Technologies

This Android Phone Puts the Emphasis on Easy Repairs and a Sustainability Vibe

The Fairphone 6 will be getting a new push in the US. But first, there are the headphones.

If you’re looking for a device with a difference, Fairphone may have just the thing for you. The Dutch company puts its emphasis on consumer electronics products that are designed to be easy to repair and that are produced with sustainability in mind.

It’ll be making a new push in the US with an Android version of its Fairphone 6, along with over-the-ear headphones called the Fairbuds XL. Both feature a modular construction, as well as the incorporation of recycled materials and components that are e-waste neutral.

First up will be the headphones, which feature 30 hours of listening, active noise canceling and joystick control. Fairphone says they’ll be available in stores by late November or early December, and are currently available online.

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The Android phone doesn’t have a formal launch date yet. That’s because of the «complicated process» of launching a new Android phone in the US, Fairphone’s chief commercial officer, Rutger Sneep, tells CNET. «We’re working hard towards being ready for that in the very near future,» Sneep said.

In a twist, an Android-less version of the Fairphone 6 is already available in the US through French startup Murena, under the branding Murena Fairphone (Gen. 6). That model uses an operating system called /e/OS and is «de-Googled,» meaning it doesn’t have Google apps and services preloaded as do most other Android-based smartphones.

When Fairphone itself begins selling the phone in the US, it will run on the Android system with Google apps and services preloaded.

But it is repairability and sustainability that Sneep points to as the core of its appeal to US consumers, «who are increasingly interested in their right to repair and having longer-lasting devices.»

There has been a notable push to empower DIY fixes for phones and other gear. Right-to-repair laws have been introduced in all 50 states, and some are already in force (check out this handy map from iFixit). Whether it’s for tech devices or farm machinery, such laws say that manufacturers must make available parts, tools, diagnostic software and repair documentation. It’s an effort to give consumers more control over their purchases and make them last instead of going the throw-it-away-and-buy-a-new-one route.

CNET senior editor Mike Sorrentino says Fairphone’s message of sustainability aligns well with a US consumer base that could be skittish about economic uncertainties over tariffs.

«Fairphone’s longstanding pitch has been about making a phone that lasts longer by being easy to repair, making this US push timed quite well for tariff-conscious phone buyers,» Sorrentino said. «It may even be novel to see a phone available at US stores whose battery can actually be replaced without needing to make an appointment at a repair store.»

Fairphone says its latest phone should last eight years or more. Need to replace the battery? The cameras? The speakers? Check, check and check. All the parts are listed here.

iFixit gives the Fairphone 6 a repairability score of 10 out of 10.

The business model appears to be succeeding in Europe. The company said revenue grew 61% year over year in the third quarter of 2025. Sales of spare parts went up 41% during the same period.

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.

Technologies

2 Cases Show Supreme Court Isn’t Holding ISPs Responsible for Piracy

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 8, #1032

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for April 8, No. 1032.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough. The purple category is a fun one, once you see the connection. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: In the group.

Green group hint: Appearance details.

Blue group hint: Often found in gyms.

Purple group hint: They help you see.