- Same overall design as before, but two new colors
- Re-tuned for improved audio performance
- Guilt-free with 100% fair-mined metals
Fairphone, the sustainable tech company, has unveiled a new version of its environmentally conscious over-ears – and we’ve already tested them in our in-depth Fairbuds XL 2025 review.
The basic design from the likeable 2023 debut set hasn't changed, so the control joystick we enjoyed so much in the original is still present – and still delightful.
The drivers are the same 40mm versions as before too, but the new version have been re-tuned to improve the audio. We haven't noticed a huge difference but warmer sounds do sound a little more compelling. And with aptX HD you can get pretty high quality streaming from compatible phones and other devices.
There are two new colors – forest green and horizon black – and battery life is a promised 30 hours of continuous listening.
Fairbuds XL: stronger sustainability for a reasonable price
The big selling point of Fairphone's products isn't really the tech; it's the sustainability and environmental responsibility. And that's improved in these new versions: their cobalt, copper and silver is 100% fair-mined, their rare earth elements are 100% recycled, and they're assembled using 100% renewable energy – all firsts for Fairphone's audio products.
The new Fairbuds XL are also LONGTIME certified, with the previous two-year warranty upped to three years. And they're designed in a modular way that means you should be able to replace the batteries when they reach the end of their life or repair accidental damage instead of sending your headphones off to landfill.
The Fairbuds XL are available now for a recommended retail price of £219 / $299 (about AU$439).
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➡️ Read our full guide to the best noise cancelling headphones
1. Best overall:
Sony WH-1000XM6
2. Best mid-range:
Bose QuietComfort Headphones
3. Best under $100/£100:
1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51
4. Best under $60/£50:
Soundcore Q30
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