Fairphone Secures Boost Mobile as First US Carrier Partner

Fairphone, known for its 10/10 repairability rating, has announced its first US carrier partnership with Boost Mobile. The company began selling phones in the US earlier this year after more than a decade in Europe. Boost Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator that primarily uses AT&T's network, and about 16 percent of US consumers rely on MVNOs like it.

The $650 Fairphone Gen. 6+ remains the only Fairphone model sold in the US and works on T-Mobile or AT&T networks. Under the partnership, customers cannot buy the phone directly from Boost stores or its website. Instead, they purchase the device from Fairphone or Amazon and activate it on Boost's network. Fairphone's website will offer Boost plan options at checkout, and buyers will receive an eSIM activation email when the phone arrives.

Fairphone chief commercial officer Rutger Sneep described the arrangement as phase one of a long-term collaboration, with more joint go-to-market plans to come. For repairs, Sneep said users can order spare parts and fix the phone themselves, or send it to a repair center for complex cases. The Gen. 6+ warranty covers five years after purchase if registered within 90 days.

The phone includes a screwdriver and has 12 replaceable modules, including the USB-C port, battery, screen, and cameras. Spare parts are sold on Fairphone's website; a replacement battery costs $40 and a new display costs $90. The company also highlights its sustainability efforts and fair wage practices, backed by B Corp certification and a Platinum EcoVadis rating. Fairphone reports phone sales rose 74 percent in the first half of the year and 48 percent in the second quarter.