I tried the Fairphone 6+ and - hoo boy!

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.With fewer consumers constantly riding the upgrade train, sustainability has begun to gain a foothold in the phone sector. At the same time, skyrocketing RAM prices have directly affected phone prices. With flagship models from brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google often exceeding $1,000, and more and more people struggling to make ends meet, the idea of owning a phone that could outlast the current crop of pricier offerings makes perfect sense. Ergo… Fairphone.Also: Why I recommend this budget Android phone to most people over Samsung and GoogleSince 2013, the Dutch electronics manufacturer has been producing smartphones and headphones designed to minimize the usual ethical and environmental costs of new tech gear by using recycled, fair-trade, and conflict-free materials and maintaining fair labor conditions across its workforce. This ethos has caught on in other countries, but the US market has been hard to tap. However, with the , that all changes. Not only is the company directly shipping its latest device to the US (unlocked and compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile), but the device in question -- the Fairphone 6+ -- is also actually quite good.Also: I tried the viral Fairphone 6, and it's one feature away from replacing my PixelI previously reviewed the Fairphone 6, and found it to be one feature away from replacing my Pixel 9 Pro. When I unboxed and set up the Fairphone 6+, I seriously thought, "Hoo boy, this might be the one."The device in handLike the Fairphone 6, the 6+ is light -- considerably lighter than my Pixel 9 Pro. It also feels really good in hand; the edges are smooth, the material is grippy, and the size is just right. This is truly the Goldilocks of Android phones.It's almost hard to describe, but the Fairphone 6+ feels better in hand than most Android phones I've used. It could be a combination of the weight, the material's smoothness, and the button placement (the volume buttons are positioned lower on the side than usual).Also: My top 6 open-source Android apps from the Google Play Store - and why that's importantAs with the Fairphone 6, there's also the "Essential" switch, a physical switch that lets you switch to a simpler UI with a limited number of launchers and nothing else. You can create multiple Essentials with access only to apps related to a specific task or feeling. You might want to create a multimedia Essentials that lets you easily launch Spotify and YouTube. Or maybe you want an Essentials for napping or sleeping, which could include the Clock app and an ambient sound app.The Essentials switch is easily accessed (as is everything) with one hand.The performanceThis is where the Fairphone 6+ really surprised me. When I reviewed the Fairphone 6, it very much felt like a midrange device, unable to match the performance of any flagship I've tested. The Fairphone 6+, on the other hand, performed quite well, with apps opening and running quickly and without issue.Also: How to turn on Private DNS Mode on Android - and why it's a must for securityThe display defaults to a 90 Hz refresh rate, which isn't as smooth as my Pixel 9 Pro's, but when I bumped it to 120 Hz, it felt more responsive. The downside of the 120 Hz refresh rate is the hit it takes on battery life. If you want longer battery life, keep the default setting (or, even better, knock it down to 60 Hz). Personally, I prefer the silkier motion of the 120 Hz refresh rate.Speaking of the display, the 6.3-inch OLED is vibrant and easily viewable in any light.I did run Geekbench 7 on both the Fairphone 6+ and my Pixel 9 Pro for comparison.My Pixel 9 Pro scored:Single-core - 1695Multi-core - 4379The Fairphone 6+ scored:Single-core - 1124Multi-core - 3519 OK, the Fairphone 6+'s benchmarks were not nearly as good as the Pixel 9 Pro's, but given the cost of the two devices (the Pixel 9 Pro launched at $999 and the Fairphone 6+ sells for $649), the fact that the Pixel beat the Fairphone 6+ should be no surprise. At the same time, the Fairphone 6+ has only 12 GB of RAM, whereas the Pixel 9 Pro has 16 GB. And the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 CPU might not be a Google Tensor chip, but it serves the device well.Also: How to turn on repair mode on your Android phone - and why it's critical to do soEither way, the Fairphone 6+ fares well in the performance category.The ethics of it allWhere the Fairphone really shines is in its environmental and ethical impact. Unlike nearly all other phones produced today, the Fairphone is consumer-repairable. There are 11 affordable spare parts you can easily swap out, using nothing more than the included Torx screwdriver, including:BatteryDisplayMain cameraUltra-wide cameraSelfie cameraTop unitEarpieceUSB-C portTop back coverBottom back coverSim trayTry that with your current phone.You see, the idea is that you buy one phone and you keep it for as long as you need, repairing it when necessary. No other device on the market can compete with that.ZDNET's buying adviceThis is simple: If you're on a budget -- and who isn't these days? -- and are looking for a phone that'll last you for years, the Fairphone 6+ is the ideal candidate. It performs well, feels great, is easy to repair, and costs far less than many comparable devices on the market.Also: How long should you keep your phone for? I did the math - it's likely not what you thinkThis could be the last phone you buy for years to come, and it costs less than $650. On top of that, the replacement parts are well-priced. For example, a replacement battery is only $39.95!The specsProcessor - Snapdragon 7s Gen 4RAM- 12 GBStorage - 256 GBExpandable storage - microSD (up to 2 TB)Operating system - Android 16Display - LTPO OLED, 6.31 inches, 1116 x 2484 pixels, refresh rate - 60-120 HzCameras - 50 MP main camera, 13 MP ultra-wide, 32 MP selfieVideo recording - 4K at 30fpsBattery and charging - Capacity: 4415 mAh, 30W fast chargingWater resistance - IP55Modular design - YesWarranty...