Another major smartphone manufacturer has joined the “right to repair” movement this week. It’s Google this week, which announced in a corporate blog post that it will begin selling authentic Pixel phone spare parts later this year for those bold enough to repair their devices. This will be accomplished through collaboration with iFixit, the internet’s most popular source for technical help and repair advice.
Beyond “later this year,” Google did not specify a specific launch date for this program. All Pixel phones, including the Pixel 2 and Pixel 6 Pro, as well as future Pixel phones, will be able to access parts. Crucial Pixel parts, which include replacement batteries and screens, may be purchased straight from the iFixit website.
What’s nice is that you’ll be able to buy the individual parts or as part of “Fix Kits,” which include all of the tools you’ll need to fix your phone if you don’t already have them. This announcement comes only a week after Samsung said that it will do the same thing with its Galaxy phones, including collaborating with iFixit.
https://twitter.com/chromeunboxed/status/1512519567117099008
https://twitter.com/iFixit/status/1513231592906498060
Reportedly, Apple released a similar self-repair program for iPhones, Mac PCs, and other Apple goods last year. Each phone that is repaired rather than replaced adds to the fact that we jointly dump around 60 million tonnes of electronic waste into the environment each year; hence, the more tech companies that join in, the better.
iFixit is an e-commerce and how-to website based in the United States that sells replacement parts for consumer electronics and gadgets as well as provides free online repair tutorials in a wiki-style format.
Furthermore, the company does consumer electronics device teardowns. It is a privately held company situated in San Luis Obispo, California, founded in 2003 because Kyle Wiens could not get an Apple iBook G3 repair manual even though able to attend Cal Poly.
To help healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak, iFixit and CALPIRG, the California branch of the Public Interest Research Group, cooperated with hospitals and medical research institutions to produce the world’s most extensive database of medical equipment manuals and repair guides.