Exclusive: Fairphone Lands Its First US Carrier Partner in Boost Mobile
The Dutch smartphone manufacturer Fairphone has announced its first carrier partnership in the United States with Boost Mobile, marking a significant step for the company in the American market.
Fairphone has sold its devices in Europe for more than a decade, but it only began selling its phones in the US this summer.
The company has now partnered with Boost Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that leases network access from AT&T and T-Mobile.
This partnership is a strategic move to reach the nearly 70 percent of Americans who purchase smartphones through carrier contracts, according to 2025 IDC data.
Buying and Activation Process
The $650 Fairphone Gen. 6+ is the only cellular device Fairphone sells in the US, and it is certified to work on T-Mobile's or AT&T's networks.
Customers will not be able to directly buy the phone from Boost's online storefront or brick-and-mortar stores.
Instead, they must purchase the device from Fairphone or Amazon and then activate it through Boost with any of the MVNO's plans.
Fairphone's website will feature Boost plan options at the point of purchase, and buyers will receive an eSIM activation email when the phone is delivered.
This is phase one, a first step in a long-term collaboration, and to expect more news soon on “joint go-to-market plans.”
Repairability and Warranty
Fairphone is the only mobile manufacturer in the world with a 10/10 repairability rating for its smartphones.
The Gen. 6+ comes with a screwdriver, and owners can replace 12 modular elements, from the USB-C port and battery to the screen and cameras.
Fairphone sells spare parts on its website, and the components are affordable, with a replacement battery costing $40 and a new display $90.
For an iPhone 17, a battery replacement costs $99, and a display repair costs $329, highlighting the cost advantage of Fairphone's modular design.
Rutger Sneep stated that Americans won't need to go anywhere to get their phone fixed.
Within five years after purchasing the Gen. 6+, owners are still covered by their warranty, provided they register the phone within 90 days.
Market Context
The Fairphone isn’t just repairable; the company also touts its products as sustainable and promotes fair wages for workers in the supply chain.
These efforts are partly why the Gen. 6+ costs as much as it does, as going by specs alone, you can get a competing device for less cash.
The overall smartphone market is declining, with shipments down 19 percent year over year, largely due to rising costs stemming from the memory crunch.
Despite the broader trend of rising smartphone prices, Fairphone claims it’s in a bright spot, with phone sales up 74 percent in the first half of the year and 48 percent growth in the second quarter alone.
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