- iFixit ends Samsung partnership over high repair costs.
- From June 2024, iFixit stops supplying official Samsung parts.
- iFixit expands Repair Hub program, boosts global parts access.
By doing so, for two years, iFixit partnered with Samsung to make repairing Galaxy devices easier. However, this collaboration has ended. It stated that it has recently decided to unfollow the Korean company due to many issues that continue to make it difficult to establish a truly open repair model.
iFixit Throws in the Towel on Samsung Self-Repair Program
Several problems affected iFixit’s work. To begin with, the expensive nature of spare parts available in the market made it even cheaper for the consumer to replace the entire device rather than repair it.
Furthermore, Samsung’s design was very much dependent on glue, making repairs more challenging and incorporating pre-assembled parts which were costly. These struggles, compounded by what iFixit described as Samsung’s lack of investment in repair efforts, eventually caused the partnership to end.
Starting from June 2024, iFixit will not be the official supplier of Samsung parts as it was up to this date. It also means no more worrying about the 7 Samsung parts per quarter rules, but it also means no more official relations.
Still, iFixit says it will maintain launched Galaxy device repair guides on its website. While new guides will no longer be created in collaboration with Samsung, iFixit asks the community to share their repair experience. They will also continue packaging and selling Samsung parts and accessories, but they will label them as OEM or aftermarket items.
Nonetheless, iFixit remains committed to the fight for the right to repair. They are to continue the ‘Repair Hub’ program with existing partners this summer to support more devices. Their goals are to expand stock distribution to more countries so that mobile repairs are for everyone. It will also launch new repairability rating tools to assist people in selecting products that are easier to repair.
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To mobilize repair content, iFixit will work with third-party service providers and vastly increase the offering of parts. This year only they have over 10,000 parts for different devices from household appliances to video game consoles.
Through calling for right-to-repair laws and partnering with regulators, the company aims to make the repair market more balanced and transparent for all consumers. It signals a new era in their continuing battle against manufacturers that stifle consumer choices and limit access to affordable, independent repair services.
