Samsung’s Self-Repair vs. Apple’s Self Service Repair Programs: Which Is Better for Consumers?
Samsung and Apple are the two most popular smartphone makers in the US. As such, we’re bound to see tons of damaged devices that need repair.
But because first-party repair centers are often too expensive or simply refuse to repair smartphones, many users are forced to go to third-party service providers. Some shops do good work and use original or OEM parts, while some provide substandard service and use non-genuine parts—and it’s sometimes hard to differentiate the two.
That’s when you could resort to self-repair. But which smartphone maker offers the better self-repair program? Let’s find out below.
Self-Repair Supported Phone Models
Apple only manufactures four to five models at a time, while Samsung has so much more. For example, as of April 2023, Apple produces the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14, and the iPhone SE. While you can still buy the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 mini, and the iPhone 12 on Apple’s website, these are existing stocks the company is slowly but surely using up.
On the other hand, Samsung currently has the S23 Ultra, S23+, and S23 in its flagship line-up. If you pick its mid-range line, you have the A54 5G, the A34 5G, the A14 5G, the A14, the A04s, the A04, and the A04e. You can also get an entry-level Samsung phone with the M-series. This includes the M54 5G, the M14 5G, and the M04.
Looking at this, Samsung has 13 active models while Apple only has five. If you include its previous designs that are still available brand new, you get a total of eight iPhone models.
Now let’s compare the number of self-repairable models for both companies. Samsung lets you self-repair the following models:
On the other hand, Apple lets you self-repair the following iPhones:
Both Apple and Samsung offer self-repair for nine models. But because Samsung offers more models than Apple, we can say that the latter is more consumer-friendly.
Winner: Apple
Guide Availability and Ease of Use
Both Apple and Samsung have official guides for repairing their smartphones. It’s pretty hard to findwhere to download Apple’s official repair manualson Apple’s website. If you search for your specific phone model plus “self-repair,” the guide won’t appear in the first five results.
Your best option is to search for it in Google, and the first result should be “Self Service Repair.” You can also go toApple’s repair manual pageto find the instructions for your specific device.
On the other hand, you’re able to easily find Samsung’s self-repair page from the home page. Just go to Samsung.com and navigate toSupport > Repair Services > Self-Repair Program. On the Self-Repair page, you’ll find links for specific types of repair for each self-repair-supported model.
We also compared the battery replacement instructions for the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the S22 Ultra. We tried to look for the iPhone 13 Pro Max repair manual, but, unfortunately, Apple’s page led to a dead end at the time of writing.
Although Apple’s repair manual is comprehensive and covers every repair you might need, finding the parts and tools you need isn’t as straightforward. On the flip side, the Samsung instructions from iFixit include a section where you can buy everything you need directly from it.
But aside from that, both instructions are detailed and come with images. However, because Samsung’s instructions are easier to find, and you can buy the parts and tools you need straight from the repair instruction page, we give the win to Samsung.
Winner: Samsung
Parts Availability and Cost
You must buy genuine parts from the authorized supplier when self-repairing your device. If you have an iPhone, you’ll have to order the parts fromSelf Service Repair Store. But if you’re repairing a Samsung Galaxy phone, go toiFixit’s Samsung Self-Repair pagefor everything you need.
Whether you’re repairing an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy phone, the parts and tools you need are generally available on their respective sources. So, let’s check the cost of the parts when replacing the screen of two flagship devices: the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the S22 Ultra.
The iPhone 13 Pro Max Display Bundle costs $311.96. This bundle includes the display, screw kit, display adhesive, and security screws. However, you need additional tools to work on your iPhone. You can rent all the tools required for your device for $49 a week.
However, aside from the rental fee and the bundle cost, Self Service Repair Store will also put a temporary hold on your card that covers the total replacement value of the rented tools. For the iPhone 13 Pro Max, this could go as high as $931.55—an prohibitive amount, especially if you don’t have extra credit or funds.
So, the total cash you’ll have to outlay for an iPhone 13 Pro Max screen replacement is $1,292.51. Once you return the tools and aren’t charged for any damages, you would’ve spent $360.96 to replace your screen. And if you include the replaced parts in your return shipment, you get a further $33.60 in credit.
With that, an iPhone 13 Pro Max screen replacement costs $327.36 at the time of writing.
Now, let’s check the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra screen replacement cost. On iFixit, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Screen and Battery Fix Kit cost $239.99. This package includes the following:
As you can see, you get a lot of parts and tools for just $239.99. And best of all, you don’t have to return anything. You don’t need to shell out more than $1,000.00 to repair your phone’s screen—it costs less than a quarter of that and some elbow grease to get a new display on your S22 Ultra.
Tool Requirements
As mentioned earlier, Apple provides specific tools for repairing iPhones. Without those, it will be challenging to execute the repair because some steps require those tools. Furthermore, you can’t buy these tools elsewhere as they’re specifically made for one iPhone model.
So, unless a third-party company starts making generic parts, you have no choice but to rent or buy these expensive tools from Apple’s service provider. Furthermore, you need an iPhone serial number before purchasing parts and tools. you’re able to’t add any tools or parts to your cart without that.
On the other hand, the Samsung Fix Kit already includes all the parts and tools you need for your repair. You also don’t need anything to buy it—just your payment information. So, even if you don’t have a Samsung S22 Ultra (or any Samsung phone, for that matter), you’re able to buy a Samsung repair kit.
Repair Complexity
Both Apple and Samsung take multiple steps to open, and you must exert effort to remove the adhesive that holds the battery in place. Taking apart both devices requires care and patience, and you should follow the instructions to a T to avoid any unexpected side effects.
Given that, repairing smartphones is a complex undertaking—one of the primaryreasons against the right-to-repair movement. However, Apple’s self-repair is much more complicated. And that’s becauseApple controls what parts you can use on your iPhonerepair.
You cannot buy anything you want on Apple’s self-repair page. Instead, you need to input your iPhone’s serial number before you may order anything. Furthermore, repairs involving electronic parts, like the screen, battery, or camera, require System Configuration. Without this, your repair won’t work correctly.
On the other hand, Samsung doesn’t need any software mumbo-jumbo after your self-repair. Just put it all back together, and your phone will start working again if repaired correctly.
Post-Repair Warranty
Since most users aren’t authorized service personnel, it makes sense if companies do not offer post-repair warranties on self-repair. However, that isn’t the case. In a surprising move, Samsung offers a warranty on your self-repair parts. Although it’s only guaranteed for 90 days, this is still a bold move for the company.
On the other hand, Apple does not mention anything about warranties on self-repaired devices. Because of issues like this, people often ask ifApple’s self-service repair program is set up to fail.
Which Smartphone Maker Is More Sustainable?
After careful consideration, we can say that Samsung is a more sustainable smartphone manufacturer. Its phones are much easier and more affordable to repair than the iPhone. you may easily find the instructions on fixing Samsung phones, and parts are also easy to buy.
However, it’s unfortunate that most flagship phones get this kind of self-repair support. After all, people who purchase these phones are more likely to buy a new phone or shell out money for first-party repair. So, it would make more sense for companies to open this service to mid-range and entry-level smartphones.
These self-repair programs are a good start, but we’re hoping this becomes the norm for all devices, not an exclusive service for the most expensive gadgets.
Repairing your devices means lest electronic waste and saves you money. Check out these official self-repair programs.
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