Headphones against the throwaway culture - Fairbuds XL (Gen. 2) review

The Fairbuds XL can be purchased directly from Fairphone, but they are also available on Amazon.

Visually, the second-generation Fairbuds XL stay true to the design language of their predecessor, but the updated materials give them a more modern appearance. They are available in Forest Green and Horizon Black. The green version in particular gives the otherwise rather bulky over-ear headphones a distinctive look. Instead of the faux leather used on the previous model, Fairphone now uses mesh fabric on the headband and a softer piqué fabric for the ear cushions.

Build quality feels robust. The hinges and headband adjustment mechanism feel sturdy, and the individual components fit together cleanly. The ear cups can rotate 90 degrees, and the headphones fold up for transport. However, the overall construction is comparatively bulky. At around 330 grams (11.6 oz), the Fairbuds XL are among the heavier Bluetooth headphones on the market.

The new fabric cushions have a positive effect on comfort. They feel soft and are more breathable than the faux-leather cushions of the previous model. That does not make the considerable weight disappear, though. Combined with the relatively strong clamping force, the Fairbuds XL can become noticeable during longer listening sessions. On the upside, they sit securely on the head, and the adjustable headband offers plenty of range.

The IP54 rating is another advantage for everyday use. It means the Fairbuds XL are protected against dust and splashing water, including light rain. They are not fully waterproof, but a rain shower or sweaty workout should not pose a problem.

Sustainability is where the Fairbuds XL play their strongest hand. Rather than designing the headphones as a largely sealed unit, Fairphone uses a modular construction. A total of nine components can be replaced with spare parts: the battery, cable connecting the speakers, ear cup covers, headband, headband cover, ear cushions, both headband bases, and the left and right speaker modules. Even the circuit board and USB-C module can technically be repaired, although replacing those components is reserved for professionals. Particularly convenient: the battery can be removed without any tools.

It is also noteworthy that Fairphone has maintained this approach across generations. Second-generation replacement parts are backward-compatible with the 2023 Fairbuds XL. For example, the new speaker modules with their revised 40 mm drivers can be installed in the older headphones. Conversely, users can fit the first-generation PU leather ear cushions to the new model. This means damaged components can not only be replaced, but older Fairbuds XL can also be partially upgraded with components from the new generation.

Fairphone has also stepped up its efforts when it comes to materials. According to the manufacturer, more than 80 percent of the plastics used are recycled, while the figure for aluminum is 92 percent. The magnets contain 100 percent recycled rare earth elements, and the solder uses 100 percent recycled tin. Other materials include Fairtrade gold as well as fair cobalt, copper, and silver sourced through credits. According to Fairphone, final assembly is powered by renewable energy.

The warranty policy follows the same philosophy. Fairphone provides a two-year warranty on the current generation as standard. Customers who register their Fairbuds XL with the manufacturer free of charge receive an additional year, extending coverage to a total of 36 months. This extension applies to the Horizon Black and Forest Green versions introduced in 2025, but not to the 2023 Fairbuds XL. One important exception: the battery is not covered by the three-year warranty and instead has its own one-year warranty.

Sonically, the Fairbuds XL sound lean rather than bass-heavy. The sub-bass in particular lacks punch and weight. As a result, kick drums and electronic bass lines have less impact than you might expect from a large pair of over-ear headphones. Our pink-noise measurement reflects this impression: levels drop noticeably toward the lower frequencies, while the midrange is more prominent.

This pushes vocals and many instruments further forward in the mix. The result is good intelligibility, but depending on the recording, the Fairbuds XL can also sound somewhat thin. Listeners looking for a warm, powerful, or distinctly bass-heavy sound are therefore less likely to be happy with the tuning.

With THD measuring just 0.053 percent, harmonic distortion remains low. The significantly higher THD+N figure of 0.76 percent is primarily attributable to the noise component of the measurement.

For video playback, audio and video remain in sync without any noticeable issues, and dialogue is easy to understand. During calls, the microphones deliver decent voice quality in quiet environments, but intelligibility deteriorates as background noise increases. ANC reduces steady ambient noise, but its performance is far from class-leading. Voices in particular remain clearly audible. Transparency mode does its job, but sounds somewhat muffled and unnatural.

THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): Harmonic distortion quantifies the magnitude of the components that arise from non-linear distortion (harmonic content) in relation to the original signal. THD refers only to the fundamental harmonic content. The distortion factor is often mentioned in the same breath, but refers to the overall signal.

THD+N (Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise): This value is comparable to THD, but in addition to the interference from harmonics, the interference from noise is also recorded as an effective value.

For the measurement, a low-harmonic sine wave signal (1 kHz, > 0 dB) is played through the headphones to be tested and recorded by a linear measuring microphone (measuring distance: approx. 1 cm) in an artificial head.

Fairphone rates the Fairbuds XL for up to 30 hours of music playback without ANC and up to 26 hours with ANC enabled. That is easily enough to get through several workdays, although the headphones are not among the endurance leaders in their class.

Charging is handled via USB-C. Fast charging provides several additional hours of playback after a short time connected to a charger.