Fairphone has built its reputation on an ambitious mission: sourcing materials ethically and designing phones that users can actually repair themselves. However, earlier Fairphone models required significant trade-offs, including underpowered processors that made everyday use frustrating.

The Fairphone 6 Plus appears to change that equation. Reviewers describe it as an 'extremely average midrange Android phone'—and that's meant as praise. For the first time, Fairphone seems to have achieved its ethical and repairability goals without forcing users to accept a phone that feels fundamentally compromised in performance.