Already accidentally unveiled a few weeks ago, the next wireless headset from the Dutch manufacturer Fairphone seems to be confirmed via several new visuals. A product that should be easily repairable and eco-responsible…despite the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack.
The product reveals itself a little more. Wednesday, May 3, the German news site WinFuture shared on its site several new visuals detailing the design of the FairBuds XL, the possible next wireless headphones from the manufacturer Fairphone. Images uploaded by a “ by an e-merchant before the official presentation date of the manufacturer According to the media, which had already revealed a first image of the design of this product, mid-April 2023.
It would be the first product of this type for the Dutch brand, known for its ethical and eco-responsible smartphones. A commitment that could however be called into question by a small detail in the photos of the next FairBuds XL.
Foldable helmet and accessible screws
Let’s first dwell on the information that these new visuals give us. Its colors, first: while the first image presented a green model with small orange accents, the photos shared by WinFuture unveil a second black variant with dark green accents.
Source: WinFuture
Source: WinFuture
On both models, there is a speckled pattern which corroborates what we already guessed in mid-April: the FairBuds XL would be partly made of recycled plastic, like the smartphones of the Dutch brand. Like the Fairphones, this headset should also be easily repairable, as indicated by the visible and easily accessible screws with a classic Phillips.
If we observe again the two buttons present on the first visual, we still have a doubt about the controls of the device. The flat pill-shaped button could be used for switching on and activating any transparency or active noise reduction modes. Small microphone holes on the outer shells of the helmet seem to confirm this last feature.
Source: WinFuture
Source: WinFuture
As for the other colored round button, it will probably be dedicated to listening control (play, pause, previous and next) in the form of a joystick or a crown like on Apple’s AirPods Max.
What is now certain is that the helmet folds, as the photos indicate. At a time when premium helmet manufacturers are eliminating this possibility on their recent models, this small detail is very good news.
A noticeable absentee
On the other hand, the visuals ofWinFuturealso announce bad news: the FairBuds XL would not offer a 3.5 mm jack. If it is possible that the USB-C socket visible in the photos unveiled doubles as an audio socket, this is not really the standard for other headphones without a 3.5 mm jack on the market.
If this is not the case, its absence therefore means that once the battery is dead and spare parts are unavailable, this supposedly eco-responsible helmet… would end up in the trash. In the recyclable waste, yes, but in the trash anyway.
Source: WinFuture
Source: WinFuture
A choice that would be difficult to explain by a lack of space given the size of the product, which is moreover for a brand with a unique positioning on the market. Fairphone had already made this mistake by launching irreparable wireless headphones in 2021.
If this phenomenon of programmed death is specific to these small Bluetooth devices, it is therefore hoped that the Fairbuds XL headset model will avoid this pitfall and allow simple and long-term repairs, like the brand’s smartphones. What’s more for a product that could be sold for 250 euros, according to a price indicated by a Swiss e-commerce site.
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