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The only smartphone manufacturer with a 10/10 iFixit repairability score is finally bringing its products to the US, but it isn’t starting with its phones. Netherlands-based Fairphone announced this week that it will mark its expansion into the US with the Fairbuds XL, its repairable over-ear headphones. It’ll be available on Amazon later this month.
Fairphone says it achieved 61 percent revenue growth in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, though this is likely attributed to the launch of The Fairphone (Gen 6)—the company doesn’t release a new phone every year. It sold more than 100,000 units in 2024, including phones and audio products.
Right-to-repair laws have been cropping up all over the US, and Fairphone smartphones are the easiest to repair. The company provides a screwdriver, sells spare parts for years, and offers long-term software support. Its devices may not be the flashiest or the most powerful, but they are a more sustainable solution, also ensuring fair mining practices and wages for workers in its supply chain.
Bringing its smartphone over to the US is a little more complicated than headphones, as it requires carrier certifications, but Fairphone tells WIRED it’s in “advanced discussions” with select retailers and carriers.
WhatsApp Arrives on the Apple Watch
Courtesy of Meta
Meta seems to be on a quest to finally bring its apps to other platforms. A few months ago, it launched an Instagram app for the iPad; now we’re getting WhatsApp on the Apple Watch. Rather than just mirroring your notifications and sending basic replies, now you can read full messages on the Apple Watch, record and send voice messages, see who’s calling, send emoji reactions to messages, and see more of the chat history on the screen.
It syncs with your iPhone, so you don’t need to set it up as a companion device. You can’t take calls on the watch itself or even answer them; you can see who is calling and decline. It also doesn’t seem as though you can add the WhatsApp app as a complication.
Motorola’s Cheapest Phone Now Has 5G
It’s a little earlier than usual, but Motorola’s latest budget phones are here: the Moto G 2026 and Moto G Play 2026. They share a similar look and aren’t too different from the design language Motorola has employed on its 2025 Moto G devices. What’s most notable is that the Moto G Play will have 5G support, making it one of the cheapest handsets with 5G at $170.
Both phones have 6.7-inch 120-Hz LCD screens, big 5,200-mAh batteries, and IP52 water resistance. They’re powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 6300 processor with 4 GB of RAM, but they differ in storage size, with the Moto G offering 128 GB of internal storage and the Play with 64 GB (both are expandable with a microSD). Cameras are the other place where the two phones diverge, with a 50-MP main sensor on the Moto G and a 32-MP sensor on the Play. Yes, they still have headphone jacks.
Motorola says the Moto G Play will arrive first on November 13 at Motorola, Best Buy, and Amazon for $170, and the $200 Moto G launches on December 11 at Motorola’s website first, then at Best Buy and Amazon on January 15.
Canon’s R6 III Goes More Pro
Courtesy of Canon
Canon has announced its much-anticipated new EOS R6 Mark III full-frame mirrorless camera. The R6 III features a new 32.5-megapixel sensor (the same sensor in the EOS C50 cinema camera), as well as the company’s latest Digic X processor.
The new technology means the R6 now shares more than a few features with Canon’s more expensive R5 and R1 professional-level cameras, most notably perhaps the autofocus system of the R5, a significant step up from what was available in the R6 II.
The body of the R6 III is not hugely different than its predecessor. The 3.69-million-dot EVF and 3-inch articulating touchscreen are unchanged, though the R6 III uses Canon’s newer, larger battery and adds a CFexpress Type B card slot. The CFexpress Type B helps with some of the impressive photo and video specs, including the ability to capture full-resolution RAW images—with autofocus—at up to 40 frames per second (12 fps if you use a purely mechanical shutter).
The video specs rival Canon’s dedicated cinema cameras. The R6 III can shoot oversampled 4Kp60, 7K RAW, 7K Open Gate, and Canon Log 2 video. There’s also support for features like waveform monitoring, and focus acceleration and deceleration (similar to the EOS Cinema C80).
The Canon EOS R6 Mark III will be available later in November for $2,799 (body only). There are a couple of kit options as well, including one with the RF 24-105mm f/4L for $4,049. You can preorder it today at B&H Photo. —Scott Gilbertson
Teenage Engineering’s Caribbean Recording Kit
Courtesy of Teenage Engineering
Fans of dancehall and reggae music (or Jamaican beats in general) will adore Teenage Engineer’s latest sample and mic, designed to help you make some extremely island-y jams. The European audio brand is famous for making gorgeous-sounding and beautifully designed musical instruments and recording equipment for the jet-setting class.
The Riddim n’ Ting are meant to be “a complete rhythm and bass system” loaded with 200 instruments and loops over drums, bass, keys, and an FX loop. There are even preloaded samples from folks like King Jammy and Mad Professor, which should get you off to a quick start.
The EP-40 Riddim is based on the familiar EP-133 K.O. II sampler, so folks who know and like that tool will find an easy transition to this one. The EP-2350 Ting microphone comes with built-in effects, like echo, reverb, and pitch shifting. They are available together for $329 but will be sold separately later. —Parker Hall
