Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR
- There will be a Samsung self-repair service launching this year in collaboration with iFixit.
- You’ll be able to order genuine Samsung parts for phones/tablets and then make the repairs yourself.
- There is no name for the service yet, nor is there a planned launch date.
Update, March 31, 2022 (02:00 PM ET): According to Kyle Wiens — CEO of iFixit — Samsung’s display assemblies within self-repair kits will include batteries. This means that, even though Samsung doesn’t mention it in its press release, battery repairs will definitely be a part of the new program.
The original unedited article continues below.
Original article, March 31, 2022 (12:00 PM ET): If your smartphone stops working correctly, your repair options are usually limited. You can take it to a third-party service center, but that will usually take a long time, cost a lot of money, or both. You can get a genuine repair through the OEM, but that usually involves mailing your phone somewhere, which leaves you without one for the time being.
For a long time, right-to-repair enthusiasts have clamored for an alternative solution: fixing it yourself. Now, through a new Samsung self-repair service, Samsung fans will be able to do just that.
See also: The best Samsung phones you can get
The South Korean electronics giant is partnering with iFixit to make this service a reality. Through the service (which doesn’t have a branded name yet), you’ll be able to order genuine Samsung parts to repair your phone or tablet. Those parts will come with an empty box so you can ship back the broken parts to Samsung. The company will then recycle them properly.
At launch, the Samsung self-repair service will offer parts for the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus devices. So far, Samsung is only committing to a vague launch timeframe of Summer 2022.
How will the Samsung self-repair service work?
Samsung is being quite vague on the details of this program right now. For starters, it’s not clear if you’ll go to Samsung, iFixit, or either one for your repair needs. It’s also unknown how much this system will cost.
Samsung did let us know some examples of what you’d be able to buy for your repairs. They include:
- Display assemblies
- Back glass
- Charging ports
Conspicuously, batteries aren’t included on the list. However, since this is probably the second-most-common repair needed for smartphones (just behind display glass), we can only assume it would eventually be available through the Samsung self-repair service.
Obviously, we can’t ignore that this Samsung self-repair program sounds very similar to Apple’s self-repair program that was launched last year. Apple has yet to roll out that program, so we can’t compare it to what Samsung is describing, but they do sound like they are about the same.
Regardless, this is all terrific news for right-to-repair supporters as it will allow them to keep their phones working for longer periods of time.
