08:51Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Apple and Samsung Receive the Lowest Scores for Smartphone Repairability
The U.S.-based U.S. PIRG Education Fund has released its “2026 Failing the Fix” report evaluating the repairability of smartphones and laptops. According to the results, Apple and Samsung were among the manufacturers receiving the lowest scores in the smartphone category. Apple ranked last for laptops.
Smartphone evaluations used data from the European Union’s EPREL system. Criteria included how easy the device is to disassemble, the availability of spare parts and repair tools, software support, and repair documentation.
Motorola ranked first in the smartphone category with a B+ grade. Google received a C-, Samsung a D, and Apple a D-. As a result, Apple ranked last and Samsung second to last.
Asus achieved the highest result among laptops, with a B+ grade. Acer received a B; HP, Dell, Samsung, and Microsoft received a B-; Lenovo received a C; and Apple received a C-. Compared with 2025, HP improved its grade from C to B–, while Lenovo improved from F to C. Acer and Asus each dropped by one grade.
The main reasons cited for Apple’s and Samsung’s low results include the difficulty of disassembling their devices, the extensive use of adhesives, and the software-level pairing of certain components with specific devices. Apple’s restrictions on the use of some third-party spare parts and limitations related to replacing Face ID components also affected the final score.
The report also notes that linking Activation Lock to certain components makes it difficult to use functional parts to repair other devices.
Nevertheless, Apple has made certain changes in recent years to improve the repairability of its devices. Repair Assistant, introduced with the iPhone 16 series and iOS 18, allows used genuine Apple components to be calibrated and reused in another device. The newer iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models also feature innovations such as electrically removable adhesive, standardized screws, and access to spare parts and repair documentation.
Samsung also launched a program in 2022 allowing users to repair their devices themselves and expanded access to spare parts and service options in subsequent years. PIRG lists the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy S25 Ultra among the Galaxy devices that have become easier to repair in recent years.
The report also emphasizes that a device being physically repairable is not enough to ensure its long-term use. The discontinuation of software and security updates can limit the useful life of devices that are still technically functional. For this reason, the EPREL assessment also considers the length of software support provided by the manufacturer.