Right to Repair in 2026: Which Brands Support Self-Repair?

The right to repair movement has achieved more in the past three years than in the previous decade. Multiple states have passed repair legislation, the FTC has taken enforcement action against anti-repair practices, and several major brands have launched self-repair programs. Here's the 2026 landscape.

The Legislative Landscape

Federal Level

The FTC issued a policy statement in 2021 directing manufacturers to allow consumers and independent repair shops to fix their products. While not legislation, this policy has been enforced through consent orders and investigations.

State Laws

As of March 2026, right-to-repair laws covering consumer electronics have been enacted in New York, California, Minnesota, Colorado, Oregon, and Maine. These laws generally require manufacturers to:

• Provide replacement parts to consumers and independent repair shops
• Make diagnostic tools and repair manuals available
• Not void warranties for independent repairs
• Price parts and tools fairly

EU Requirements

The European Union's repair regulations, effective in 2025, require manufacturers to make products repairable for a minimum period and to offer spare parts at reasonable prices. These requirements apply to smartphones, tablets, and other consumer electronics sold in the EU.

Brand Report Cards

Apple — B+ (Improved Dramatically)

Apple's Self Service Repair program, launched in 2022, now covers iPhone, MacBook, Mac, and iPad repairs. You can order genuine Apple parts, rent Apple's professional repair tools, and follow detailed repair manuals.

What you can repair yourself:

• Battery replacement (iPhone, MacBook, iPad)
• Display replacement
• Camera replacement
• Speaker, taptic engine, and other modules

Limitations: Parts pairing (where components are linked to specific serial numbers) still restricts some repairs. Apple has loosened this for some components but not all.

The MacBook Air M3 is more repairable than any previous MacBook Air, with a removable battery and SSD access.

Samsung — B

Samsung offers a self-repair program through iFixit, providing genuine parts and guides for Galaxy phones and tablets. Part availability is good, and pricing is fair.

What you can repair: Battery, display, charging port, back glass on most Galaxy S and A series phones.

Framework — A+ (Industry Leader)

Framework's laptops are designed from the ground up for user repair and upgrades. Every component is modular and replaceable. You can upgrade the CPU, RAM, storage, ports, keyboard, display, and battery yourself. Parts are sold directly on Framework's website with clear, illustrated guides.

Google — B

Google offers repair parts through iFixit for Pixel phones. The Pixel line has become increasingly repairable, and Google actively publishes repair scores.

Microsoft — C+

Surface devices are notoriously difficult to repair. Microsoft has made some improvements — the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Laptop 5 have better repairability than their predecessors — but they're still far behind the industry leaders.

Lenovo ThinkPad — A

ThinkPads have been user-repairable since the 1990s. RAM, storage, batteries, keyboards, and displays are all user-replaceable with detailed Hardware Maintenance Manuals published for every model. This repairability is a major reason ThinkPads dominate the corporate and refurbished markets.

John Deere — D (Improving Under Pressure)

Not electronics per se, but John Deere's fight against right to repair made them the poster child for anti-repair practices. A 2023 settlement with the American Farm Bureau Federation committed Deere to providing diagnostic tools and repair guides. Compliance has been mixed.

What Self-Repair Looks Like in Practice

iPhone Battery Replacement

Cost: $89 from Apple, $70 for DIY parts through Apple Self Service Repair Time: 30-60 minutes Difficulty: Moderate — requires removing display, disconnecting ribbon cables Tools: Available for rent from Apple ($49 for a week)

Laptop SSD Upgrade

Cost: Varies by drive — a Samsung 990 EVO 1TB ($85) fits most laptops Time: 10-20 minutes Difficulty: Easy on most laptops — remove bottom panel, swap drive Tools: Phillips screwdriver only for most models

Laptop Battery Replacement

Cost: $35-80 depending on model Time: 15-30 minutes Difficulty: Easy to moderate depending on the laptop brand

The iFixit Factor

iFixit has become the central hub for repair guides and parts. Their repairability scores (1-10) are now industry-recognized:

| Product | iFixit Score | |---------|-------------| | Framework Laptop 16 | 10/10 | | Fairphone 5 | 10/10 | | Google Pixel 8 | 7/10 | | Samsung Galaxy S24 | 6/10 | | iPhone 15 Pro | 6/10 | | MacBook Air M3 | 6/10 | | Microsoft Surface Pro | 3/10 |

Products scoring 7+ are reasonably self-repairable. Below 5, you'll likely need professional help.

The Economic Case for Repair

A Crucial 16GB RAM upgrade ($28) can extend a laptop's useful life by 2-3 years. An SSD upgrade ($45-85) transforms a sluggish machine. A battery replacement ($35-80) restores portable functionality.

Compare these costs to buying a new laptop ($500-1,500) and the environmental impact of manufacturing and shipping a new device. Repair is almost always cheaper, faster, and more sustainable.

Our Recommendation

When buying electronics, factor repairability into your purchase decision. Products that can be self-repaired have longer useful lifespans, higher resale values, and lower total cost of ownership. Check iFixit's repairability score before buying, and consider brands that actively support self-repair.

Read our full laptop guide →

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