How to use your Fairbuds
We are excited to offer the Fairphone Fairbuds. With these new and improved earbuds, Fairphone is bringing a premium sound that is designed to last to the earbuds category.
The Fairbuds are some of the most repairable earbuds on the market, with replaceable batteries (for the earbuds and charging case) and a modular design. This is following the introduction of Fairphone's first generation True Wireless Earbuds in 2021.
To learn more about how we designed the Fairbuds to be fair and climate conscious, click here.
Fairbuds provide you with:
- Superior sound quality and Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) with a total of six microphones.
- Two-point Bluetooth for seamless connectivity when switching between devices.
- A battery that can last up to 26 hours.
- Sweat and weather resistance with an IP54 certification.
- Fairbuds app compatibility.
Table of contents:
- Video Instruction
- Turn On/Off
- Charging
- Connect via Bluetooth
- Controls
- Fairbuds app
- Frequently asked questions
- Quick Start Guide
Video Instructions
Turn On/Off
- To turn on the earbuds, simply take them out of the charging case.
- To turn off, place the earbuds back into the charging case.
Charging
The Fairbuds charge when connected with a standard USB-C cable.
You can find a charging cable on the Fairphone Online Shop.
We recommend a power output of 5V - 0.5A.
- The battery capacity is 45 mAh (earbuds), 500 mAh (case).
- Battery life: 22 hours (with ANC activated), 26 hours (without ANC).
- Charging time: 2 hours for a full charge. 10-minute charge for 1.5 hours of playback.
Connect via Bluetooth
You can connect the Fairbuds to your phone or any other device via Bluetooth.
In general, the Fairbuds are compatible with any device with Bluetooth using codecs AAC, SBC. They support Bluetooth version 5.3 and support Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
The Fairbuds are compatible with all Fairphones, even Fairphone 1, as well as other brands.
To pair
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Insert both earbuds into the charging case, and press the case button for 3 seconds. The LED will blink in BLUE three times.
- (On Android) Open the Bluetooth menu via Settings → Connected devices → Pair new device.
- The earbuds should automatically show up as Fairbuds.
- Tap Fairbuds to connect.
- You will hear a voice notification via the Fairbuds that says Connected.
If you can not pair your Fairbuds, make sure they are not linked to another active device. If so, disconnect them by turning off Bluetooth on the device or even unpair the device(s).
With dual point connectivity, you can connect up to two devices simultaneously.
Just press the pairing button for 3 seconds again, until you hear that familiar “Pairing Mode" prompt, then select the Fairbuds on your device to switch seamlessly between your two connected devices.
To unpair
To clear the pairing records or reset your Fairbuds:
- (On Android) Open the Bluetooth menu via Settings → Connected devices → Press the cogwheel to the right of Fairbuds. Press Forget and confirm.
In case of issues (like mono instead of stereo): please unpair the Fairbuds and pair them again.
Controls
Here are the control instructions of the Fairbuds:
Calls
To accept and hang up calls, tap on the side of either earbud:
-
Tap or swipe up to accept an incoming call.
-
Press and hold to end an ongoing call.
- Swipe down to reject an incoming call.
Audio (music, podcasts)
To control audio, tap on the side of either earbud:
- Tap once to pause or resume playback.
- Tap twice to go to the next song.
-
Tap three times to go back to the previous song.
Volume
To adjust the volume:
-
Swipe up and down on either earbud to control volume
Active Noise Cancelling (ANC)
The Fairbuds have a dedicated button to drown out all distractions if things get a little noisy.
Actively cancel out the noise with the ANC button on the right earbud.
A crisp “Noise-canceling” voice prompt will notify you of the active noise cancellation kicking in.
Long press on the right earbud to toggle between one of three different noise-canceling modes:
- Activate noise-canceling (ANC ON) - ambient noise is canceled out.
- Ambient Sound (Voice through) - keeps important sounds audible.
- Active noise-canceling off - (ANC OFF).
Fairbuds app
Enhance your Fairbuds experience with our Fairbuds app! Customize your sound with adjustable equalizer presets, access support resources, update your device for longevity and new features, and even explore the inner workings of your earbuds.
For the app to discover and connect to the Fairbuds app, you'll need to have location services turned on.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the technical specifications of the Fairbuds?
- Battery: 45 mAh (earbuds), 500 mAh (case)
- Battery duration: 26h
- ANC: Yes
- Ambient sound mode: Yes
- Special features: ENC/wind noise reduction
- Spare parts: LIR1054 battery, silicone ring (battery tray cover), silicone eartip, inner case (button, status LED, USB-C), charge case battery (500mAh), outer shell (magnets, hinge, protection)
- Bluetooth Range: 10 m
- Bluetooth & codes: Bluetooth 5.3 SBC & AAC
- Charging time: 2h (case + earbuds), 10min for 1.5h playback
- IP Rating: IP54
- Size earbud: 28.7mm*24.6mm*21mm
- Size case: 65mm*65mm*27mm
- Weight: 78gr total, ~5gr per earbud
- Multipoint calling: Dual
- Smart assistant: Google Assistant and Apple Siri
Why have you launched the Fairbuds?
Fairphone is changing the industry from within. It's our mission to establish a viable market for sustainable consumer electronics. We also recognize the demand and changing technology on the market. Many of the same problems around e-waste and issues in the supply chain that we see with smartphones also apply to audio products. In 2021, the Fairphone TWS earbuds were our first step into this new product category. They incorporated longer battery life and Fairtrade gold in the supply chain but were otherwise an off-the-shelf design that was not repairable. Our plan was therefore always to improve on the design later on. The Fairbuds are the result of these efforts.
Which warranty do you offer on the earbuds?
There is a standard 2-year warranty on the earbuds, plus a one-year extended warranty if users register their Fairbuds online on our website. That said, due to the modular design and the repairability, we expect the Fairbuds to last a lot longer than three years.
Which parts of the Fairbuds can be repaired or exchanged by the user?
- Earbud (left/right)
- Earbud battery & silicone ring (which protects the battery from water ingress)
- Earbud eartips (like with any other earbud)
- Charging case outer shell (in case it breaks during a drop)
- Charging case core (containing all the electronics)
- Charging case battery
Are the Fairbuds water-resistant/waterproof?
The Fairbuds have IP54 certification, meaning they are sweat and weather-resistant, but not completely waterproof.
What is the Fairbuds app used for?
The Fairbuds app offers users more control over their earbuds by changing the equalizer presets, tuning the Fairbuds to their personal preferences. Next to that, the app offers users quick access to support in the form of a quick start guide, tutorials, support articles and customer service.
The app also allows users to update their Fairbuds over time, to ensure longevity of the device, as well as introduce new features, and an occasional bug-fix. Lastly, the app can be used to “dissect” your earbuds, and learn more about the parts that make up your Fairbuds, and order replacement parts if the Fairbuds require repairs.
If after reading the article you need more help, contact our Customer Support.