Decoding Smartphone Repairability: Apple Surpasses Samsung in the Face-Off

The debate over which flagship smartphones offer better repairability has taken an unexpected turn, with iFixit’s latest scores suggesting that Apple's iPhones are more sustainably designed for repairs than those of its arch-rival Samsung. This revelation comes as a surprise to many, given the typical narrative that Apple tightly controls its smartphone parts and repair processes.

Contrary to the common perception, smartphones from Apple, including its flagship iPhones dating back to 2019, have shown better repairability than Samsung's Galaxy S-series. In the context of right-to-repair advocates pushing for greater consumer freedom to fix and modify electronics, these findings carry significant weight.

iFixit, the renowned US-based third-party electronics repair shop, has been a vocal proponent of the right-to-repair movement. By dissecting popular smartphones and assessing their repair manuals, spare parts availability, and design, iFixit’s experts assign repairability scores ranging from zero (least repairable) to ten (most repairable).

While Apple's least repairable smartphones garner a score of 4/10, this is not just comparable but, in some instances, preferable to the best that Samsung’s Galaxy S-series has achieved - also a 4/10. More prominently, Apple's iPhones frequently earn a 6/10, signaling more straightforward repair dynamics. On the other hand, Samsung’s flagship offerings often find themselves capped at 3/10, suggesting more complicated repair prospects.

A repairability score of 5 or above from iFixit is considered “respectable,” whereas a 4 is interpreted as being unnecessarily difficult to manage. In the case of Samsung's Galaxy S-series, the hindrance largely comes from its battery being excessively glued, which demands a significant disassembly effort to replace. Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone 15 series has been lauded for its design that prioritizes screen repairability and provides accessibility to internal components through the back glass.

Despite these repairability advances, there is a caveat with Apple's devices - particularly the iPhone 14 and 15 series - which concerns Apple’s controversial policy of parts pairing. Apple devices are programmed to detect non-genuine parts, leading to warning messages that can be off-putting for users. This policy discovery led iFixit to decrease the repairability scores for the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus from 6 to 4. The scores for the iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max, and the iPhone 15 series remain provisional until the application of this policy is fully assessed.

If supreme repairability is the sole criterion, however, neither Apple nor Samsung wins the crown. The honor goes to the mid-range Fairphone 4, which achieves a perfect repairability score of 10/10 from iFixit. Its design allows for the seamless replacement of major components like battery, display, and USB-C port, using just a screwdriver included within the packaging. While this sustainable marvel is not directly available in South Africa, it sets a precedent that right-to-repair advocates hope will inspire the larger industry.

Repairability isn’t just about being able to fix what’s broken; it's a gateway to sustainability in technology. While Apple and Samsung continue to dominate the market in South Africa, their commitment to repairable design will remain under the scrutiny not just of consumers, but also of movements that campaign for a better technology ecosystem.