Samsung and Apple Receive Low Repairability Scores Under New EPREL Framework

The latest Failings the Fix 2026 report using the EU's EPREL system reveals systemic tensions between product design and the right-to-repair movement.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:30am

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a smartphone's internal circuit boards, processors, and other hardware components, bathed in neon cyan and magenta lighting to convey the complex digital nature of modern consumer technology.The intricate digital infrastructure powering today's smartphones is increasingly at odds with the industry's push for sleek, non-repairable designs.Hermann Today

A new report from US PIRG using the EU's EPREL repairability framework has given low scores to two of the world's biggest smartphone brands - Apple received a D- and Samsung a D. The EPREL system emphasizes practical repair challenges like disassembly difficulty, spare part availability, and software support length, exposing a broader industry shift toward integrated, proprietary designs that limit DIY and third-party repair options.

Why it matters

The report's findings reflect growing tensions between premium hardware ambitions and the push for greater product longevity and sustainability. As devices become more integrated with services and software, the 'repairability' of a product is less about physical design and more about ecosystem choices that can restrict independent repair networks.

The details

The EPREL framework evaluates factors like disassembly difficulty, standard tool usage, spare part accessibility, repair documentation, and software support length. Apple and Samsung's low scores indicate design choices that prioritize sleek, integrated hardware over serviceability - such as using proprietary fasteners, limiting parts availability, and tying software updates to authorized repair channels.

  • The Failings the Fix 2026 report was published on April 13, 2026.

The players

US PIRG

A consumer advocacy group that published the Failings the Fix 2026 report using the EU's EPREL repairability framework.

Apple

One of the world's largest smartphone manufacturers, which received a D- repairability score in the report.

Samsung

One of the world's largest smartphone manufacturers, which received a D repairability score in the report.

EPREL

The EU's repairability evaluation framework that the Failings the Fix 2026 report used to assess devices.

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What they’re saying

“What this debate really exposes is a tension between luxury hardware ambitions and practical upkeep.”

— Virgilio Hermann JD, Author

What’s next

The report's findings are expected to reignite the broader debate around right-to-repair legislation and the role of repairability in consumer electronics design.

The takeaway

The low repairability scores for Apple and Samsung highlight an industry-wide challenge of balancing premium hardware features with the growing consumer and regulatory demand for more sustainable, repairable devices. This debate will likely shape future product design choices and policy discussions around electronic waste reduction.