The right to repair movement argues that you should be able to fix devices you own. This was not controversial until manufacturers decided that if you cannot fix a device, you have to replace it.
Recent legislation in the EU and some parts of North America is forcing manufacturers to enable repair. This is changing what devices you can realistically keep and maintain.
What right to repair actually means
The right to repair means:
- Spare parts are available for purchase
- Repair manuals and schematics are published
- Devices are not locked with software that prevents third-party repair
- The manufacturer will provide parts to independent repair shops
This seems obvious until you realise how many devices violate all of these.
What changed
For decades, manufacturers could make repairs impossible and there was little recourse. A phone’s screen could be glued on and soldered in, making replacement difficult. A laptop’s components could be proprietary and unavailable. A device could have a locked BIOS that prevented third-party components from working.
The response was that companies could not be sued or regulated for making devices unrepairable. Right to repair legislation changed this. Manufacturers must now enable repair, or face fines.
How it affects you
If you buy a device now, you can expect:
Phones and laptops. EU regulations now require spare parts availability for five to seven years after sale. You can get batteries, screens, and components. Repair shops can provide service. This is new and has dramatically improved the timeline for device repairability.
Appliances. Right to repair regulations now cover washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, and TVs. Spare parts must be available.
Tractors. John Deere fought hard against repair regulations, claiming that farmers could not be trusted to fix their own equipment. Legislation is now opening up repair and diagnostics.
Game consoles and other devices. Slowly being covered by regulations, though it varies by jurisdiction.
The trend is clear: devices sold in regulated jurisdictions must be repairable.
Checking repairability before buying
Ask about spare parts. Will the manufacturer sell you a battery, screen, or other common failure components? If yes, it is repairable. If no, or if they dodge the question, assume it is not.
Check iFixit. iFixit publishes repairability scores for many devices. A score of 8+ means you can actually fix it. A score of 4 or below means repairs are difficult or impossible.
Check the warranty. A device with a long warranty (more than one year) is usually repairable. A device with a one-year warranty that the company tries to force you to extend is usually not.
Check if the company opposes right to repair. Companies that fight against repair regulations are usually making unrepairable devices. Apple, John Deere, and others have fought hard against repair. This is not random.
The financial impact
A repairable phone with a battery replacement at two years costs less than a unrepairable phone replaced every three years. The cost difference is hundreds of pounds over the device’s lifespan.
More importantly, a repairable device can last five years or longer. An unrepairable device is obsolete when the battery degrades.
The brands doing it right
Framework. A laptop company that sells spare parts and publishes repair manuals. You can replace the keyboard, screen, battery, storage, and RAM. The company actively supports repairability.
Fairphone. A phone designed for repairability. Modular components, available spare parts, no proprietary locks. More expensive than mainstream phones but lasts longer.
Some gaming consoles. Nintendo and others are slowly opening repair through spare parts and diagnostics.
Most appliance brands. Washing machines, refrigerators, and similar now have spare parts available due to regulations.
Older phones and laptops. Often more repairable than new ones because they were designed before regulations were relaxed.
What has not changed
Expensive devices that are newer than the regulations often are still hard to repair. Regulations take time to enforce and companies test the boundaries.
Software locks are the new frontier. A device can be mechanically repairable but software-locked against third-party parts. This is being tackled but is not fully resolved.
Premium and luxury brands often resist repair in ways budget brands don’t. If you buy a device from a company with a history of fighting repair, expect difficulties.
The realistic outlook
Within five to ten years, nearly all consumer devices will be designed for repairability because that will be the legal requirement in major markets. Manufacturers will adapt.
For now, if you care about longevity, choose brands that support repair and check repairability ratings before buying.
A device you can fix is a device you can keep. In a world of planned obsolescence, that is a rare advantage.