Samsung and Apple Smartphones are the Worst to Repair; Macs Aren't Much Better
The topic of reparability is once again at the center of the technological debate with the publication of the report Failing the Fix 2026 from the PIRG Education Fund, which analyzes smartphones and laptops using increasingly stringent criteria. The results highlight a clear contradiction: the leading brands in global sales are among the least virtuous when it comes to ease of repair.
According to the study, which references European EPREL parameters, in the smartphone sector, Samsung and Apple occupy the bottom positions in the reparability ranking. Samsung devices score a D, while Apple fares even worse with a D-, just above the minimum level.
This data is significant considering that the analysis covers 105 smartphone models and evaluates concrete aspects such as availability of spare parts, access to tools, technical documentation, software support, and the complexity of repair operations, including battery replacement.
At the opposite end is Motorola, scoring a B+, distinguishing itself as the manufacturer with the most easily repairable devices. Google ranks in the middle with a C-, still surpassing Samsung.
As previously mentioned, the study also extends to the laptop sector using the French reparability index as a reference. In this segment, the average scores are higher than those for smartphones, but significant differences between manufacturers still emerge. Apple again ends up at the bottom among major brands, with a score of C-, primarily penalized by the difficulty of disassembling MacBooks and the poor accessibility of internal components, most of which are soldered. Samsung ranks higher with a B-, while ASUS leads the ranking with a B+, followed by Acer with a B.
Lenovo shows a notable improvement: the jump from F to C indicates tangible progress in the ThinkPad, Yoga, and Legion lines, thanks to greater transparency regarding reparability data.
The rating system considers several key factors: availability and cost of spare parts, technical documentation, software updates, and tool requirements necessary for device intervention. A central element remains the design, which must facilitate disassembly and access to components.
In the European context, new regulations coming into force on June 20, 2025, impose reparability labels, increased availability of spare parts, and longer software support. The report highlights how these measures can directly influence manufacturers' design choices.
Naturally, the analysis underscores the impact that different products or, more generally, manufacturers have on the increase of so-called e-waste, or electronic waste. It is clear that the less repairable the product is, the more easily it will be discarded in favor of a new product.
In the case of Europe, efforts continue in this area: in addition to labels and a guaranteed longer durability of devices, the EU has also mandated the requirement for user-removable batteries starting in 2027, which will at least allow consumers to address one of the main reasons for "premature aging," namely battery degradation.