Defying RAMageddon with the new Fairphone

It’s a scary time to be a tech CEO.

For the past year, we have all felt the squeeze caused by the unprecedented demand and severe supply shortages for semiconductor memory, thanks to the onslaught of AI and its computing demands. And when major players shifted focus to high-bandwidth server-grade DRAM, the market got starved of everyday computer and server memory like regular DDR5 RAM. Prices soared overnight, bills of materials massively inflated, and financial forecasting became a (literal) nightmare.

At Fairphone, we have always refused to accept the status quo.

Across the tech industry, the response to this memory chip supercycle was to cut back on specs, remove features, or quietly raise prices to shield their profit margins. The consensus among industry insiders was that offering higher performance during a global chip shortage was simply impossible without passing hefty costs onto consumers. And while others might paint this as a sad but inevitable reality, it’s something I could never accept. And while things were tense initially (I wasn’t kidding about the nightmares), my time at Fairphone had taught me to have faith. Faith that the team would find another way, a better way.

I wasn’t disappointed.

That’s how, on August 18, 2026, we launched our most powerful device yet. 

Introducing the Fairphone (Gen. 6+)

Packed with 12GB of DDR5 RAM and an upgraded Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, the Fairphone (Gen. 6+) delivers up to 24% faster app loading and switching, alongside a 20% boost in multitasking allocation*. In short, that means smoother multitasking, a faster performance, and an overall better, more fluid user experience.

So how did we do it?

How did we deliver higher specs during one of the worst component shortages in recent memory? 

The value of treating everyone fairly

When component supplies tighten, the biggest tech giants usually rely on sheer scale to secure parts, while smaller brands are pushed to the back of the line.

For years, Fairphone has built deep, multi-year relationships with our component suppliers and manufacturing partners. We don't view suppliers as transactional vendors to squeeze for razor-thin margins; we treat them as long-term collaborators. We treat them fairly, just like everyone else who works for us and works with us.

Of course, beyond steady commercial contracts, Fairphone also offers suppliers something increasingly rare in modern business: a mission they genuinely want to be associated with. Major component suppliers want to demonstrate that their hardware powers sustainable, pro-worker, and repairable technology. By offering a clear, responsible mission, Fairphone retains a vital seat at the table even when global supply chains lock up. Simply put, treating people fairly across the supply chain pays off in the long run.

It’s all about giving you more

Standard corporate strategy dictates that every new phone release requires an expensive physical redesign. Millions are spent on cosmetic changes, slightly altered camera bumps, or thinner frames. These are costs that are ultimately passed on to the buyer with no real value addition. As far as I am concerned, that’s not innovation. It makes zero sense. 

Instead, we went the other way. Something I like to call our Plus philosophy.

Rather than forcing unnecessary cosmetic flourishes, the new Fairphone was built on the award-winning design of the Fairphone (Gen. 6). Reusing the exact modular chassis achieved two crucial things:

We’re maximizing modular longevity: Our 12 user-replaceable parts remain completely compatible and affordable, allowing users to swap modules using just a single screwdriver.

We’re innovating where it matters: By boosting the device to 12GB of DDR5 RAM and the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, the Fairphone (Gen. 6+) gives you a little more oomph and a lot more staying power. That, backed by our industry-leading warranty of up to five years and software support till 2033, truly helps us deliver on Fairphone’s promise as the one that lasts. 

Style that makes a statement

That’s not to say we didn’t give the new Fairphone a distinctive cosmetic flourish of its own. While the exclusive new Cobalt Blue colorway is quite the style statement, it’s a lot more than that. 

The new color pays homage to Fairphone’s origins as a conflict mineral awareness campaign. As our co-founder and head of product, Miquel, pointed out in our AMA session during the launch, the very first mine that Fairphone founder Bas Van Abel visited on a site visit in the DRC was a cobalt mine, bringing back mineral samples to show the team back in Amsterdam. 

It also stands as a testament to our continued commitment to fairly sourced raw materials, honoring our investment in safer working conditions in artisanal mines alongside partners like the Fair Cobalt Alliance. 

It’s not just talk. Even with more power under the hood, the Fairphone (Gen. 6+) is just as fair as its predecessor. It contains 51% fair or recycled materials (by total weight), it’s assembled under fair working conditions, and it maintains 100% e-waste neutrality. Its carbon footprint tag is also relatively low, clocking approximately 30 kg CO₂e over three years of use. That’s roughly half of the average smartphone.

Of course, we’ve designed it to last way beyond three years.

And further too. 

As the Right-to-Repair movement gains historic legislative momentum in North America, we are officially bringing this fair tech philosophy across the Atlantic by launching the Fairphone (Gen. 6+) alongside the Fairbuds and Fairbuds XL in the US.

We’re raising the bar… again.

The tech industry wants consumers to believe that shortages, rising prices, and degraded hardware specs are inevitable. RAMageddon proved that when companies prioritize short-term profit margins, the consumer always pays the price.

At Fairphone, we’ve demonstrated that even in the middle of a global supply crisis, you can deliver premium specs, fair working conditions, and long-lasting design without asking users to compromise.

Whether you need extra multitasking headroom for work or raw power for everyday use, the latest generation of sustainable tech is here.

The Fairphone (Gen. 6+). It’s everything you love about the Fairphone. Plus more.

And I couldn’t be prouder.

Discover it now on our webshop.

* These figures reflect internal laboratory testing using SmartViser diagnostic tools, under conditions designed to approximate real-world use. Actual performance may vary depending on factors such as device configuration, network conditions, and usage patterns.