Dutch smartphone manufacturer Fairphone appears poised to unveil its sixth-generation device on June 25, according to retail data obtained by multiple European publications, marking the company's latest attempt to challenge the throwaway culture of modern electronics.
The Fairphone 6 represents an evolution in modular smartphone design, featuring a two-part back panel that allows users to mix colors and attach accessories—a departure from traditional repair-focused modularity toward aesthetic customization.
Images obtained by German tech site WinFuture show the device in "Horizon Black," one of three planned color options alongside "Cloud White" and "Forest Green"12. The most notable change is a modular back cover system with separate upper and lower sections, allowing users to create dual-tone combinations34.
The device will support interchangeable accessories including card holders, lanyards, and grip rings, according to multiple reports134. Like previous Fairphone models, core components remain user-replaceable, including cameras, display, battery, speakers, and USB-C port324.
Dutch publication Nieuwe Mobiel reports the base model will feature 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, retailing for €549—roughly €150 less than the Fairphone 5's initial price25.
Fairphone's sustainability messaging receives validation from academic research. A University of Kassel study published in February found modular smartphones achieve 40% reductions in climate emissions, energy use, and material consumption compared to conventional devices, based on extended five-year lifespans versus the typical 2.5 years1.
However, sustainability consultant Gianluca Managò challenges the narrative. His lifecycle analysis suggests modular phones initially produce 10-12% higher manufacturing emissions due to additional components and complexity2. "Only if modularity is used as intended, with repair, reuse and recovery" do the benefits materialize, he notes2.
The launch coincides with growing regulatory support for device longevity. European Union "Right to Repair" legislation increasingly favors companies like Fairphone, which promises extended software support and component availability1.
The modular approach has garnered industry recognition. Repair specialist iFixit awarded the Fairphone 4 a perfect 10/10 repairability score, calling it "leagues ahead of most other smartphone makers"2. The company's recent Fairbuds earbuds similarly achieved iFixit's first-ever perfect score for wireless audio devices3.
Yet modularity remains niche. The aesthetic customization features echo Nothing's CMF Phone 1, suggesting manufacturers recognize that sustainability appeals require consumer-friendly design elements beyond mere repairability4.
