The IT economy in 2026 is not looking bright due to giant moves in a whirlwind AI industry that is driving up every imaginable cost along the manufacturing chain. If you can optimize your technology investments and ensure that your machines can last as long as possible, then you definitely have a leg up in this game. Fortunately for smartphone buyers in the United States, a new player known for its modular and repairable Android devices has just entered the market.
Fairphone has launched what it calls Gen 6+ of its eponymous series of smartphones. Normally, this wouldn’t make news, because the environmentally conscious Dutch company has never sold its products directly to U.S. consumers, meaning those who wanted a modest, simple, easy-to-repair Android phone with extensive software support would have to incur additional expenses to import it. That changes today, as the company has launched a US website and is selling its updated phone for $650.
When it comes to raw specs, Fairphone has historically packed mid-quality, perhaps slightly outdated, components into its devices that are typically priced higher. As the “plus” indicates, the Fairphone Gen 6+ marks a small step up from last year’s Gen 6. That means moving from a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset to a Gen 4, but it also means an incredible 50% increase in RAM to 12GB (yes, in this economy). The majority of other bits remain the same as in Gen 6, including the 6.3-inch FHD+ OLED panel, a 50 MP main camera from Sony as well as a 13 MP and 32 MP ultra-wide selfie shooter and 256 GB of internal storage.
What type of support will the modular Fairphone Gen 6+ benefit from?
Beyond the technical sheet, Fairphone devices stand out for their modularity. In the Fairphone Gen 6+, this includes a removable 4,415mAh battery and 2TB microSD card support. You also get a modular exterior design that lets you literally screw in a wallet holder or finger loop accessory, and an interior design that’s easy to attach with a Torx T5 screw tool included in the box. Notably, you don’t get a wall charger or cable, but the company assumes you already have them in a drawer somewhere – anything that supports USB power delivery up to 30 watts will suffice.
Software-wise, you’ll start on Android 16 with Google services plus a few Fairphone-specific experiences, including a dedicated physical switch to access a stripped-down Moments interface, as well as a local gallery app in case you don’t like storing photos or other personal data in Google’s cloud. You might feel slightly aggrieved to learn that Gen 6+ will follow Gen 6 in getting OS upgrades and security patches until the end of 2032, despite the one-year gap in release.
You’ll be able to use the Fairphone Gen 6+ on AT&T and T-Mobile with just about any other carrier that works on T-Mobile’s network, like Mint Mobile or Metro by T-Mobile. You may experience compatibility issues on AT&T-based MVNOs. There’s also no support for AT&T’s FirstNet spectrum.
When it comes to do-it-yourself repairs, Fairphone has committed to offering 12 parts for the Gen 6+ through 2033. A battery costs $40, while the screen costs $90. The list also includes the three cameras, SIM tray, USB-C port, earpiece, a combination component head unit, and two back cover pieces.
How does the Fairphone Gen 6+ compare to other phones?
Fairphone’s most direct competitor at the $650 level is Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE, although the S26 FE is expected to be released soon. Both phones are about as good as each other when you factor in the Galaxy’s beefier processor but less RAM. Samsung beats Fairphone in terms of software support with a fixed policy of seven generations for Android bumps and seven years for security updates, and the S25 FE should also have access to the entire cellular spectrum from North American carriers.
When it comes to repairability, content creator PBKreviews gave the S25 FE a score of 9 out of 10, describing typical battery and display-related tasks as fairly easy to complete. You’re also sure to find Samsung replacement parts on the open market for several years after a device’s release thanks to its number one Android sales status. That said, what Fairphone is able to achieve with its Gen 6 and 6+ designs – both of which were rated 10 out of 10 by iFixit – and parts sourcing is to be admired, and there’s no pooping on the company’s mission to reduce e-waste, invest in living wages for supply and assembly chain workers, and audit and reform the way it sources rare earth minerals.
In truth, there’s less that separates a Fairphone Gen 6+ from a Galaxy S25 FE than you might think. Choosing between them may therefore mean turning to moral and ethical principles or the perceived convenience of each ecosystem.
