Tag Archives: repair

Samsung self-repair program is a bold step toward smartphone sustainability

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Earlier this year, Samsung made a lot of noise about its most recent effort in reducing its negative impact on the environment. Rather than reduce the number of phones it produces each year, which would have reduced the amount of plastics it uses, the world’s biggest smartphone maker turned to recycled plastics instead. Using responsibly sourced materials, however, is only one part of the sustainability equation. Reducing the number of smartphones and smartphone parts thrown out each year is an equally important part of that formula. That, in turn, would require that smartphones can get repaired for as long as they can, and Samsung is taking the rather bold step of giving people the ability to repair their phones on their own.

Designer: Samsung

When it launched its new Galaxy S22 phone series, Samsung also boasted about the big change it’s making in its future phones and tablets. The plastics it will use in these devices will be made from recycled fishing nets rather than being produced from scratch. That hits two birds with one stone since it reduces the amount of new plastic being produced for new phones while also finding a new home for tons of discarded fishing nets that endanger marine life year after year.

Although it’s an important and significant step forward, it is still just one step. It doesn’t address the problem of smartphones and their parts being discarded on a regular basis, often because they can no longer be repaired or, worse, because it becomes cheaper to just buy a new phone rather than spend on first-party repairs. The fix here is to actually encourage a stronger culture of repairing phones rather than discarding them, and part of that means giving consumers the permission and the tools to repair their own devices without having to pay anyone, especially Samsung and its partners.

This “Right to Repair” is gaining strong momentum among consumers, businesses, and legislators, and Samsung is following Apple’s bold announcement last year that creates an official program to help owners repair their phones on their own, should they choose to go down that route. Samsung is pairing up with iFixit for guides on how to do exactly that, while the company will also provide tools and replacement parts for supported devices. At the moment, only the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, and Galaxy Tab S7+ have been named to be included in this program.

Images courtesy of iFixit

Just as important as the ability to repair and replace broken parts is the responsibility of disposing of those components properly. Part of this self-repair program involves sending those broken or irreparable pieces back to Samsung, who will then dispose of or recycle them as necessary.

This is just the latest step in Samsung’s attempts to reduce its negative impact on the environment, going beyond reducing its carbon emissions. Although it initially ridiculed Apple for it, Samsung eventually jumped on the bandwagon and removed chargers from many of its smartphone boxes. It has also reduced not only the amount of plastic it uses in its phones’ packaging but also reduced the size of those boxes as well. It might not sound like much in isolation, but considering the fact that Samsung is the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, every little bit adds up in the long run.

The post Samsung self-repair program is a bold step toward smartphone sustainability first appeared on Yanko Design.

Dell envisions a sustainable laptop, allowing you to replace parts, creating a design you could grow old with

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Dell is checking all the right boxes for a laptop that is not only environment-friendly but also potentially immortal.

Laptops revolutionized the computing industry by making personal computing more portable, but it also came at the expense of some flexibility and sustainability. Unlike towering desktops, not everything inside a laptop can be easily upgraded, much less replaced when broken. Many laptops makers probably prefer that status quo, but Dell is boldly pushing an idea that could mean it will eventually sell fewer laptops.

Designer: Dell

Today, you can upgrade or replace a laptop’s memory and storage, but that’s pretty much it. You can’t upgrade the processor, add a graphics unit, or even easily replace the keyboard after years of wear and tear. That’s not even considering the materials and processes used in manufacturing these devices, which involve a lot of plastics and a lot of components that eventually end up being a lot of waste.

Dell’s Concept Luna laptop throws all of that out the window, envisioning a portable computer that would appeal to almost everyone, from the expert PC modder to the environment-conscious consumer. The company is trying to apply multiple strategies across the pipeline to not only reduce the laptop’s carbon footprint but, ultimately, also make it as long-lasting as any desktop that can get repaired or upgraded bit by bit.

The ideas that Dell has are quite interesting. In addition to using more recyclable materials, like flax fiber instead of plastic laminate, the company is also looking into shrinking the size or number of components like the motherboard to reduce the amount of energy used to manufacture them. Smarter placement of those components can also lead to better passive heat dissipation, removing the need for plastic fans inside.

Then there’s also the element of repairability, which is made easier by having only four screws to access internal components and using no adhesives. Components can be removed easily and replaced, or perhaps even upgraded with a newer part. All in all, the Concept Luna represents the holy grail of sustainable computers and is probably years away from becoming a reality.

Dell admits that the concept only touches on what is possible, not what is feasible or, more importantly, profitable. A sustainable laptop would ultimately mean people will buy fewer new laptops if they could just upgrade or replace parts of the laptop they already own. Of course, Dell could build a business around selling parts or services, but that might still be less profitable than the status quo that isn’t doing our environment any favors.

The post Dell envisions a sustainable laptop, allowing you to replace parts, creating a design you could grow old with first appeared on Yanko Design.

Framework Repair-friendly Laptop: Fixing Obsolescence

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Computers and other gadgets are becoming increasingly affordable, but they’re also getting harder if not outright impossible to repair. We’re warned that our warranty will be voided if we open up our gadgets, licensed repair shops are nearly extinct, and reputable sources of components are also hard to find. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see a company like Framework. Its debut product looks and works mostly like a regular laptop, but it was designed from the ground up to be opened, customized, and repaired.


Even from the outside, you will immediately notice something unique about the Framework Laptop: its modular ports. It has four recessed USB-C ports in which you can stick a variety of modules: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, a microSD card reader, SSDs, and even a full-sized DisplayPort output. Swapping between the modules is easy, and Framework says it will release more types of modules in the future. But to truly appreciate the beauty and power of this machine, you have to check out what its interior looks like:

All of the laptop’s major components – from the battery to the speakers – are clearly labeled. Each one also has a link for more info and a QR code that takes you directly to Framework’s components store. Even the display bezel is easily removable. And did I mention that the bottom of the laptop is held in place by only five captive screws? Framework is so confident with their machine’s user-friendliness that they’re also selling a DIY kit that costs a crazy $250 (USD) less than the fully-assembled version.

Of course, none of this matters if the laptop doesn’t perform well. Based on the impressions and reviews it’s gotten from major media outlets such as Linus Tech Tips, CNET, and of course iFixit, it seems that the Framework Laptop is up to the task. It’s powered by an 11th gen Core i5 or i7 CPU, has a 13.5″ 3:2 2256 x 1504 display, and has a backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader.  It even has a 1080p 60fps webcam, which even most high-end laptops don’t have. Here’s iFixit’s teardown of the laptop:

Amazingly, Framework is an astonishingly small company, with only 16 team members as of this writing. I hope they’re ready to build on their work and overcome any challenges. Major PC makers obviously do not want to see a company like Framework succeed. You can pre-order the laptop directly from Framework. The fully assembled version starts at $999, while the DIY Edition starts at $749.

Recent damage to the Arecibo telescope could keep it offline for months

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It could take several months to repair the recent damage to Arecibo Observatory, SpaceNews reports. During a NASA meeting earlier this week, Lindley Johnson, director of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, said the massive radio telescope c...

Ventilator companies are opening up critical repair documents to the public

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After being called out by the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), more ventilator manufacturers are sharing critical repair information. Last month, the PIRG asked device manufacturers to release all repair documentation for essential medical e...