What you need to know
- Fairphone posted a whopping 116% year-over-year shipment growth and growth in the third quarter.
- Growth is strongest in Europe, with the UK (+241% phones), followed by the Netherlands (+200%) and France (+121%), with Germany showing steady gains.
- This is based on a strong 2025 with sales up 42% and revenue reaching €73.3 million (+35% YoY).
2026 was a tough year for smartphone sales. Counterpoint Research It recently reported that global shipments fell 6% this quarter due to cautious spending and ongoing DRAM and NAND shortages. Most big brands are seeing lower profits and tougher conditions, but a smaller company is doing just fine. Fairphone posted growth in the third quarter, with smartphone shipments up 116% compared to Q1 2025.
If you follow phone specs and hardware trends, you know that running a modern phone for years usually means dealing with stuck batteries and software limitations.
Fairphone does things differently. Its phones are built to be it is really repairable and lasts a long time. This approach is paying off, bringing the Amsterdam company closer to two major milestones: one million devices sold and $500 million in gross revenue.
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Explosive European growth
In some markets, growth is particularly strong. The biggest growth was in the UK, with phone shipments up 241%, accessories up 166%, and audio products up 95%.
The Netherlands also made big gains, with phone sales up 200%, accessories up 131% and audio equipment up 56%. France also showed strong results with handsets up 121%, accessories up 84% and audio shipments up 28%.
Germany experienced steady growth, leading with accessories at 61%, phones at 60% and audio products at 39%.
Although Fairphone is wider, it manages to grow The electronics industry is facing challenges. Fairphone Chief Commercial Officer Rutger Sneep says the company is “growing as the market shrinks” and sees this as “a strong signal that consumers are rethinking what good technology looks like”.
Sneep believes that strong demand in Europe shows that transparency, reparability and responsible manufacturing create a sustainable business model.
This momentum comes after a very successful 2025. Last year, the sustainable technology brand’s phone sales increased by 42%. This led to total revenue of €73.3 million, a strong 35% increase over the previous year.
Android Central’s Take
Honestly, I’m tired of seeing Samsung and apple sell $1,000 phones that become e-waste as soon as you break the back glass. Fairphone is not perfect. Its cameras can’t beat a Pixel and the chips aren’t top-notch, but at least you can change the battery in a minute with just your fingernail. It’s not just a feature. This is a true stance against planned obsolescence.
