The Fairbuds 2 have improved, but the sound is still restrained
14/10/2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Jan Johannsen
A smaller case, longer battery life, and a hi-res codec: Fairphone has improved the Fairbuds 2 in several areas, and the batteries remain replaceable. There is still room for improvement when it comes to sound quality.
Fairphone has made improvements to the Fairbuds 2 while maintaining its core brand identity: sustainability through recycled or fairly sourced materials. They now support LDAC, a codec with a higher data rate, and the batteries can still be replaced at home. The case requires a screwdriver, while the earbuds only need a bit of dexterity.
The batteries are easy to replace
When the batteries in the Fairbuds 2 start to degrade, you don't need new headphones; you can simply replace the batteries. With the new stems, the earbuds are easier to grip when I want to replace the small battery. I just need to remove the rubber ring and then open them at the small notch. Afterward, I can insert new LIR1054 button cells. This is a standard format, though not available in every supermarket or online shop.
When closing them, I have to make sure the rubber ring is in the correct position. Only when the small bump fits into the notch does everything close properly again. Despite their repairability, the Fairbuds are IP54-rated against splash water. So, a little rain or sweat shouldn't harm them.
To open the Fairbuds 2 case, I have to use a T5 screwdriver. The screw is quickly removed. Then, I need a moment to pull the inner part of the case out of the outer shell. It is not immediately clear where to start and where the boundary between the outer and inner shell lies. I use a plectrum to help pry them apart.
Fortunately, the battery doesn't need to be replaced often, but it could be even easier. The battery used to charge the earbuds in the case is a model from Fairphone itself, which the manufacturer already used in the previous versions.
Smaller case and more battery life with the same batteries
The 500 mAh battery has remained the same, but Fairphone has reduced the size of the case by 37 percent. This is a positive change for handbags or pockets. It is not too small.
Also positive: The battery life of the Fairbuds 2 has increased. The earbuds are said to last up to eight hours with their 45 mAh batteries when active noise cancellation (ANC) is turned off. With ANC, it's still six hours, which is the battery life of the predecessor without ANC. With recharging in the case, they reach a total runtime of up to 40 hours. That is significantly longer than the 26 hours of the first generation.
The Fairbuds 2 are charged via USB-C. A full charge takes about two hours. However, ten minutes should be enough to listen to 1.5 hours of music. Fairphone does not include a USB-C cable with the headphones, but that should be something every household has in multiples by now.
The sound is wrapped in cotton wool
The Fairbuds 2 sit comfortably and securely in my ears. Nevertheless, I have the feeling that they don't fit as snugly as other in-ears. And I tried all three tip sizes. At least: even with intense head-shaking, they stay in place.
The wireless connection is via Bluetooth 6.0, and the Fairbuds 2 support one more codec than their predecessors. In addition to AAC, SBC, and LC3, a Hi-Res codec, LDAC, has been added.
The speakers—also called drivers—in the headphones remain eleven millimeters in size. However, their material is changing. Instead of a titanium coating like the predecessors, Fairphone is using bio-cellulose. This new material doesn't change my assessment of the Fairbuds 2 much.
Like their predecessors, they are not among the top tier of in-ears when it comes to sound. In direct comparison with, for example, the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, they sound flatter and more subtle. The sound has less volume and less punch. There is a silencer between the orchestra and me.
If I don't switch directly from a more expensive model, the difference in quality is less noticeable. However, even then, the bass is subtle, and all types of music where it should be palpable are less fun with the Fairbuds 2. Overall, the headphones also seem quieter to me than other models.
The highs are clearly perceptible, and the mids also come through well. Voices are easy to understand. And yet, I constantly have the feeling that the Fairbuds 2 are not offering me the full potential of the song. It's as if they were wrapped in cotton wool.
The surroundings get quieter, but don't go completely silent
There are three microphones built into each earbud, which allow me to be understood clearly during phone calls. They also serve to determine the anti-noise for active noise cancellation in order to acoustically block out the surroundings.
The Fairbuds 2 are supposed to make the surroundings up to 45 decibels quieter. Here, too, I make the comparison with the Liberty 5 Pro from Soundcore. And here, too, the Fairbuds perform worse. They make the surroundings significantly quieter, even without excessive volume. Nevertheless, I still perceive ambient noise. The Liberty 5 Pro, on the other hand, create even more silence around me.
Just tap and don't change anything
The Fairbuds 2 are controlled by tapping or holding. The outer sides of the earbuds react to light pressure. The assignment is fixed and cannot be changed in the app. In the app, it is hidden under «Settings → Tips». With three taps, for example, I turn noise cancellation on and off. With a long press, I control the volume on the earbuds.
The ambient mode always lets ambient noise through to your ears. If you want to activate neither it nor the noise cancellation and only block out the surroundings with the haptic barrier, this only works via the Fairbuds app.
An app with few functions
The Fairbuds app offers comparatively few functions. It primarily fulfills two tasks: I use it to update the firmware of the headphones and adjust the sound. For this, I have five presets such as «Bass Boost» or «Voice» to choose from. In addition, I can move the sliders on five frequency bands in an equalizer. This allows me to change quite a bit about the sound—but the fundamental problem remains.
In a nutshell
Mediocre sound and impeccable sustainability
The Fairbuds 2 are an improvement over their predecessors, but they still fall short in the most important area. Replacing the battery is straightforward—with the exception of one step—and extends the lifespan of the headphones. At the same time, battery life has increased, all within a smaller housing. With LDAC, the Fairbuds 2 finally support a high-res codec. However, the sound—a very important criterion for headphones—remains muffled. More expensive in-ears, in particular, offer more. For example, the slightly more expensive Liberty 5 Pro from Soundcore, which lack a replaceable battery, or the Momentum True Wireless 5 from Sennheiser, which cost twice as much but do feature a replaceable battery. Many will likely replace the Fairbuds 2 soon due to their mediocre sound. This harms sustainability more than choosing a better-sounding model from the start and using it until the batteries fail.
Pro
- replaceable battery
- The housing has become more compact
- Battery life has improved
- finally a hi-res codec with LDAC
Contra
- The sound is muffled
- Controls are not customizable
Header image: Jan Johannsen
Jan Johannsen
Senior Editor
Jan.Johannsen@galaxus.deAs a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
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