Why is Repairing My Broken Phone So Expensive

    To put it simply it's the way they're designed and how tightly packed a lot of the electronics are. It's a lot cheaper and quicker for a manufacturer to use adhesives over screws during manufacturing.  A quick glob of glue is a lot simpler machine than one that has to put several screws in. But I argue some manufactures have taken things a bit too far. If this blog isn't catching your attention, please just watch the first few minutes of the video link blow.

    Like many of us, we've dropped our phones a time or two and have had to reach down in hesitant anxiety to pick our phone up. There very few moments in life the provide such a quick emotional roller-coaster when you pick up that phone and you're flooded with relief because the screen didn't crack. But then there's been that one time where it just wasn't your day and your screen did crack. So you went to go see what it would cost to get it fixed. I own an iPhone XR and currently a screen is $50-$60. But for apple to fix your phone, its $200. I also broke my back glass on my phone and I'd need a new battery because my phone has aged. So in total my phone would be over $400 to get my phone repaired but a brand new iPhone XR is $360. Small repair shops are able to fix the phone for cheaper but not much. Repair shops have to buy special equipment to reprogram new screens and even laser etching machines to burn the paint off the back of the phone to remove the back glass. None of which comes from apple, its things people have had to figure out. 

 

    Apple has been lobbying against the right for individuals to have information to the means to repair your own devices. They have stated that they want only apple stores to be the ones to repair your phones because its "unsafe" for anyone else to repair phones. I believe that is taking things a bit too far. I'd be more willing to buy a more expensive phone that was repairable and upgradable. And that's not a pipe dream. There's been several start up companies that have tried but can't get anywhere because they just can't get the notice of consumers. Fairphone is one company that makes phones in the UK that are fully repairable and upgradable. They also make a lot of their phone from recycled plastics. In the laptop world, there's Framework. Framework makes laptops that are fully upgradable and repairable laptops. When you open you laptop, there is actually QR links to videos and tutorials on how to repair/fix/upgrade components.  

What is "Right to Repair?"

Apple and John Deere are both lobbying against right to repair because they believe its it would be unsafe giving customers the right to repair their own devices.