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Motorola Becomes First Smartphone Company To Sell DIY Repair Kits To Its Customers (vice.com)

Posted by msmash on from the how-about-that dept.

As Apple continues to fight independent repair, Motorola has partnered with iFixit and pledged to support the right to repair movement. From a report: It is excellent news that Motorola has decided to make it as easy as possible for you to repair your phone. The company announced that it would begin selling replacement parts for all of its recent phones to customers, and it has partnered with iFixit to sell repair kits for phones like the Moto X, Z, G4, G5, and Droid Turbo 2. The kits come with tools, genuine Motorola-branded replacement parts, and instructions on how to fix your device. iFixit is currently selling replacement batteries, screens, and digitizer assemblies. "Motorola is setting an example for major manufacturers to embrace a more open attitude towards repair," iFixit wrote in a blog post announcing the partnership. "For fixers like us, this partnership is representative of a broader movement in support of our Right to Repair. It's proof that OEM manufacturers and independent repair can co-exist. Big business and social responsibility, and innovation and sustainability, don't need to be mutually exclusive."

46 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. how about they make phones repairable by fred6666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And I mean screws visible from the outside, no glue, easy to disassemble.

    1. Re:how about they make phones repairable by silverkniveshotmail. · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because that only appeals to a very small niche and doesn't make them more money.

    2. Re:how about they make phones repairable by houghi · · Score: 2

      Size and cost. Even look at a car. There are many places where they do not use screws, but glue and "christmas trees". The cost isn not only about the price of the screws, but the price of the productiong.

      Pusing somethiong in (with or without glue) is a much cheaper process than screwing it in.Amd the screws will need some sort of glue as well, most likely, to prevent unscrewing.

      Putting two Lego blocks together is easy. Putting two MeccanoM/a> pieces together is harder.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    3. Re:how about they make phones repairable by Frederic54 · · Score: 2

      Don't know for their latest phones, but I had a Moto G2 and it was very easy to open and repair

      --
      "Science will win because it works." - Stephen Hawking
    4. Re:how about they make phones repairable by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      Because the majority of customer prefer a smooth phone and feel the look of screws is dated.

      That doesn't apply to you or me but we are not the majority of users.

    5. Re:how about they make phones repairable by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Size and cost. Even look at a car. There are many places where they do not use screws, but glue and "christmas trees". The cost isn not only about the price of the screws, but the price of the productiong.

      I've never worked on a car, even a newer luxury models, where stuff was merely glued together and even those "Christmas tree" plastic fasteners were replaceable (and can be removed without damage with the correct tool, which was also inexpensive and easy to find.) If you're going to state these sort of things at least tell us what make, year, and model that you encountered it on or else it's going to be written off as BS.

    6. Re:how about they make phones repairable by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      And I mean screws visible from the outside

      Ewww, what is this! The early 00s? That's pre-iPhone talk man. Phones didn't even work before the iPhone revolution. Keep that talk up and you'll be labeled as some kind of a weirdo.

    7. Re:how about they make phones repairable by ctilsie242 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      My last LG phone had a battery that was easily popped in and out.

      I think there are four reasons for this that are not just planned obsolescence:

      1: IP67+ waterproofing. Phones that can stand a dunk are becoming what consumers expect.
      2: Heat dissipation. Phones have to have better engineering to handle getting the heat from the CPU, battery, and other things to the phone's case so the heat can be dumped.
      3: Thinness of device and bezels. People want the notch and wall to wall screens. Because of this, the thicker phones that allow for easy battery replacement have gone on the wayside.
      4: Style. People don't want machined aluminum, they want shiny glass for their phones.

    8. Re:how about they make phones repairable by couchslug · · Score: 4, Informative

      Automobile design is highly refined and (most) fasteners/fastening methods reflect not only production convenience, but expected frequency of repair.
      Suspension components are typically bolted in place and are easy to replace.
      Windshields are typically attached using clips to center them and adhesive to seal and retain them. They aren't difficult to remove for replacement when damaged. Typical windshield removal tools are designed to slice through adhesive somewhat like using a razor to separate glued consumer electronic components. Inductive heating coils are often used to warm the adhesive.
      Screws into plastic rarely need locking adhesives, but screwed joints in plastic shells rely on the shell joint design to seal out moisture. Adhesives are better for water resistance.
      That said, consumers want the thinnest, lightest possible phone with the most screen real estate. Glued joints are NARROW, require no bosses or reinforced areas for screws to thread into, and permit slightly lighter phones. Phones are fashion for most users, not serious tools.

      --
      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
    9. Re:how about they make phones repairable by nospam007 · · Score: 1

      "I've never worked on a car, even a newer luxury models, where stuff was merely glued together "

      You mean the ones where you have to go to the shop and dismantle half the car to change a bulb?

    10. Re:how about they make phones repairable by ceoyoyo · · Score: 1

      Ironic. Every iPhone up to the 7 (and likely beyond that, but I don't have one) has had external, visible screws.

    11. Re:how about they make phones repairable by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      Cars are another example of shitty, non-repairable products where look and feel is more important than reparability or reliability.

    12. Re:how about they make phones repairable by fred6666 · · Score: 2

      it would appeal to a lot more people if they were aware of it. CAD$333 to repair a phone screen doesn't appeal to the masses either. So you have to pick.

      Also current phone prices doesn't reflect environmental costs. Factor them in, and repairable phones would become much more attractive.

    13. Re:how about they make phones repairable by pz · · Score: 1

      3: Thinness of device and bezels. People want the notch and wall to wall screens. Because of this, the thicker phones that allow for easy battery replacement have gone on the wayside.

      People, maybe, but not me. I don't. I want a phone that I can hold in my hand without realizing I've forgotten to turn it off, and have it NOT dial Aunt Mabel because my fingers curled ever so slightly over the front face. I want a phone that will recognize touches from the hand that's operating it NOT the hand that's holding it. In other words: I WANT BEZELS.

      --

      Put my fist through my alarm clock with its ding-dong death inside my ear. - The Blackjacks.
    14. Re: how about they make phones repairable by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      4. Most people put their phone in a case. The 'sexiness' of glass over metal or plastic is irrelevant.

    15. Re:how about they make phones repairable by ElizabethGreene · · Score: 1

      Forgive my ignorance, but what phone costs that much? I think I spent $50 for a new screen and battery for an iPhone 6 and $10 for a new Wiha Pentalobe driver when I got tired of the toy screwdrivers.

    16. Re:how about they make phones repairable by quenda · · Score: 1

      And I mean screws visible from the outside, no glue, easy to disassemble.

      Generally speaking, they are easy to disassemble. You need the right tools, but they are cheap and easily obtained online.
      The "glue" is easily released with a little heat. They do not use resin.

      The BIG exception to this is the way glass screens are bonded to the LCD/LED display. So when you crack the screen, instead of just paying $10 to $20 for a new digitiser & glass, you have to replace one of the most expensive components of the phone. I blame a large fruit-themed company for starting this, in order to reduce "thinness" a fraction of a mm.

      Even some tablets and touch-enabled laptops now have this problem.

    17. Re:how about they make phones repairable by silverkniveshotmail. · · Score: 1

      If you're paying $250 to fix your phone you've fallen for some sort of scam.

    18. Re:how about they make phones repairable by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      Thinnest lightest? Really? I don't remember any demand for that. It was just phone companies having dick measuring contests, introducing features that look good on bullet points. Basically serving the needs of the marketing department, not the needs of the end user.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    19. Re:how about they make phones repairable by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Pfft. iPhone 7? What are you going to talk about next an Atari? Why don't you have the iPhone from the 2018 fall collection? Are you not stylish?

      *in case anyone can't tell there's a furious amount of sarcasm here.

    20. Re:how about they make phones repairable by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      It was the cheapest I could find where I live. Fortunately, my credit card insurance covered the cost fully. But I was still shocked by the expensive price of these display repairs.

    21. Re:how about they make phones repairable by fred6666 · · Score: 1

      Galaxy S8.

  2. Not for programming, though. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you want to fix your software, they'll tell you to get stuffed.

  3. Happy to see it. by vtcodger · · Score: 1

    I doubt there will be that many takers for repair kits because dealing with the tiny parts used in modern electronics is not a skill most folks have or want to develop. But maybe there are enough potential customers and independent repair folks to make the repair kits a viable market niche. I'm skeptical. But I hope I'm wrong.

    --
    You can't see ANYTHING from a car, You've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk...Edward Abbey
    1. Re:Happy to see it. by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Informative

      But maybe there are enough potential customers and independent repair folks to make the repair kits a viable market niche. I'm skeptical. But I hope I'm wrong.

      I think you are wrong, because I see little cellphone repair shops in every city which even slightly deserves that description. If they know they can easily get repair kits for Moto phones, I think that they will do that. They focus on the most popular devices, though, so I expect they'll only stock a couple of models' parts. What I see in their windows is mostly Apple and Samsung. Still, this makes me more likely to continue to buy Motorola phones. I've been a Moto fanboy since before they even made cellular phones; their walkie-talkies were second to none in durability and reliability. I got into cellphones in the Motorola Triplets era (V300-600, and RAZR) and had great fun putting clear cases on them and such. My current phone is an unlocked G 2nd, and it's falling apart but it still works. The adhesive that holds the display down has failed and I keep thinking I'll just replace it, so I keep putting off fixing it... and it keeps working.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Happy to see it. by Scarletdown · · Score: 3, Interesting

      You are likely wrong, I would guess; just considering how prevalent how to videos for so many things on YouTube and elsewhere have become; from auto mechanics, to fishing and hunting, to gardening, and more; I would place good odds on the market being primed for this.

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    3. Re:Happy to see it. by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      I doubt there will be that many takers

      Good, all the sooner we can get back to whining there are no user serviceable phones.

  4. Phones can live forever... by mspohr · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have two Nexus 5 phones (for myself and my wife) that have together had six screen replacements and four battery replacements. I've done this all myself and I'm now getting quite good at it. Replacement screens and batteries are inexpensive and readily available. These phones are over five years old and they still work just fine. They run all of the current communications protocols (LTE, 3G, Bluetooth, Near Field, etc.) so they are not yet obsolete. The latest version of open source software is available for them.
    I really appreciate not spending money on new phones every few years.
    I think manufacturers need to realize that this is mature technology and customers don't need to upgrade frequently. The latest phones are just bells and whistles. The current focus is on better cameras and the new ones are better but I'm not a professional photographer and if I was I wouldn't use a camera phone. The "old" 8MP camera in the Nexus 5 is just fine for snaps.
    Happy to see Motorola taking this route instead of trying to extort money for a new sale from you.
    (ProTip... any glue used for phone assembly is easily softened with a heat gun.)

    --
    I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    1. Re:Phones can live forever... by iampiti · · Score: 1

      Oh manufacturers know smartphones are mature technology it's just more profitable to make hard-to-repair phones that break after 2 years and selling you a new one than making easily-repairable phones that may last 5 or more years.

    2. Re:Phones can live forever... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Well, a 2-3 year old Android phone can most likely be replaced with a $150-250 entry/midrange phone that has equivalent features. That narrows the price range at which repair is really rational for the typical consumer and doesn't leave room for parts and labor.

      I am someone who has done all sorts of tinkering in the past like installing/upgrading car stereos, compiling and flashing custom OpenWRT firmware on my DSL modem, renovating a Thinkpad LCD panel to replace the failing backlight, and installing a larger hard-drive in my iPod. I've considered repairing my wife's Nexus 5X which is working but has a spidery crack in the screen. The screen lists at around $50, but I have to consider the likelihood that I screw it up and have to buy the same part twice or some other part I break. A mistake or two and I've basically spent enough to buy a newer phone instead. Pay someone else to do the labor in a retail shop and I've also spent enough to buy a newer phone instead.

      I am currently using a Moto G4 Play I bought retail for $150 two years ago. This replaced my previous Razr-i when its battery failed. The G4 Play battery can be replaced without any tools, but since they stopped software support at Android 7.1.1 and June 2018 patch level, I have to consider whether I will ever try to repair it. I could try an aftermarket firmware but I haven't seen one that I am sure I should trust, nor can I assume I won't turn it into a doorstop, since I have no recent experience unlocking a bootloader and flashing a phone. I don't plan to make a hobby of it, so acquiring spare phones for practice/training is not really viable.

      I'm considering whether to shop for an Android One phone to replace each of ours when it comes time, with the hope that these will get better software support. If that's a new Moto that also has good hardware repair support, that's all the better to me! However, my tastes also buck the trend in that I don't want a large and heavy phone. I'd actually prefer something closer to my old Razr i and smaller than the G4 Play...

    3. Re: Phones can live forever... by mspohr · · Score: 1

      Most people have access to a hair dryer. Or get a $15 Harbor Freight heat gun if you want to go pro.

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
  5. Re:GAY NIGGER MANIA! Get some get GAY NIGGER ASS! by Scarletdown · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do like the rest of us do. If you don't like a post; just scroll past it. Freedom of speech also includes freedom for idiots to say and post unpopular things, and even things that many may find offensive.

    Implementing hate speech laws in the U.S. would be a blatant violation of the most supreme part of the supreme law of the land. Do not fucking go there. Just ignore it like the grown ups do.

    --
    This space unintentionally left blank.
  6. See that? It is not so difficult by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 2

    If your consumer wants cell phones, sell cell phones. If your consumer wants spare parts for his cell phone, sell spare parts for him (and upgrades where possible).

    --
    Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
    1. Re:See that? It is not so difficult by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      Well make sure to buy one and the repair kit if this trend is important to you.

      They base what consumers want buy products sold not by Slashdot comments.

    2. Re:See that? It is not so difficult by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      The profit will not be had if no one buys the phone. Your entire post is just whiny despair. "I'm not going to vote with my wallet because they won't listen to me." To say this even when the thing you want is now in the market makes your position even more laughable.

  7. This seals it! by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My phone is dying and was already looking at Moto as the replacement, very favorably. This seals it. I am buying X4.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    1. Re:This seals it! by farble1670 · · Score: 2

      My phone is dying and was already looking at Moto as the replacement, very favorably. This seals it. I am buying X4.

      I bought a Moto G5 plus for my son last year and am pretty happy with it. They make the best budget phones.

      People need to reward Moto w/ sales. If all that comes of this is existing customers wait longer before getting a new phone it's a fail.

    2. Re:This seals it! by Jason+Levine · · Score: 1

      I have the Moto Z Play and love it. I have a Mod battery that magnetically clips to the phone to provide extra battery life. (The phone uses its battery until it drops to 80%, then uses the mod battery until depleted before depleting the phone battery more.) That mod battery wasn't lasting as long as it used to so I bought a new mod battery. This one not only lasts a long time but can be charged independent of the phone. And the mod batteries can be used with any Moto phone so if I upgrade in the future, I won't need to buy all new mods. The only downside was that it was hard to find a case that fit the phone with the mod on.

      It might not be "user replaceable battery", but the mod battery concept is close (and it opens the door to a lot of other cool mods).

      --
      My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
    3. Re:This seals it! by mattb47 · · Score: 1

      I got a cheap ($100) unlocked Moto E4+ from Amazon back in January. I'm extremely happy with it. Snappy, decent screen. OK, maybe not the greatest camera. But as a budget Android phone it couldn't be better. People buying phones for $900 just seem insane to me. (Or they have corporate phones, so they aren't paying for it themselves.)

  8. it has to happen by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 1
    T-Mobile was the first one to break the 2 year contract and "free" phone scam of other carriers.

    Moto is probably the first to break the forced upgrade by sealed battery, unrepairable designs of cell phones. Pretty soon the reviews will include robustness, reliability, durability, repair costs, total cost of ownership etc. All the other metrics like resolution and features are pretty much common. It has to happen. Glad it has finally happened.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    1. Re:it has to happen by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      add: how long the vendor provides ROM updates.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  9. Re:GAY NIGGER MANIA! Get some get GAY NIGGER ASS! by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 1

    I suspect that was a troll.

  10. Very cool by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    Very cool, this reinforces my decision to switch brand allegiance from Google Nexus to Moto. Last Google branded phone was Nexus 4, it seems to me that Google lost the plot after that, possibly due to Apple Envy.

    Now the next thing I want from Motorola: right to upgrade. I should not stop getting ROM updates after just two years or so. Cutting off ROM updates doesn't make me upgrade sooner, it just makes me angry and more likely to switch brands. I'm ok with offline update, it doesn't need to be OTA. Just stand behind your product for more than 2 years.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  11. Good luck! by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    I've been repairing electronics, since the era of vacuum tubes, transistors, through to IC's. I've also repaired many smartphones. Even at my age, my skills, sometimes it is like doing nerve surgery. Moto might be releasing this, as a way for people to jack up their phones to the point, they have to buy new ones. ;)

    1. Re:Good luck! by wesgray · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I'm an old coot with the same experience.Its too bad that today's geeks have almost no time in high volume precision manufacturing that drives product design. They think that mechanical integrity, heat dissipation, EMF shielding, moisture and dust resistance along with production efficiency are part of some nefarious plot. Besides the reliability of these devices moots the point, I've owned 7 phones, 4 touchscreen variety with no failures the only replacements were for lost devices.

  12. Pricing by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

    Yeah, so $150 to refurb my old Moto X Pure with a screen and battery, vs. waiting for a decent phone to go on sale for $250 every month or so with a warranty, better CPU, more memory, more storage.

    I mean, it's nice that you can and all, but holy cow those are inflated prices for parts.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)