iFixit is ending its self-repair partnership with Samsung, just a few months shy of the second anniversary of their partnership. In a recent post, the repair company reports the two entities could not reach an agreement, claiming that “Samsung’s approach to repairability does not align with (their) mission.” iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens explained The edge the collaboration ends on June 17.
On that date, iFixit will no longer be an official “third party parts and tools distributor” for Galaxy devices. However, components and fix kits for Samsung hardware will still be sold – “Buy OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts when available.” iFixit says it will indicate on product listings whether something is an original or an aftermarket part.
The end of the collaboration also brings additional changes. Customers are no longer limited to purchasing seven parts per three-month period, but can now purchase as many as they want at any time. The repair manuals for Galaxy devices will remain on the website, but iFixit will no longer work with Samsung to write them or create internal manuals.
However, community members are invited to share what they know about repairing Galaxy hardware. However, as TheVerge notes, this could mean that manuals become “less detailed as a result.”
High cost
So what happened between them? Well, Kyle Wiens blames Samsung for several reasons. The blog post even calls their behavior “stingy.” Wiens told TheVerge that people simply didn’t buy Galaxy parts because A) they’re expensive and B) Galaxy phones are difficult to repair.
For example, suppose you want to replace the battery of your smartphone. On the iPhone 11 this is very simple: you just buy the battery and associated fix kit for $40, follow the steps provided.
However, Samsung does not do this. Instead, the tech giant glues a Galaxy’s battery to a screen and you can’t take them apart because it’s one solid unit. As a result, it is expensive. – how to replace the battery on a Galaxy S22 requires you to pay almost $170. Then, to complete the repairs, users must download the Self Repair Assistant, an app that isn’t available on the Google Play Store or Samsung’s own Galaxy Store, despite what the manuals claim. We checked.
TheVerge says you should go to the website of Encompass, another self-repair company, and download the APK (Android Package Kit) for the Self Repair Assistant. Installing an APK is not easy, speaking from experience. It is a multi-step process that takes some time.
Moving forward
Wiens further explains that Samsung prevented iFixit from helping local repair shops due to the seven-part limit. Moreover, they couldn’t get official components for new models like the Galaxy S23. All that support went to Encompass.
iFixit tried to engage with Samsung in good faith, but apparently the feeling was not mutual, so the partnership ended. Going forward, the company says it plans to expand its Repair Hubs to introduce support for additional devices and forge new partnerships with third-party vendors.
We’ve reached out to Samsung for comment and will update this story if we hear back. In the meantime, check out Ny Breaking’s list of Pixel phones for 2024 if you’re looking for a repair-friendly mobile device.