Background information
I tried to fix a smartphone so you wouldn't need it
by Jan Johannsen
Instructions and spare parts: Samsung and iFixit launch repair program
1.4.2022
Translation: machine translated
You will soon be able to repair your Galaxy smartphone yourself. Samsung and iFixit have announced a repair program that will provide you with instructions, replacement parts and the necessary tools.
The launch is planned for summer 2022. It will start with two smartphone series and a tablet - but you won't be able to replace every component yourself.
Instructions for laymen
Instructions and replacement parts for the models of the Galaxy S20 and S21 series as well as the Galaxy Tab S7 will be available at launch. Samsung announced to The Verge that it wants to include more devices in the program. The new Galaxy S22 is likely to be on the list and hopefully also the mid-range models of the A-series, which are selling well...
But it's not enough to just offer replacement parts, the manuals also need to be written and illustrated. Kyle Wiens, the CEO of iFixit, told The Verge that the manuals for the Galaxy S20 series are already ready. Those for the S21 series and the Tab S7 Plus would still be worked on. The display swap for the Galaxy S20 Plus, for example, starts with 36 steps just for removing the old screen.
However, you will only be able to replace selected parts in the repair program. For starters, displays, backs, and charging ports are among the list of replacement parts. The battery, on the other hand, is so firmly installed that it cannot be replaced by laymen. I can confirm this from my own experience. Even with the tools of a professional workshop, the many stuck components are a challenge:
After a successful repair, you can send the broken components back to Samsung for recycling.
Samsung has not yet revealed what the replacement parts and tools will cost. So, it remains unclear until the summer what you can save compared to a repair in a workshop.
Next step towards sustainability
The repair program with iFixit is Samsung's next step on the way to its self-set sustainability goals. It joins the Galaxy Upcycling Program and the extended time periods for software support.
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.
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