Fairphone review
Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
Fairphone suits buyers who keep a phone for years and rank warranty length above entry price, since a warranty of 24 months puts it near the top of that measure. The trade-off is cost, with phones starting at €599 and an overall score of 8.6.
Key facts
- Best for
- Buyers who plan to keep a handset for years and value warranty length over a low entry price.
- Price from
- €599 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Warranty
- 24 months (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Return window
- 14 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Trade-in
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Markets
- AT, BE, BG, HR, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LI, LT, LU, MC, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SM, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, GB, US (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- FairPhone B.V. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Netherlands (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- New phones, Refurbished phones
- Operating systems
- Android
- Official website
- fairphone.com
Electronics stores
- Return window
- 14 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Extended warranty
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Trade-in
- Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Click and collect
- No (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Markets
- AT, BE, BG, HR, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LI, LT, LU, MC, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SM, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, GB, US (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Legal entity
- FairPhone B.V. (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Netherlands (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Departments
- Phones, Audio, Refurbished
Apps and profiles
Pros and cons
Pros
- A warranty of 24 months puts Fairphone at 2 of 33 brands on warranty length, near the front of that ranking.
- The range covers new phones and refurbished phones, so a refurbished handset sits alongside a new one for buyers on a lower budget.
- Trade in is offered, so an older phone can be handed over instead of sold on, taking cost out of switching.
- Extended warranty is available, so cover can run past the standard term.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with a help centre and a community for questions.
Cons
- Ranked 27 of 29 brands on entry price, Fairphone sits at the expensive end, starting at €599.
- Click and collect is unavailable, so every order is a delivery rather than a shop counter collection.
- Returns run 14 days, which ranks 31 of 42 and leaves little room to try a handset at length.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so anyone who wants a phone line rather than email or the community is looking in the wrong place.
Who it suits
- Buyers who keep a handset for years and put warranty length ahead of the cheapest entry price, since a warranty of 24 months is the draw.
- Anyone who wants a new or refurbished handset from the same maker, with the range covering new phones and refurbished phones.
- Shoppers in the listed markets, AT, BE and BG, who are content with email, help centre and community support rather than a phone line.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers chasing the widest choice of shapes, since Mozillion also lists foldables in new phones, refurbished phones and foldables.
- Buyers who want a new-only range with no refurbished handsets, since Nothing lists new phones.
- Shoppers who need a rugged handset for rough use, since Oukitel lists new phones and rugged phones.
How it compares on our data
On the numbers behind this page, Fairphone is a specialist outlier rather than a middle-of-the-table brand. It sits at 2 of 33 brands on warranty length, the strongest position of the measures tracked here. On entry price it drops to 27 of 29, close to the back of the pack, and on return days it ranks 31 of 42. The overall score is 8.6, split into 8.1 for cost and 9 for offer, with 3 alternatives listed alongside. Read together, the figures point the same way: cover is the strength, while the starting price and the return window are what a buyer gives up to get it.
Core features
The package rests on a single figure: a warranty of 24 months, and that cover is the clearest reason to look here. It matters because the cost of a repair or a replacement sits with the maker for longer than a shorter term would allow, which changes the maths on a handset bought outright. Returns are set at 14 days, a narrow window that suits a buyer who knows which model they want and less suited to one who wants to live with a handset before deciding. Trade in is offered, so an older device can be handed in rather than sold on privately, taking some cost out of switching. Taken together, the features reward long ownership and easy switching rather than casual returns.
The company behind it
The company behind the phones is FairPhone B.V., registered in the Netherlands, and that base is worth noting for buyers who want to know which jurisdiction they are dealing with. Support runs on email, help centre and community, which puts the weight on written answers and owner-to-owner discussion rather than a call queue. A help centre carries the routine questions, email handles anything the written material does not settle, and the community gives owners a place to work through a fault together. In practice that suits shoppers who are comfortable describing a problem in detail and reading replies at their own pace. It suits a buyer less well if the issue needs a voice on a line, since support runs on those listed channels only.
How Fairphone compares
- 8.6 vs 9.1
- 8.6 vs 8.6
8.6 vs 8.7
8.6 vs 8.8- 8.6 vs 8.6
- 8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 9.2- 8.6 vs 9.1
- 8.6 vs 8.9
- 8.6 vs 9.2
8.6 vs 9.0
8.6 vs 9.3- 8.6 vs 9.5
8.6 vs 9.5
8.6 vs 9.4- 8.6 vs 9.3
- 8.6 vs 9.1
8.6 vs 9.0- 8.6 vs 9.0
- 8.6 vs 8.9
8.6 vs 8.8
8.6 vs 8.6
8.6 vs 8.6
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Where Fairphone is available
- Available
- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Fairphone cost?+
Phones start at €599, which is the entry figure for the range rather than a promotional price. That sits high on the table, and Fairphone ranks 27 of 29 brands on entry price. Buyers weighing cost first will find cheaper options nearby; buyers weighting warranty length can see where the extra goes.
How long is the Fairphone warranty?+
The warranty runs for 24 months, and extended warranty is available for anyone who wants longer cover still. That term is why Fairphone sits at 2 of 33 brands on warranty length, near the front of that ranking rather than in the middle of it.
How long do I have to return a Fairphone?+
Returns are accepted for 14 days from delivery. That is a brief window for a handset, and the ranking on return days puts Fairphone at 31 of 42, so this is not the place to try a phone for a month before deciding. Keep the deadline in mind when a delivery date is close.
Does Fairphone sell refurbished phones?+
It does. The range covers new phones and refurbished phones, so refurbished handsets sit alongside new ones from the same maker with the same software and support. For buyers on a budget that is the cheaper way into the brand, rather than settling for a cut-down new model.
What operating system do Fairphone phones run?+
Every phone in the range runs on Android. That is the whole software story, so anyone moving from another Android handset will find familiar apps and settings, while buyers tied to a different mobile platform should check compatibility before ordering.
Which countries can I order a Fairphone in?+
Fairphone lists AT, BE and BG as the markets it serves, which covers most of Europe along with the UK and the US. Delivery is the only route, since click and collect is unavailable, so anyone outside those markets would need to check cover before committing to a handset.
How do I get help from Fairphone?+
Support runs on email, help centre and community. Email is the direct route, the help centre carries the common questions, and the community lets owners compare notes. A phone line is not part of those listed channels, so a fault that needs a conversation may move faster by email or through the community.
Can I trade in my old phone at Fairphone?+
Trade in is offered, so an older handset can be handed over rather than sold on privately, which takes some cost out of moving to a Fairphone. It pairs with the 24 months warranty, since a new phone arrives with cover attached. Check the terms for your specific model before sending anything off.
Sources
- fairphone.com/en checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Markets, Support channels
“Set your country and language Select your country Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania...”
- fairphone.com/en/legal/fairphone-warranties checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Products, Warranty
“The Fairphone (Gen. 6) (Main Device) - including Refurbished ... Fairphone 5 & Fairphone 5 Refurbished (Purchased 2026-2027)”
- fairphone.com/en/legal/impressum checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity
“Our office Van Diemenstraat 200 1013 CP Amsterdam The Netherlands”
- fairphone.com/en/legal/return-policy checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Extended warranty, Return window
“Fairphone's voluntary, commercial Extended Warranty is a completely separate guarantee that operates in addition to, and independently of, Your statutory legal guarantee”
- fairphone.com/en/press checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Departments
“Fairphone Announces the Refurbished Fairphone Gen. 6 (04 Jun 2026); our range: Smartphones, Audio (Fairbuds, Fairbuds XL)”
- fairphone.com/en/recycle checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Trade-in
“Recycle your old phone, get a Fairphone gift card ... Send us your old devices and get Fairphone gift cards equal to their cash value.”
- fairphone.com/en/smartphones checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Operating systems, Price from
“OS Version Android 15”
- fairphone.com/en/where-to-buy checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Click and collect
“Our complete range of products is available for purchase online, and in retail stores across Europe and the UK. Visit our partners: Get the hands-on experience at any one of our retail locations.”
Compiled from 8 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
What changed
- September 30, 2026: axisScores offer was 9.1, now 9.0
Related by the facts
Fairphone
Buyers who plan to keep a handset for years and value warranty length over a low entry price.