Fairbuds 2 earn a 10/10 repair score, Samsung dates Galaxy Buds On and Amazon updates Echo speakers

Fairphone reports that its Fairbuds 2 earned a top repair score, Samsung put a European date on its open-ear earbuds, and Amazon refreshed two Echo speakers with US pricing only.

Samsung dates Galaxy Buds On for Europe in early 2027

Galaxy Buds On are open-ear earbuds: a clip-on band rests around the ear instead of sealing the ear canal. Samsung says each earbud weighs 6.65g and plays for up to 9.5 hours, or up to 38 hours with the case. The IP54 rating covers the earbuds only, not the case. In the US they cost $229 from early November 2026, while Europe has to wait until early 2027, and Samsung has not given a European price. Open-ear buds trade noise cancelling for awareness of traffic and people, so they suit running more than commuting.

Source: Samsung

We favour

Fairbuds 2 score 10/10 for repairability

Fairphone says the Fairbuds 2, which launched a few weeks ago, have now been given a 10 out of 10 repairability score by iFixit. The company credits a glue-free, modular build with seven replaceable parts, including separate batteries in each bud and in the charging case. They also carry the LONGTIME label, which Fairphone describes as an independent European certification for durability and repairability. Fairphone adds that SGS certified the materials touching the skin as PFAS-free, that 48.6% of the materials by weight are fair or recycled, and that the earbuds have an IP54 rating. The earbuds are on sale at fairphone.com; Fairphone has not published a price in this announcement.

Source: Fairphone

Why we favour it: Fairphone points out that most earbuds become e-waste once the battery degrades, and here it lists seven replaceable parts with separate batteries, backed by a 10/10 iFixit score. Of the three items, it is the only one on sale now with batteries you can replace, through fairphone.com.

Amazon updates Echo Dot and Echo Studio, with US prices only

Amazon says the new Echo Dot has a full-range driver in the housing that gives 50% more bass than the previous generation, plus a custom AZ3 chip. It also has a built-in smart home hub for Zigbee, Matter and Thread, and an eero Wi-Fi extender that adds up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to an existing eero network. It costs $99.99 in the US. The Echo Studio with Home Camera has the same audio design as the Echo Studio, a high-excursion woofer with Dolby Atmos, and adds Advanced Room Adaptation, which tunes the sound to the room. It costs $249.99, and the standard Echo Studio remains available for $219.99. Amazon has not given European pricing or availability in this announcement.

Source: Amazon