13. June 2022
„You don’t have to be a genius to fix your devices! […] Many repairs, such as replacing a display or battery, you can carry out yourself – or even your children!“
Kelsea Weber, Marketing Operations und Creative Director bei iFixit
Why repair our cell phone yourself?
Basically, we should use our cell phones as long as possible. Because the production requires, among other things, the mining of valuable raw materials. So slumber alone in Germany’s drawers according to the website sustainably-telefonieren.de including 21 tons of silver, two tons of gold and 765 tons of copper. And this mountain of raw materials is expected to continue to grow. To a survey by statista.com 82% of the mobile phones used by Germans are less than two years old. The majority (38%) of all mobile phones are only used for a period of seven to twelve months. So many cell phones disappear in our drawers or in the trash after just a few months or years. Repairs allow us to at least extend the life of our phones until the next upgrade.
From the right to repair
Many smartphone manufacturers are fueling the short service life and tempting users with new technical functions. At the same time, many companies are trying to make repairing their own devices unattractive. So no own spare parts are offered or the desired repair is only carried out at high prices. But those times seem over. The demand for self-repair is increasing. In the USA in particular, many prominent tech companies and influencers insist on the so-called “right to repair” (This video from Linus Tech Tips explains the Right of Repair). In the meantime, the pressure on the industry has become so great that that both Apple and Samsung promised more support for repairing their products by private individuals. And also the EU passed the “Right to Repair” with a large majority in April.
How do I start my repair?
Simple repair work such as replacing the display or battery is not rocket science. All it takes is the appropriate spare parts, tools and a little practice. Ifixit is a good place to start for beginners. The company is one of the largest suppliers of spare parts and offers extensive Step-by-step instructions for the repair of all kinds of technical devices, from smartphones to game consoles. It is also very comprehensive and easy to set up die Website kaputt.de. Here, too, we can find our way around quickly and get the repair instructions for our cell phone and our problem with just a few clicks. Video platforms such as YouTube also offer many tips and instructions that can help us repair our devices. In general, whichever manual we have chosen, we should have read/watched it in its entirety before repairing it in order to be prepared for everything.
Important: the right room
Besides the parts and the instructions, the most important thing is a good working place for our repair. A clean desk or kitchen table is sufficient for most repairs. For this we need a light source, for example a desk lamp. Since we will probably be working with many different screws, it is also advisable to have several containers – glasses, mugs, egg cartons – ready. This allows us to store the screws and small parts safely and separately from each other. We can find the necessary spare parts and tools directly from the platforms that also provide us with the instructions or from other providers. Many offer entire sets in which the necessary spare parts and the associated tools are sold together.
Top tip: test work with old cell phones
Many of us have never opened a smartphone in our lives. For this very reason, it makes sense to practice assembly with an old cell phone before the actual repair. Each of us surely has an old device lying in a drawer somewhere, or can ask a friend for an old cell phone that can be used for this. With it, we can prepare for working on a smartphone without fear of breaking something. If we then feel ready, we can start with the right repair.
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