After two years of collaboration, iFixit and Samsung have ended their direct-to-consumer phone repair program. The former is blaming the smartphone maker because its approach to repairability is not aligned anymore with its mission.
Challenges in the Partnership
In an interview with The Verge, iFixit CEO and co-founder Kyle Wiens revealed that the companies failed to renegotiate their contract. This led to the stoppage of the partnership.
Wiens believes Samsung lacks commitment to enabling large-scale repairs, unlike iFixit's successful partnerships with Google, Motorola, and HMD. He states that the high prices of Samsung parts and the difficulty of repairing their phones have deterred customers.
For instance, Samsung ships batteries pre-glued to entire phone screens, costing consumers over $160 for a simple battery replacement, a practice not seen with other vendors. In contrast, iFixit's iPhone and Pixel batteries are priced around $50.
Will iFixit Customers be affected by the Split?
Despite the breakup, Wiens reassures that iFixit customers will not be affected. He says that iFixit will continue to offer aftermarket Samsung parts and repair guides, though, without Samsung's direct involvement, the manuals might be less detailed.
Wiens also mentions that the deal restricted iFixit from helping local repair shops, limiting them to sell no more than seven parts per customer within three months. This restriction hindered iFixit's ability to impact the environment positively by promoting repairs.
What Struggles Did iFixit Experience
iFixit has struggled to obtain official parts for the latest Samsung devices, with the last genuine parts addition being for the Galaxy S22 lineup in 2022. While Samsung included newer models like the S23, Z Flip 5, and Z Fold 5 in its self-repair program, iFixit was excluded, with a different provider, Encompass, taking over.
Future Plans for iFixit
Despite the end of the partnership, iFixit plans to continue supporting Samsung devices. They will stock aftermarket parts and maintain repair guides, albeit potentially less detailed without Samsung's collaboration. Wiens believes iFixit might even sell more Samsung parts independently.
When Will iFixit-Samsung Partnership Officially Ends
The partnership officially ends on June 17th. Wiens does not believe Samsung will violate any right-to-repair laws post-termination.
In California, Samsung must provide repair tools, parts, software, and documentation for seven years, effective from July 1st, 2024, for devices sold after July 1st, 2021.
Transition to Self-Repair Services
Samsung's Self Repair Services page on Encompass already features some official repair guides and mentions a Samsung Self Repair Assistant app, which is not available on Google Play or the Galaxy Store but can be sideloaded in the US via an APK from Encompass's website.
Accusations of 'Repairwashing'
In a blog post titled "We're Ending Our Samsung Collaboration," iFixit stops short of accusing Samsung of "repairwashing" or any malicious compliance.
"We clearly didn't learn our lesson the first time, and let them convince us they were serious about embracing repair. We tried to make this work. Gosh, we tried. But with such divergent priorities, we're no longer able to proceed."
The end of this partnership highlights the challenges in the right-to-repair movement, particularly with companies that prioritize control over accessibility. However, iFixit remains committed to empowering consumers to repair their devices, continuing its mission independently.
Outside smartphone repair, iFixit collaborated with Logitech to bring DIY repairs for computer mice.
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