How to know which consumer electronics are repairable

Tired of the ways consumer tech companies incentivize buying a new phone, laptop, tablet or other device every year or two, rather than being able to keep what you already own in use for longer?

The second edition of U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s “Failing the Fix” scorecard grades popular manufacturers on how easy (or hard) they make it for their customers to fix their electronics when something breaks. Some of the key results: Motorola continues to lead with a B+, followed by Samsung with a C, Google with a D+, and Apple with a D, up from last year’s F.

“In spite of the rapidly growing problem of electronic waste, a number of these companies are unfairly restricting access to the tools and information needed to repair their devices, or actively lobbying against Right to Repair legislation (or both),” said PIRG Right to Repair Campaign Senior Director Nathan Proctor. “Consumers — and the planet — deserve better.”