Looking to buy European phones? Compare the best models 🇪🇺

The sustainability leader: Fairphone (Netherlands)

Are you looking for a phone that lasts as long as you do? Then the Dutch Fairphone is the undisputed king. While other brands push you toward a new device after two years, Fairphone is designed to last.

With the latest generation, you’re getting a modular marvel. Cracked screen? Weak battery? You can easily snap in a new part without any tools or technical knowledge.

Why choose Fairphone?

• Modular design: Fix it yourself in minutes.
• Software support: Up to 8 years of updates—longer than any major manufacturer (Samsung and Google promise 7 years).
• Fair materials: Conflict-free raw materials and fair wages throughout the supply chain.

Design & innovation: Nothing & HMD

Want a European phone, but don’t want to compromise on “cool factor” or specs? Then Nothing (United Kingdom) and HMD (Finland) are your go-to brands.

Nothing: tech with a unique identity

Nothing, based in London, breaks through the boring uniformity of the smartphone market. Think transparent designs and the unique Glyph lighting on the back. It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a high-end Android experience designed in Europe.

HMD: Finnish reliability, now under its own name

HMD manufactured Nokia phones for years, but that chapter is all but over: Nokia smartphones are no longer in production, and the license expires in early 2026. HMD now sells its smartphones under its own name, with the same focus on repairability and “digital detox.” You’ll only see the Nokia name on basic cell phones now: for those who really want to go offline for a while, you’ll find them among the dumbphones.

Privacy & de-Google: take control of your own data

An important reason to buy European is privacy (GDPR). Many European brands run on a “clean” version of Android, without unnecessary bloatware from Asia. Want to take it a step further? Then look for devices compatible with or Murena. This allows you to largely cut ties with Google while still using your favorite apps.

Reality check: vote with your wallet

Let’s be honest: a 100% European phone doesn’t exist (yet). Chips and screens almost always come from Asia. But where do the profits go? With these brands, they stay in Europe. Incidentally, the GDPR applies to every manufacturer that sells here, including American and Chinese ones; the difference lies in software that collects less data by default and in where the profits and jobs end up. So you’re not just buying a phone—you’re investing in a fairer industry.

Other European players

• 🇦🇹 emporia
• 🇩🇪 Gigaset
• 🇳🇱 Senifone

Do you notice Alcatel is missing from this list? That’s intentional. The brand name sounds French, but Alcatel phones have been manufactured and sold by the Chinese company TCL since 2005. So, while it has European heritage, it’s not a European phone.

Make your phone truly European

Hardware is step one. Software is the second step. Replace these American services with European, privacy-friendly alternatives:

It might seem like a big step, but in practice, it’s not that difficult. You don’t have to switch everything over all at once. Simply start by replacing your browser or chat app. Every app you replace is another piece of personal data that stays safe in Europe instead of on a server in California.