By keeping its customers happy and saving the planet, Samsung has announced that Galaxy device owners will no longer need to seek third-party help to repair their smartphones or tablets.
So instead, Samsung will provide genuine parts and repair tools, as well as detailed instructions for those interested in trying their hand at fixing a phone or tablet themselves. Furthermore, it’s working with iFixit, a company that has spent years highlighting how unserviceable Samsung products are.
The Galaxy S20 and S21 families of smartphones will be the first to qualify. After removing the display, back glass, and charging port, you can send them back to Samsung for “responsible recycling,” which means that they’ll be disposed of properly. You’ll be able to do more of your own repairs in the future.
Users of tablet computers will also be able to fix their devices. Self-repair support for Samsung’s first tablet, the Galaxy Tab S7+, will be available this summer.
Samsung is taking advantage of this opportunity to remind its customers that it offers same-day repair services, with over 2,000 locations in the continental United States available to fix your mobile devices. There are “We Come To You Vans” that offer “in-person device service within a 30-to 60-minute drive of the base station.” If you’re outside of their service area, Samsung will send you an empty box so that your device can be picked up and sent out for repair.
Apple’s announcement earlier this year that it would begin selling the parts and tools customers needed to repair their iPhones and Macs at home made headlines. Replacement parts for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series, as well as Mac computers with M1 chips, are available through a new program called Self Service Repair.
In light of Samsung’s and Apple’s efforts to make it easier for consumers to fix the products they own, this could be a boon for other manufacturers, especially since Samsung and Apple have the support of DIY watchdogs, iFixit.
Samsung’s press release quoted iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens as saying, “We are excited to be consulting with Samsung to help them develop a solution for DIY parts and repair information.” As the saying goes, “You help the planet every time you fix a device.”
Those who are frustrated by how little control they have over the devices they use on a daily basis will revel in this development. As someone who used to take pride in building computers, I’ve appreciated releases like the Fairphone smartphone and Framework laptop that allow you, the buyer, to swap out and fix parts with support from the first-party that manufactured them.
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