iFixit, a popular repair company, has announced that it is ending its collaboration with Samsung. This comes just a few months before their partnership’s second anniversary. According to iFixit, the two entities couldn’t see eye-to-eye, with Samsung’s approach towards repairability not aligning with iFixit’s mission.
The collaboration officially ends on June 17th, at which point iFixit will no longer be an official distributor of third-party parts and tools for Galaxy devices. However, they will still sell components and fix kits for Samsung hardware, sourcing OEM parts when available. The company will also indicate whether a component is an original or aftermarket part on product listings.
In addition to ending the partnership, iFixit is making some other changes. Customers will no longer be limited to purchasing seven parts per three-month period and can now buy as much as they want at any given time. The repair manuals for Galaxy devices will remain on the website, but iFixit will no longer work with Samsung to write them or make in-house guides. Instead, community members will be invited to share their knowledge about repairing Galaxy hardware. However, this could mean that the manuals become less detailed as a result.
The end of the collaboration between iFixit and Samsung seems to be due to a variety of reasons. iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens blames Samsung for their behavior, referring to it as “miserly” in their blog post. Wiens explains that people weren’t buying Galaxy parts because they are expensive, and Galaxy phones are difficult to fix.
For example, replacing a smartphone battery on the iPhone 11 is easy. You can simply buy the battery and the accompanying fix kit for $40. However, Samsung glues the battery to the display of their Galaxy devices, making it expensive and difficult to replace. Replacing the battery on a Galaxy S22 can cost almost $170. Additionally, users are required to download the Self Repair Assistant, but this app is not available on the Google Play Store or Samsung’s Galaxy Store as claimed in the manuals. Instead, users have to visit Encompass’ website and download the APK for the Self Repair Assistant, which is a complicated and time-consuming process.
Wiens further explains that Samsung prevented iFixit from helping local repair shops due to the seven-part limit. They also couldn’t obtain official components for new models like the Galaxy S23, as all the support went towards Encompass. Despite iFixit’s attempts to engage with Samsung in good faith, the partnership ended because the feeling wasn’t mutual.
Looking ahead, iFixit plans to expand its Repair Hubs to provide support for additional devices and enter new collaborations with third-party providers. This will allow them to continue their mission of providing repair services and solutions to consumers.
It is important to note that this information is based on the current available information and may be subject to change. We have reached out to Samsung for comment on the matter and will update this story if we receive a response. In the meantime, for those looking for a repair-friendly mobile device, TechRadar has compiled a list of the Pixel phones for 2024.
In conclusion, iFixit is ending its self-repair collaboration with Samsung due to differences in their approach towards repairability. The partnership ends on June 17th, but iFixit will continue to sell components and fix kits for Samsung hardware. The company plans to expand its Repair Hubs and enter new collaborations with third-party providers to support additional devices.
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