A Shift in How Products Are Built

For much of the past decade, consumer electronics trended firmly toward sealed, non-repairable designs. Batteries were glued in, components were soldered together, and proprietary screws discouraged DIY repair. But that trend is beginning to reverse — driven by a combination of legislation, consumer demand, and brands recognizing repairability as a genuine selling point.

What's Driving the Change?

Right-to-Repair Legislation

Several major markets have passed or are actively advancing right-to-repair legislation that requires manufacturers to make spare parts, repair documentation, and diagnostic tools available to consumers and independent repair shops. The EU's Ecodesign Regulation now mandates that many product categories include spare parts availability for a minimum number of years after sale. In the United States, a growing number of states have introduced or passed similar measures.

These laws aren't just symbolic — they create real pressure on product design teams to build for repairability from the ground up.

Consumer Awareness and Sustainability Pressure

Environmental concerns are increasingly influencing purchasing decisions. Consumers — particularly younger demographics — are scrutinizing product lifespan, repairability scores (like those from iFixit), and manufacturer take-back programs. Brands that can demonstrate longevity and low e-waste footprints gain a genuine competitive advantage in this segment.

Brands Responding to the Market

Several prominent brands have made notable moves toward repairability:

  • Framework built its entire laptop brand around modular, user-replaceable components — and has gained a devoted following as a result.
  • Fairphone continues to produce smartphones explicitly designed for repairability, with individually replaceable modules including batteries, cameras, and screens.
  • Apple launched its Self Service Repair program, making official parts and repair manuals available to consumers for the first time.
  • Samsung partnered with iFixit to provide official parts and documentation for a range of its Galaxy devices.

What Modular Design Actually Means for Consumers

A genuinely modular or repairable product typically features:

  • Standard screws (or documented proprietary tools available for purchase)
  • Replaceable batteries not bonded with adhesive
  • Clearly labeled components with publicly available part numbers
  • Repair guides published by the manufacturer
  • Spare parts availability for at least 5–7 years after product launch

The Trade-Offs

Repairability doesn't come entirely free. Modular designs can sometimes mean slightly thicker or heavier devices, higher unit costs due to more complex assembly, or a reduction in certain aesthetic choices (like ultra-thin profiles). The best manufacturers are increasingly finding ways to minimize these trade-offs, but consumers should be aware they exist.

What to Watch For

The next few years will likely see repairability scores and official iFixit partnerships become more common marketing touchpoints. Watch for brands incorporating repairability ratings directly into product packaging or spec sheets — a sign that the industry considers it a mainstream purchase criterion rather than a niche concern.

For consumers, the most actionable takeaway is simple: before your next major electronics purchase, look up the product's repairability score and check whether official replacement parts are available. These two data points can meaningfully affect how long your device remains useful — and how much it costs you over its lifetime.