Fairphone 6 Review: Greener Build, Better Performance

Introduction

The Fairphone 6 arrives with the same mission that defined its predecessors: build a smartphone that respects people and the planet without asking you to tolerate a clunky experience. This generation raises the bar. It is more polished, friendlier to live with, and still proudly modular. The result feels less like a niche experiment and more like a credible daily driver for anyone who cares about longevity and responsible design.

Fairphone positions the Gen 6 as a phone that can grow with you, not against you. It gives you tools to tame digital overload, parts you can swap yourself, and accessories that attach with pragmatic hardware instead of fragile adhesives. It is not trying to outgun the fastest flagships. It is trying to outlast them.

If you want a concise takeaway: Fairphone 6 is the most approachable version yet, with smarter software, cleverly executed accessories, and a camera that is good in most conditions but still needs tuning in tricky light. Read on for the deeper cut.

Key Takeaways

Essentials mode helps reduce distractions by limiting apps and notifications to what you choose.
A dedicated hardware button can launch Fairphone Moments modes or perform actions like flashlight or Do Not Disturb.
Modular accessories screw into a replaceable back section: finger loop, lanyard, and card holder are available.
Wireless charging is absent because of the accessory system, which leaves room for a future add-on.
The camera hardware is solid: 50 MP main, 13 MP ultrawide, 32 MP selfie. Processing sometimes flattens colors or shifts white balance in high-contrast scenes.
4K video is perfectly usable for everyday clips but does not match premium flagships.

Design and Build: Purposeful and Repairable

Fairphone’s design language has matured into a clean, understated rectangle that favors function. The chassis feels sturdy, the buttons are exactly where your fingers expect them, and the replaceable back panel is not an afterthought. Pop it off and you gain access to what makes a Fairphone a Fairphone: modules that can be replaced with basic tools and patience.

This approach is about more than convenience. When a battery gets tired or a charging port wears out, you replace a part instead of an entire device. That saves money and keeps e-waste out of landfills. The Gen 6 continues this philosophy with thoughtful part labeling and an interior layout that makes sense even if you are not a habitual tinkerer.

Software That Encourages Balance: Essentials Mode

The headline software feature is Essentials mode: a focused environment that strips your phone down to the basics. By default, you see a short row of core apps: Camera, Chrome, Maps, Messages, and Phone. Notifications are quiet except for starred contacts. That matters. It means genuine emergencies can still reach you while routine pings wait their turn.

Switching into Essentials mode is deliberate. To return to normal Android you must toggle the mode off. There is no accidental slip into full-fat distraction. This friction is the point. If you choose to work, drive, study, or rest, your phone respects the boundary until you decide otherwise.

You are not limited to the default. Create personalized modes for driving, your morning routine, or deep-work blocks. Pick the apps that are allowed, set notification rules, and save the profile. Over time, this becomes a healthy habit: a light, intentional phone experience when you want it, and the full experience when you need it.

Fairphone Moments: A Button That Adapts To You

Hardware buttons still matter. The Fairphone 6 includes a dedicated control tied to Fairphone Moments: a system of quick modes you can trigger on demand. Suppose you are about to drive: one press can launch your navigation app, silence nonessential notifications, and set your preferred audio. Heading into meditation or a meeting: a different mode can dim the screen, enable Do Not Disturb, and keep only calls from your partner or manager.

If you do not care for Moments, you can remap the button. Common picks include flashlight or Do Not Disturb. The experience feels cohesive because you are not digging through menus. You are pressing a button with a clear purpose.

Modular Accessories: Screws Instead of Magnets

Here is where the Fairphone 6 gets clever. Instead of a magnetic system similar to MagSafe, Fairphone uses physical mounts that screw into a removable section of the back. This decision prioritizes durability and secure attachment. It also lets Fairphone create accessories that feel integrated rather than stuck on.

The current lineup includes a finger loop, a lanyard, and a slim card holder. The finger loop is the standout. It improves grip, reduces drops, and doubles as a quick stand for watching video or making calls. The lanyard is a practical option for hiking or commuting. The card holder keeps a travel card or ID handy without adding bulk.

One tradeoff: there is no wireless charging. The company left the back clear for physical accessories, so coils did not make the cut. The door is open for a future accessory that adds wireless charging. For now, wired charging is the way to go.

Display and Audio: Comfortable For Everyday Use

The screen is tuned for readability and comfort rather than shock value. Colors look natural, text remains crisp, and brightness is adequate for outdoor use. You will not confuse it for the most aggressive HDR panel on the market, but it delivers a pleasing day-to-day experience. Audio follows the same philosophy: clear for calls and podcasts, competent for casual video, and best paired with earbuds for music.

Performance and Thermals: Smooth Where It Counts

Fairphone aims for reliable performance, not bragging rights. Navigation is fluid, app switching is snappy, and common tasks like messaging, maps, and streaming run without fuss. The phone stays composed under load and does not throttle aggressively in basic use. If your daily routine includes social apps, email, banking, photos, and navigation, the Gen 6 keeps up without drama.

Battery and Charging: Built For Real Life

Battery life is strong enough for a full day for most users with a mix of messaging, calls, light camera use, and navigation. Essentials mode can stretch that further by quieting background activity during focus periods. When it is time to refill, plug in via USB-C. Charging speeds are sensible rather than headline grabbing, though the bigger story is longevity: because the battery is replaceable, you are not stuck with diminished endurance years down the line.

Cameras: Solid Hardware, Processing Needs a Nudge

Fairphone equips the Gen 6 with a 50 megapixel primary camera, a 13 megapixel ultrawide, and a 32 megapixel selfie camera. In good light, the main sensor captures detailed, sharp images. Mixed lighting is handled with confidence more often than not. Portraits look natural and the selfie camera earns its keep on video calls.

There are quirks. In high-contrast scenes the color science can flatten a vivid moment. Sometimes white balance drifts: blue skies pick up an unnatural cast or golden hour shots lose their warmth. The underlying detail is there, which suggests the issue is less about optics and more about tuning. A few targeted updates could fix a lot of this.

4K video is steady and perfectly fine for family clips, travel logs, and social sharing. It does not rival the finest stabilization and dynamic range you get from top-tier flagships, but it is comfortably usable. For best results in tough lighting, try locking exposure and focus, and avoid rapid pans.

Camera Tips To Get Better Results

In bright scenes, tap to expose for faces and slide to lower exposure slightly to preserve highlights.
Switch to the ultrawide for tight indoor spaces, but keep an eye on edges where distortion can creep in.
In mixed light, take two shots: one auto and one with exposure nudged. Pick the keeper later.
For sunsets and city lights, try a manual white balance in a third-party camera app to reclaim the warmth you saw.

Sustainability and Repairability: The Point Of It All

Fairphone’s value proposition is as much ethical as it is technical. The Gen 6 continues the company’s push for fairer material sourcing and improved working conditions in the supply chain. It is built to be repaired, not replaced. You can swap the battery. You can replace the screen, camera module, or USB-C port. The company historically provides long software support windows and sells spare parts directly, which is rare and welcome.

This is not marketing fluff. The ability to repair your own phone changes how you treat it and how long you keep it. The more people who adopt that mindset, the better for wallets and for the environment.

Connectivity and Extras

Day-to-day connectivity is reliable. Calls are clear, GPS locks quickly for navigation, and Bluetooth accessories pair without fuss. Biometric unlock is quick and consistent. The little touches matter too: haptics feel clean, the vibration motor is firm enough for pockets, and the UI elements respect one-handed use.

Who Should Buy The Fairphone 6

Choose the Fairphone 6 if you want a modern smartphone that puts longevity, repairability, and mindful software ahead of benchmark numbers. It is a great fit for students who would rather replace a part than a whole device, professionals who want focus tools baked into the OS, and families that value durability and serviceability.

If you shoot a lot of high-contrast scenes and want the most polished computational photography today, a premium flagship still has the edge. If you rely on wireless charging in your routine, note its absence here. For most people, though, the Fairphone 6 delivers a balanced, satisfying daily experience with fewer compromises than ever.

Pros and Cons

What Stands Out

Essentials mode reduces noise and helps build healthier habits.
Thoughtful hardware button with useful, configurable actions.
Secure screw-in accessories: finger loop, lanyard, card holder.
Repairable design with user-replaceable parts.
Strong day-to-day performance and battery life.

What Could Be Better

No wireless charging because of the accessory system.
Camera processing can flatten colors or shift white balance in tricky light.
4K video is good but not flagship level.

Buying Advice and Setup Suggestions

Set up Essentials mode on day one. Create profiles for morning, work, driving, and wind-down. The phone quickly feels calmer.
Map the hardware button to the action you use most. Flashlight is a classic choice, but Do Not Disturb plus a navigation shortcut is excellent for commuters.
If you take lots of photos, install a manual camera app alongside the stock app. Use it when lighting gets complicated.
Pick an accessory early. The finger loop dramatically improves grip and makes the phone feel more secure one-handed.
Learn the basics of part replacement. Even if you do not need it now, the confidence of knowing you can swap a battery or port is freeing.

Verdict

The Fairphone 6 is the most convincing expression of Fairphone’s philosophy to date. It respects your attention with Essentials mode, respects your preferences with a remappable button, and respects the planet with modular parts and smart accessory design. It is not a specs race champion and it does not pretend to be. Instead, it feels like a trustworthy companion you can keep for years.

If you value sustainability, repairability, and a calmer relationship with your phone, the Fairphone 6 is better than ever: a thoughtful device that puts people first without leaving performance behind.

Conclusion

Smartphones often ask you to accept a trade you do not want: top-tier speed at the expense of longevity, or sustainable design with too many compromises. The Fairphone 6 narrows that gap. It is practical, sturdy, and refreshingly user-centric. The modular accessories are useful, the focus tools are genuinely helpful, and the camera is capable with room to grow through software tuning.

There is still space for improvement in imaging and charging options, yet the overall package lands in a sweet spot that few phones attempt. If you want a device that is good to use and good to keep, the Fairphone 6 makes a strong, clear case.