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Fairphone’s repairable wireless earbuds put the industry on notice

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True wireless earbuds are flimsy, easily lost and prone to battery failure. Given their size and cost, companies would rather you throw them out when they succumb to the inevitable. Fairphone, however, has built a pair of buds with easily replaceable batteries, as well as a swappable cell in the charging case. And, look, if the engineers working at this tiny Dutch company can work this out, then the army of designers in Apple and Samsung’s steel-and-glass cathedrals have no excuse.

Fairbuds are a pair of true wireless earbuds that look like Samsung’s Galaxy Buds, with the outermost surface on both sides being a controller. Fairphone promises six hours of battery life on a charge with an extra 20 hours nestled inside the case. The buds are packing the usual feature list, including ANC, multipoint connectivity as well as an IP54 rating for sweat and water resistance. As usual, the company wants to make the argument (on paper, at least) that just because the devil has the best toys, you can still have fun while wearing a halo.

Fairbuds are the company’s second crack at the true wireless whip after its 2021’s obviously named True Wireless Stereo Earbuds. Those were made with fairtrade gold and 30 percent recycled plastic, but were still more a part of the problem than the solution. At the time, I gave the company grief for launching a product so at odds with its environmental goals. In retrospect, the crap name should have been a clue that these were a stopgap. Since then, the TWS were dumped off, and the company released Fairbuds XL, a pair of over-ear cans that I rather liked.

Fairphone says that the Fairbuds here are made with 70 percent recycled and fair materials, while 100 percent of the rare earth elements and tin are recycled. The company also claims to offer improved pay for factory workers compared to rival manufacturers and works with suppliers to improve working conditions for the people on the production line.

Image of a Fairbud with its battery slider open.Image of a Fairbud with its battery slider open.

Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget

I don’t think it’s unfair to say Fairphone prioritizes repairability over look and feel, so these won’t take a podium at the Beautiful Gadget Awards. I had a pair of AirPods Pro on my desk and, sat beside the Fairbuds, the difference between the two is almost comical. Fairbuds’ case is about twice the size and, while the corners are rounded off, it’s still going to be an unwelcome presence in your jeans pocket. It’s not as if there’s acres of wasted space in the case but it’s a product that the armchair designer in me keeps wanting to slim down.

There are other irritations, like the fact the action button is on top of the charging tray but the status light is on the side by the USB-C port. That’s not a deal breaker but you hope these fit and finish issues are the focus for any future version two. But the point of these irritations is that elegance has been sacrificed on the altar of repairability, and that’s why you’d buy a pair.

I probably need to make clear, for the people who will point to the iFixit guides showing you how to swap the battery in an AirPod and a Galaxy Bud that it is possible to do so. But if the guides ask you to use a heat gun, scalpel, vice, pry bar and glue-dissolving solvent, then that’s not an easy job just anyone can do. When I say that you can swap out the battery on each Fairbud with the same level of ease as you could a ‘90s cell phone battery, I mean it.

In fact, my first attempt took all of 30 seconds since all you need to do is get a small, flat-headed screwdriver to slide off the rubber gasket. Once done, you just need to gently pry out the hinged holder and the battery will slide out easily. Swap in a new cell, slide the rubber gasket back in place (if you’re gentle, it mostly plops back into position without any fussing) and you’re done.

Similarly, the charging case has a replaceable battery held in place with a single philips head screw. A few twists and the charging plate pops out, revealing the 500mAh cell underneath, with users able to buy replacement outer shells, charging trays and case batteries. You can also buy eartips, earbuds and earbud batteries from Fairphone’s online parts store.

Image of the Fairbuds case open with the charging plate and battery exposed.Image of the Fairbuds case open with the charging plate and battery exposed.

Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget

It’s likely you’d only want or need to swap the batteries once every three or four years so you won’t benefit from this flexibility on a daily basis. Reading lots of online chatter, a rule of thumb is that most TWS buds last for between two and three years before things start to go wrong. Fairphone, too, offers a three-year warranty on the buds, but I’d hope to see a well-used pair of Fairbuds lasting for twice as long, assuming you don’t lose them in a sewer or leave them in the back of a cab.

Sadly, I can’t be as praiseworthy for the Fairbuds’ sound quality which isn’t as strong as you may hope. They’re not bad by any means, but the default sound profile lacks a dynamism you hear in competitors. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing a lush orchestral piece by Jerry Goldsmith or something beefier, like Korn, you’ll feel the sound is rougher and flatter than other products. It’s like the top and bottom ends of the sounds are being sliced off to keep everything from getting too out of hand.

There are sound profiles in the Fairbuds app that I found similarly lackluster with users able to opt between standard tuning, Bass Boost or Flat. None of them feel distinct. There’s also a Studio option where you can adjust the tuning along eight specific frequency bands. It’s here that you can really improve the sound quality but it’s more time and effort than I’d be happy putting in on a regular basis.

At least the fundamentals are all pretty good: I’ve been testing these for a big chunk of the last five days and I’ve not felt the need to recharge the case battery at all. Even with ANC on, I think I’ve squeezed at least 20 hours out of these things and I’ve still got juice left in the tank. And the ANC itself offers the same background muffling you’ll hear in every other mid-range ANC earbud.

One of the mantras Fairphone has always repeated is that it doesn’t expect to build a phone that will topple the big manufacturers. Its products are designed to appeal to folks who want something a little more ethically made, and to act as a north star for the technology industry more broadly. There are plenty of engineering questions — around durability, bulkiness and ease of use — that linger. But Fairphone’s impact here should be to lay down a challenge to its bigger rivals to use their vast resources to build an earbud that isn’t condemned to live in the trash from the moment it was born.

Fairbuds are making their debut in Europe today from Fairphone as well as a variety of retail partners across the territory. They are priced at €149 and while there’s no word on the matter now, it’s likely that we’ll see them making their way to the US at some point in the future.

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How repairable is the Apple Vision Pro?

Apple Vision Pro

In the realm of cutting-edge technology, the Apple Vision Pro has captured the attention of enthusiasts and skeptics alike. This mixed reality headset, with its sleek design and advanced features, poses an intriguing question: How repairable is it? If you’re someone who likes to get under the hood of your gadgets, this exploration might shed some light on what you can expect from Apple’s latest marvel. The video below from Phone Repair Guru takes the device apart and gives us a full analysis of how easy the device is to repair.

Serialized Parts and Repairability

Apple’s penchant for serializing parts in its devices, such as the iPhone, has often been a topic of debate among tech circles. This practice can make repairs a tad complex, as replacing parts could lead to functionality issues or compatibility headaches. The critical question is, does the Vision Pro follow in these footsteps, or does it carve a new path toward easier repairability? The answer, it seems, is not straightforward.

Disassembly Process

Disassembling the Vision Pro is no small feat. The process requires a delicate touch, especially when handling sensitive components like lenses and displays. Apple’s use of strong adhesives necessitates the use of heat and specialized tools to carefully pry apart the pieces. This step is crucial for anyone attempting to peek inside or fix their device, highlighting the importance of precision and patience.

Component Swap Experiment

The true test of repairability comes from the ability to swap components. By exchanging parts between two Vision Pro units, an experiment sought to identify which components could be replaced without fuss. Unfortunately, it appears that key elements, including the motherboard, displays, and sensors, are serialized. This means swapping these parts from one unit to another could leave you with a non-functional device.

Limited Repairability

The findings suggest that the Vision Pro’s repairability is limited. Critical components, such as the front displays, back Persona display, and sensors, are intricately linked, possibly for calibration purposes. This interdependency prevents the headset from operating with parts from another unit, posing a significant challenge for repairs outside of Apple’s authorized service providers.

Comparison and Critique

When compared to other devices in the market, like the Meta Quest 2, which boasts full repairability, the Vision Pro seems to fall short. For a device that commands a premium price of $3,500, the expectation for more repair freedom is valid. The critique here is not just about the cost but also about the broader implications for the right to repair and sustainability in the tech industry.

Apple’s Vision Pro, while a marvel of mixed reality technology, presents a conundrum for those inclined towards self-repairs or third-party services. The device’s design, characterized by serialized components, necessitates a reconsideration of what repairability means in the context of high-tech gadgets. It raises important questions about consumer rights, sustainability, and the future of device maintenance in an era increasingly dominated by proprietary technologies.

As the conversation around repairability evolves, it’s essential to keep in mind the balance between innovation and accessibility. The Apple Vision Pro’s case is a reminder of the ongoing dialogue between tech companies, consumers, and the broader ecosystem that supports them. Whether future updates or explanations from Apple will address these repairability concerns remains to be seen. For now, the Vision Pro stands as a testament to the complexities of modern device design and the challenges it poses for repairability.

Source & Image Credit: Phone Repair Guru

Filed Under: Apple, Top News





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