is produced under more responsible conditions. They are also assembled using 100% renewable energy. Meanwhile, our sustainable over-ear headphones continue to be 100% e-waste neutral, ensuring that for every pair sold, an equivalent weight of electronic waste is responsibly collected and recycled. Also, the factory where the Fairbuds XL’s final assembly happens participates in Fairphone’s living wage bonus program, designed to close the gap between minimum wage and an actual livable wage.
The Fairbuds XL still retains a lot of the premium features that ranked them alongside the world’s best headphones. Seamlessly switch between devices with dual multipoint connectivity. Toggle active noise canceling to truly immerse yourself in your sound. Go even more granular with your sound with the updated Fairbuds app that lets you play around with a multi-band equalizer.
Oh, and one more thing.
Spare parts for the new Fairbuds XL? They are backwards compatible with the original edition. So, in case you happen to have a pair lying around and want to upgrade your listening experience, keep what you have and only upgrade the speaker drivers. Or you might want to stick to the original’s PU leather ear cushions. It’s up to you. Because that’s true modularity. That’s the Fairphone way.
The Fairbuds XL. Premium Sound. Built to last. Hear the difference here.
Would’ve been cooler if that was improved for both the old and new model.
