Motorola Partners with iFixit to Embrace Right to Repair

Motorola becomes the first major smartphone manufacturer to supply OEM parts to iFixit, a move that supports consumer repair and reduces e-waste.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:28am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of the internal components of a disassembled Motorola smartphone, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the complex circuitry and hardware. The image conveys the intricate nature of modern mobile devices while suggesting the potential for consumers to repair and maintain their own electronics.Motorola's partnership with iFixit empowers consumers to repair their own devices, reducing e-waste and promoting a more sustainable future for mobile technology.Chicago Today

Motorola, the iconic mobile phone brand founded in Chicago in 1928, has announced a new partnership with iFixit, the leading online repair community. Through this collaboration, Motorola will become the first major smartphone manufacturer to supply genuine OEM parts directly to iFixit, empowering consumers to repair their own devices and reducing the growing problem of e-waste.

Why it matters

This partnership represents a significant shift in the smartphone industry, where manufacturers have traditionally resisted consumer repair efforts. By embracing the Right to Repair movement and making it easier for people to fix their devices, Motorola is setting an example for other tech giants to follow. This move aligns with growing consumer demand for more sustainable and repairable electronics, and it could have a meaningful impact on reducing the environmental burden of e-waste.

The details

Under the new agreement, Motorola customers will have two options for repairing their devices: they can either send their broken phones directly to Motorola for repair, or they can purchase high-quality OEM parts and tools from iFixit to fix the devices themselves. iFixit will provide step-by-step repair guides to help consumers through the process. This partnership builds on Motorola's history of innovation, including the release of the world's first commercial cell phone, the DynaTAC 8000X, in 1984, and the iconic Razr flip phone in 2004.

  • Motorola was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1928.
  • The Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, the first commercially available mobile phone, was released in 1984.
  • The Motorola Razr flip phone, which transformed the mobile phone market, was released in 2004.
  • The Motorola Droid Bionic, one of the most repairable smartphones, was released in 2011.
  • Motorola and iFixit announced their partnership in 2026.

The players

Motorola

An American telecommunications company founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1928. Motorola has been a pioneer in the mobile phone industry, releasing the first commercially available cell phone and the iconic Razr flip phone.

iFixit

A leading online repair community that was founded in 2003 by college roommates Kyle Wiens and Luke Soules. iFixit provides repair guides, tools, and replacement parts to help consumers fix their own electronic devices.

Paul Galvin

One of the co-founders of Motorola, who purchased business plans from a bankrupt tech company in 1928 and started the company with his brother Joseph.

Kyle Wiens

The co-founder of iFixit, who opened the company out of his college dorm room in 2003 when he couldn't find a repair manual for his broken laptop.

Luke Soules

The co-founder of iFixit, who partnered with Kyle Wiens to start the company in 2003.

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What they’re saying

“We believe Motorola is setting an example for major manufacturers to embrace a more open attitude towards repair. If you're a Motorola customer, you can now either send in your broken device directly to Motorola for repair—or you can fix it yourself with the highest quality parts and tools, plus a free step-by-step guide, all included in our Fix Kits.”

— Kyle Wiens, Co-founder, iFixit

“Like the Galvin brothers' battery-eliminators, no tech lives forever. But we can make sure it lives longer. And that's exactly what Motorola is doing. By giving consumers easier access to parts, people are better equipped to fix their broken devices—and more fixing means less e-waste.”

— Luke Soules, Co-founder, iFixit

What’s next

Motorola and iFixit plan to expand their partnership to include more device models and make OEM parts and repair guides available to consumers in additional countries.

The takeaway

This partnership between Motorola and iFixit represents a significant shift in the smartphone industry, where manufacturers have traditionally resisted consumer repair efforts. By embracing the Right to Repair movement and making it easier for people to fix their devices, Motorola is setting an example for other tech giants to follow, which could have a meaningful impact on reducing the environmental burden of e-waste.