Groups campaigning for electronics manufacturers to make it easier for people to repair their own devices scored a surprise victory when Apple promised to sell parts and tools for fixing iPhones
Apple made a surprise announcement in November that it would begin selling parts and tools so people could repair their own iPhones, and eventually other devices, assuming they have the know-how, rather than having to take them to a shop. The move was applauded by “Right to Repair” campaigners, who want all devices to be similarly easy to service – but electronics manufacturers still have a long way to go.
Manufacturers, including Apple, are still introducing new features that appear intended only to make repairs more difficult, saysat iFixit, a company that sells spare parts and offers free how-to guides. Components that are glued together or require proprietary tools to remove are common and can often be overcome using third-party kits from such services, but a growing trend is for companies to add software-coded serial numbers to components, which alert the device to any unauthorised repairs.
“The difference between smartphones from one year to the next is not big,” says Ballester. “A part of the market is realising that, that they can keep their devices a little longer.”
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