Fairphone Gen. 6 vs Gen. 6+: which one do you choose?

The same phone, with more RAM

The difference is in the chip, the RAM, the colours and the price. Everything else is the same, Fairphone says. That is why the Gen. 6 is the smartest buy for most people.

When the Gen. 6+ is worth it

The Gen. 6+ is mainly interesting if you multitask a lot or use a lot of AI on your phone. All specifications in this article come from Fairphone.

Fairphone 6 and 6 Plus side by side

What is different?

Fairphone lists the differences itself on the product page of the Fairphone Gen. 6. There are 4. On top of that, the Gen. 6+ came out with a newer Android version.

A newer processor

The Gen. 6+ has the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, the Gen. 6 the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. Both chips are made on 4 nanometres. According to NieuweMobiel, the new chip is about 7 percent faster. You’ll hardly notice a difference of that size in everyday use.

4 GB of extra RAM

The biggest difference is in the RAM. The Gen. 6+ has 12 GB of RAM, the Gen. 6 has 8 GB. With more RAM, apps stay open in the background for longer, so you switch between apps faster.

A new colour

The Gen. 6+ comes in Cobalt Blue, Forest Green and Horizon Black. The Gen. 6 has Cloud White instead of blue. So blue is only available for the Gen. 6+.

Colours at Simyo

Which colours are available differs per shop. At Simyo, you choose the Gen. 6 in black or green, and the Gen. 6+ in blue or green.

Android 16 out of the box

The Gen. 6+ runs Android 16 straight away. The Gen. 6 came out with Android 15, but has since also received the update to Android 16. So right now, they run the same version.

What is the same on the Fairphone 6 and 6 Plus?

The display, cameras and battery are the same on both models. The same goes for the storage, the repairability, dual SIM and software support until 2033. Below, you read what this means in practice.

Design and display

Both phones have a 6,31-inch OLED display that adjusts from 10 to 120 Hz. This makes scrolling smooth, and the display saves battery when the image is still. With a brightness of up to 1.400 nits, the display is also easy to read outdoors.

Sturdy, but not waterproof

The phone weighs 193 grams and is 9,6 mm thick. It has been tested for drops from 1,5 metres and has an IP55 rating. So it handles rain and dust well, but it can’t be submerged in water.

Camera and photography

There is no difference at all in the cameras. The main camera has 50 megapixels, a Sony sensor and optical image stabilisation. There is also a 13-megapixel Ultra Wide for group photos and landscapes. You record video in 4K.

No telephoto lens

You zoom in up to 2x using the sensor of the main camera. Anything beyond that is digital, up to 10x. If you often photograph subjects at a distance, that is a limitation of both phones.

A sharp selfie camera

The selfie camera has 32 megapixels and autofocus. This is useful for video calls, and for selfies that stay sharp whether you hold the camera closer or further away.

Battery and charging

Both phones have a 4.415 mAh battery that you replace yourself. According to Fairphone, it keeps 80 percent of its capacity after more than 1.000 charge cycles, and you get up to 2 days per charge.

Fast charging, not wireless

Charging works at 27 W, with a peak of 30 W. You reach 50 percent in 30 minutes. Wireless charging is not possible. You can set a charging limit of 80 percent, which keeps the battery healthy for longer.

Repairing it yourself

This is where Fairphone stands out from other smartphones. You replace 12 parts yourself with a single Torx T5 screwdriver. According to Fairphone, you swap the battery, display, USB-C port and back cover in less than 5 minutes.

What a repair costs

Fairphone sells the parts itself. A new battery costs € 39,95, a display € 89,95 and a USB-C port € 19,95. You buy the screwdriver separately. For the microphones, side buttons and fingerprint scanner, you go to a repair centre.

Top scores for repairability

Both phones have repairability index A and a 10 out of 10 from iFixit. Spare parts remain available until 2033.

Software, updates and lifespan

Fairphone promises 6 major Android updates and software support until 2033 for both phones. If you register your phone, you also get a 5-year warranty. That is 2 years of standard warranty and a free 3-year extension.

No longer support for the Gen. 6+

If you buy either one today, you get updates until the same year. So on software support, the Gen. 6+ is not more future-proof. The extra RAM does give more room as apps get heavier in the coming years.

Fairphone Moments

Both phones have a brightly coloured switch on the side for Fairphone Moments. It puts your phone in a simpler mode with a limited number of apps. Fewer notifications, more peace. On the Gen. 6+, this feature has been expanded.

Sustainability: why you choose a Fairphone

The main reason to choose a Fairphone is how Fairphone makes the phone. Here too, both models are the same.

Recycled materials

According to Fairphone, 51 percent of the phone by weight is made of fair or recycled materials, spread over 15 materials. Recycled materials include aluminium, copper, tin and rare earth metals. Gold and tungsten come from mines with a Fairmined label.

Fair factories

Fairphone works with fair factories, including 3 key suppliers of parts. There, workers receive a bonus towards a living wage. The packaging contains no plastic.

A smaller environmental footprint

Fairphone calculates the CO2 footprint of the phone at about 29,3 kilos. The brand also calls the phone 100 percent e-waste neutral. This means Fairphone has as much electronic waste recycled as the number of phones it sells.

Price and availability

The recommended price of the Gen. 6 is € 599, that of the Gen. 6+ € 649. Because the standard Gen. 6 has been on sale for a year, its price has dropped. The Gen. 6 is now available from € 560.

Phone only or with a plan

If you buy a phone separately from Fairphone or a shop, you add a Sim Only plan . Prefer to spread the costs? At Simyo, you’ll find both the Fairphone Gen. 6 and the Fairphone Gen. 6+ with a plan. They are also a lot more affordable at Simyo than buying them separately in a shop. The standard Gen. 6 now costs € 504 and the Gen. 6+ € 624.

Useful for 2 numbers

Both phones have a slot for a nano-SIM card and an eSIM. This lets you use dual SIM, for example with a business number and a personal number on the same phone. Keep in mind that 5G works on 1 SIM card at a time.

When do you choose the Fairphone Gen. 6?

• you want a sustainable, repairable phone at the lowest price
• you mainly use your phone for messaging, email, photos and navigation
• 8 GB of RAM is enough for you
• you prefer a phone that has been on the market for a year and has dropped in price

When do you choose the Fairphone Gen. 6+?

• you often have a lot of apps open at once
• you play games or use a lot of AI on your phone
• you want the newest chip and the most RAM
• you want the phone in Cobalt Blue

Which Fairphone suits you?

Choose the Fairphone Gen. 6 if

You want a sustainable phone now, with support until 2033, repairable parts and a lower price.

Choose the Fairphone Gen. 6+ if

You want more RAM and a little more speed, and are willing to pay about € 50 to € 100 extra for it.

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