All articles tagged with #smartphone repairs
Samsung's promise of seven years of software updates for its Galaxy S24 series is undermined by high repair costs and restrictive repair policies, following the end of its partnership with iFixit. This contradiction between long-term software support and expensive, difficult hardware repairs raises concerns about the company's commitment to right-to-repair and eco-friendly practices.
Google is developing a "repair mode" feature for stock Android, which will allow users to send their devices in for repairs without their personal data being accessible to technicians. In repair mode, technicians can check the phone's system functionality for diagnostics, but personal apps and data will remain inaccessible. The feature uses a combination of the original system image and a new user data image, simulating a fresh instance of the OS. Entering and exiting repair mode requires the user's lockscreen password, ensuring data privacy even after reboots. This feature will be available on future Android releases, making smartphone repairs less stressful for users.
A scientific drop test conducted by Allstate Protection Plans compared the durability of the iPhone 15 Pro Max with other premium phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, and Google Pixel Fold. All four devices survived a dunk test but experienced varying degrees of damage during drop tests. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra shattered on their first front screen-down drops, while the Fold5 and Pixel Fold survived with minor damage. The back-down drop tests resulted in shattering for the Pro Max and S23 Ultra, while the Fold5 and Pixel Fold had shattered outer screens. The study highlights the misconception among Americans about the cost of smartphone repairs, with 93 million Americans spending $17.4 billion on repairs and replacements in the last year.