Gear News of the Week: Fairphone Lands in the US, and WhatsApp Is Finally on the Apple Watch

Fairphone, the only smartphone manufacturer with a 10/10 iFixit repairability score, has made its foray into the US market. The company will initially bring its repairable over-ear headphones, Fairbuds XL, to Amazon later this month.

The move marks significant growth for Fairphone, which reported a 61% revenue increase in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. This is largely attributed to the launch of The Fairphone (Gen 6), its flagship device that has been successful both domestically and internationally.

Fairphone's commitment to sustainability and fairness is evident in its repairable devices, which come with a screwdriver, spare parts sold for years, and long-term software support. This approach not only ensures that customers can easily repair their phones but also supports fair mining practices and wages for workers in the supply chain.

Bringing Fairphone's smartphone to the US market, however, requires more complex steps due to carrier certifications. The company is currently engaged in "advanced discussions" with select retailers and carriers to make this happen.

On a separate note, Meta has finally brought its popular messaging app WhatsApp on the Apple Watch, expanding the platform's reach beyond iOS devices.

Motorola has released two new budget phones: the Moto G 2026 and Moto G Play 2026. Both devices feature similar designs and are priced competitively, with the Moto G offering 128 GB of internal storage for $200 and the Moto G Play featuring a 32-MP sensor for $170, making it one of the cheapest handsets with 5G capabilities.

Canon has unveiled its latest full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R6 Mark III. The new model boasts improved autofocus, increased storage capacity, and enhanced video capabilities, rivaling that of dedicated cinema cameras. Pricing starts at $2,799 for the body only, with optional kit configurations available.

Teenage Engineering has released its Caribbean Recording Kit, a sampling device designed to facilitate the creation of authentic island beats. The kit features 200 instruments and loops, preloaded samples from notable artists, and an FX loop for added depth. Pricing starts at $329, with plans to sell the components separately in the future.
 
Just got word that Fairphone is finally making their repairable phones available in the US ๐Ÿคž! It's about time, right? I mean, who doesn't want to be able to fix their own phone or get it repaired by someone else without having to break the bank? The fact that they're bringing their entire ecosystem of sustainable and fair practices with them is a major win for consumers ๐Ÿ‘. Now we just gotta wait and see how the whole carrier certification thing shakes out ๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™‚๏ธ
 
Fairphone's move into the US market is super exciting! ๐Ÿคฉ I'm loving their commitment to sustainability and repairability - it's so refreshing to see a brand that cares about the planet beyond just churning out devices. ๐Ÿ’š And those affordable options with 5G capabilities? ๐Ÿ” Perfect for my kid's new phone, they don't need all that bells and whistles to stay connected! ๐Ÿ“ฑ I'm also loving the Apple Watch integration with WhatsApp - it's so convenient to stay in touch with family members who use different devices. ๐Ÿ‘ซ And have you seen those prices on the Moto G 2026? ๐Ÿ’ธ $200 for 128 GB internal storage is a steal! ๐Ÿ˜Š
 
OMG, like who doesn't love buying a new phone just to send it back to the manufacturer after like 6 months ๐Ÿ™„? Fairphone is trying to disrupt this cycle with its repairable devices and I'm kinda here for it, but can we talk about how ridiculous carrier certifications are in the US? Like, isn't that just an excuse for them not to bring their cool stuff to market? And btw, congrats to Meta on finally bringing WhatsApp to the Apple Watch ๐Ÿ“ฑ...about time.
 
so fairphone is finally getting into the us market? thats cool i hope they can make it easier for ppl to get their hands on a repairable phone ๐Ÿคž. 61% revenue increase is pretty sick too! and its awesome that they're prioritizing sustainability and fairness in their products.

i'm also loving the moto g 2026 & moto g play 2026, those budget phones are giving me life ๐Ÿ’ธ. 128 gb of storage for $200? that's a no-brainer for anyone looking to upgrade.

meta bringing whatsapp to apple watch is a game changer ๐Ÿ“ฑ. and canon's new eos r6 mark iii sounds like it's gonna make some waves in the photography world ๐Ÿ“ธ. but what about teenages engineering's caribbean recording kit? i need to get my hands on that thing ASAP! ๐Ÿ”Š
 
I'm so done with Amazon's "enhanced" customer review system ๐Ÿ™„. It's all about clicks and likes now, not actual helpful feedback. I mean, what's up with that? Can't we just have a simple rating system like we used to? And don't even get me started on the ads that pop up when you're trying to leave a review... ugh ๐Ÿ˜ฉ. Anyway, back to Fairphone - nice move, I guess ๐Ÿค”. Repairable devices are a great way to reduce e-waste and all that jazz ๐Ÿ’š. But seriously, can they please just make it easier for us to buy their stuff without having to go through all the hoops with carrier certifications? And what's up with the price of those new Motorola phones? $200 for 128 GB of storage? That's a bit steep if you ask me ๐Ÿค‘.
 
I'm low-key hyped that Fairphone is finally entering the US market! ๐Ÿคฉ They're already killing it with their repairable devices and I think this is gonna open up a whole new world for consumers who care about sustainability. Like, have you seen those Fairbuds XL headphones? ๐ŸŽง Who wouldn't want to buy a product that comes with a screwdriver and spare parts just because they want to fix it themselves? ๐Ÿ˜‚ It's not just about the price or specs, it's about the values behind the brand.

And can we talk about how Meta is finally taking WhatsApp to the Apple Watch? ๐Ÿค– That's some next-level stuff right there. I mean, who needs a separate app when you can have your messaging service built-in? ๐Ÿ’ป

But what really caught my eye was Motorola releasing those budget phones with 5G capabilities for under $200. ๐Ÿ”ด๐Ÿ’ธ Like, that's insane pricing for a phone that's basically on par with the top-end models from last year. I'm low-key hoping that this is gonna shake up the market and force other manufacturers to step their game up.

And Canon just dropped its latest mirrorless camera with crazy specs ๐Ÿ“ธ I mean, who needs a dedicated cinema camera when you can get something that's basically on par? ๐Ÿ˜Ž It's gonna be interesting to see how prices hold up against these new releases...
 
๐Ÿค” So Fairphone is bringing its repairable headphones to Amazon US? That's awesome! I mean, who doesn't want to be able to easily fix their own stuff, right? ๐Ÿ–๏ธ But seriously, it's about time we start thinking about sustainability and fair practices in the tech industry. Like, how much did these headphones cost to make in the first place? Is that 61% revenue increase for real or is it just a PR stunt? ๐Ÿ“Š I need some sources on this one...
 
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