In 2022, Samsung partnered with iFixit to sell genuine repair parts directly to consumers. However, in 2024, Samsung ended the partnership after iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens publicly criticized Samsung's parts pairing software locks, which prevented third-party repairs even with genuine parts. iFixit chose transparency over the business relationship.
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In 2024, Apple announced a new process enabling customers and independent repair providers to use used genuine Apple parts in iPhone repairs. The company said the process maintains privacy, security, and safety while offering more repair options, increasing product longevity, and minimizing environmental impact. This represented a significant shift from Apple's previous stance requiring only new OEM parts.
In February 2024, Apple's principal secure repair architect John Perry testified against Oregon's right-to-repair bill SB 1596, opposing provisions that would restrict parts pairing. This came just six months after Apple publicly endorsed California's SB 244, a weaker bill Apple was already compliant with. Google publicly supported the same Oregon bill Apple opposed. Security experts rebutted Apple's claims that parts pairing was necessary for device security.
The FSF's Defective by Design campaign continued its longstanding fight against Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) through annual International Day Against DRM events from 2020-2023, targeting streaming services (2020), Disney+ (2021), digital sharing restrictions (2022), and DRM in public libraries via OverDrive and Follett Destiny (2023). The FSF also successfully pushed for new DMCA anticircumvention exemptions in 2021, helping secure legal protections for users who need to bypass DRM for ethical and legitimate purposes. The campaign frames DRM as a threat to innovation, privacy, and user freedom.
iFixit has been the leading corporate advocate for right-to-repair legislation in the United States, providing testimony, technical analysis, and public education. By 2023, right-to-repair bills had been introduced in all 50 states, with laws passed in California, Minnesota, New York, Colorado, and Oregon, largely due to iFixit's sustained advocacy efforts.
The Fairphone 5, launched in 2023, earned a perfect 10/10 repairability score from iFixit. The device features a fully modular design with user-replaceable battery, screen, camera, speaker, and USB-C port. Fairphone committed to 8 years of software updates and 10 years of spare parts availability, the longest support commitment in the smartphone industry.
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In August 2023, Apple backed California's SB 244 right-to-repair bill, marking a major policy shift from its previous opposition. Apple stated it would support the bill 'so long as it continues to provide protections for customers and innovators,' citing requirements that protect user safety, security, and manufacturer intellectual property. This represented the first time Apple publicly supported state-level right-to-repair legislation.
In 2023, iFixit filed a formal petition with the Federal Trade Commission urging the agency to investigate and take enforcement action against manufacturers who use software locks, parts pairing, and other technical barriers to prevent independent repair. The petition was supported by extensive technical documentation.
Framework Computer published comprehensive hardware documentation including mainboard schematics, electrical reference designs, and 3D CAD files under open-source licenses. This enabled community development of custom modules and repair guides, and established a new standard for hardware transparency in the laptop industry.
iFixit built and maintains a free, open wiki-style platform containing over 100,000 step-by-step repair guides covering more than 30,000 devices. The platform empowers consumers to repair their own electronics, reducing e-waste and extending device lifetimes. All content is licensed under Creative Commons.
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In November 2021, Apple announced its Self Service Repair program, launching in April 2022 for iPhone 12/13 and M1 Macs. The program made genuine Apple parts, repair manuals, and tools available to consumers for the first time. However, repair advocates noted limitations: tools arrived in two massive 35.8kg pelican cases, parts pairing still restricted many repairs, and analysts assessed the program as a preemptive measure to get ahead of right-to-repair legislation rather than a genuine philosophical shift.
Samsung partnered with iFixit in 2022 to make genuine Samsung parts, tools, and repair guides available for Galaxy devices. Samsung also introduced a Repair Mode feature that protects user data during repairs by hiding personal content, addressing a key concern about third-party repairs. The partnership covered Galaxy S20, S21, and Tab S7+ models at launch and expanded to additional devices.
Valve launched the Steam Deck in February 2022 with official iFixit partnership for replacement parts. The OLED model scored 9/10 for repairability. Valve released CAD design files under Creative Commons for 3D printing and modding, and opened authorized repair centers for mail-in repairs free under warranty.
Corsair's closed-source iCUE software has been widely criticized for anti-consumer practices. Users report that uninstalling iCUE completely disables manual keyboard control, effectively bricking hardware without the software. The company has also been criticized for releasing new iCUE versions that drop support for older hardware, pushing users toward hardware upgrades. The software consumes 400+ MB of RAM.
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In October 2021, Microsoft became the first major U.S. tech manufacturer to commit to right-to-repair following shareholder resolution pressure from As You Sow. The company agreed to complete a third-party study on repair impacts, expand availability of parts and repair documentation beyond authorized service providers for Surface devices and Xbox consoles, and provide new mechanisms to increase consumer access to repair by the end of 2022. Microsoft subsequently shifted to neutral and supportive positions on state right-to-repair legislation in Washington (2022-2023).
In 2021, Framework Computer launched the Framework Laptop, a fully modular and repairable laptop that earned a perfect 10/10 repairability score from iFixit. The laptop features user-replaceable components including ports, keyboard, battery, display, and mainboard, challenging the industry trend toward non-repairable devices.
From 2015-2024, Apple conducted extensive lobbying campaigns opposing right-to-repair legislation in multiple states including New York, Nebraska, Washington, Florida, and Oregon. The company spent millions on lobbying, made threats to withdraw products, and pushed for amendments to weaken proposed bills. Apple's tactics included hiring multiple lobbying firms, using trade associations to obscure direct opposition, and employing arguments about user safety and security to oppose consumer repair access.