The Modular 'Fairphone 2' is available now - Is it any good? Two years after Fairphone launched its debut gadget, the firm is back with an altogether more interesting follow-up. Fairphone’s first handset was released in 2013 , and was intended to be a more equitable device — one which used fairly traded supplies and put a premium on better working conditions for those that assembled the handset. Despite coming from an unknown Dutch startup, 60,000 individuals went on to purchase the handset. Because of the firm’s startup status, Fairphone’s first handset was based on a reference design from its initial manufacturing partner. The design of the Fairphone 2, however, was more under the company’s control, enabling it to bring in a new, modular design.