Apple, Google and Microsoft devices are among the hardest to repair, the report says.

If you want a durable laptop, a new report suggests choosing a Dell over an Apple Mac.

Despite selling some of the most expensive devices on the market, the study found that Apple devices are the hardest to fix, followed by Apple devices. Google And Microsoft.

Apple’s MacBooks were twice as difficult to open and repair as the cheaper variants sold by Dell, which happens to have the most repairable laptops.

In the smartphone category, Apple’s iPhone ranked lowest in “repairability” and Motorola best known for his retro clamshells – occupies the highest position.

Apple recently introduced a self-repair service for customers in the UK, although it criticized for being too complex and having “disastrous” results.

For the report, each device manufacturer was given a grade from A plus to E with a minus, like in a school report card.  Apple came last in both the laptop and smartphone categories.

For the report, each device manufacturer was given a grade from A plus to E with a minus, like in a school report card. Apple came last in both the laptop and smartphone categories.

In terms of laptops, Dell took first place with a B+ rating, followed by Asus, HP, Acer and Lenovo.  Among smartphones, Motorola leads the way, followed by Samsung, Google, and finally Apple.

In terms of laptops, Dell took first place with a B+ rating, followed by Asus, HP, Acer and Lenovo. Among smartphones, Motorola leads the way, followed by Samsung, Google, and finally Apple.

The new investigation was led by the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), an American non-profit organization and part of the “right to repair” movement, which is pressuring tech giants to make it easier to repair devices and help reduce e-waste. .

Technical devices are evaluated by “repairability”

laptops

Dell (B+)

Asus (B+)

HP (B)

acer (B-)

Lenovo (B-)

Microsoft (D+)

apple (D-)

Smartphones

Motorola (B+)

Samsung (WITH)

Google (D+)

apple (D)

Source: Public Interest Study Group.

“Manufacturers are improving, but not good enough yet,” said Lukas Gutterman, director of the Designed to Last campaign at PIRG. Blog post.

“These repair ratings provide consumers with important information so they can make the best buying choice within their budget.

“It is ridiculous to spend so much on expensive equipment that is disposable.

“We call for improved access to parts, tools and information needed to repair today’s devices.

“Companies need to do more to make sure their products last.”

MailOnline has reached out to Apple, Google and Microsoft, which have a combined market value of nearly £6.1 trillion (£5 trillion), for comment.

For the study, the researchers assessed how easy it was to take apart more than 200 laptops and 90 smartphones from 10 companies — Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Google, Lenovo, Motorola, Acer, Dell, Asus, and HP.

Each device manufacturer was assigned a score out of 10 and a corresponding grade from A plus to F, similar to a school report card.

The availability and cost of spare parts and operating manuals, as well as the availability of software updates, were taken into account.

The scores decreased if the firms lobbied for a “right to repair” billmaking it easier for consumers to repair a broken or damaged device.

Big tech firms often oppose such legislation because it robs them of sales.

In the notebook category, Dell ranked first with a B+, followed by Asus (B+), HP (B), Acer (B-), Lenovo (B-), Microsoft (D+) and Apple (D-).

Meanwhile, Motorola (B+) led the smartphone market, followed by Samsung (C), Google (D+) and finally Apple (D).

Big tech companies like Apple are making hard-to-repair devices, creating piles of electronic and electrical junk - wasting resources and harming the environment, green activists say (file photo)

Big tech companies like Apple are making hard-to-repair devices, creating piles of electronic and electrical junk – wasting resources and harming the environment, green activists say (file photo)

The Public Interest Research Group has rated technical devices on the basis of

The Public Interest Research Group has rated technical devices on the basis of “repairability”. In the laptop category, Apple received the lowest “D-” rating.

According to the report, Apple, Google, and Microsoft were lowered for lobbying for the Right to Repair Act, but the other seven companies were unaffected, so their valuations weren’t impacted.

What is the right to repair?

Right to Repair is a global effort to make it easier for consumers to repair their smartphones, laptops and other devices.

The movement, which includes a coalition of European organizations, has long been putting pressure on tech giants to make devices easier to repair and help reduce e-waste.

Big tech companies that make devices that are hard to fix are creating a mountain of electronic and electrical waste, wasting resources and damaging the environment, green campaigners say.

An example is a bill that was “quietly killed” by a committee last May despite consumer support for repairable products. Register reported at the time.

The new investigation also found that Dell, HP, Asus and Acer laptops have become slightly easier to repair over the past year, while Lenovo laptops have become more difficult to repair.

Apple and Microsoft laptops are a little easier to repair compared to last year, but both still fall far behind in the D category.

Apple and Google phones have improved slightly over the year but are still in last place, while Samsung and Motorola have declined but their scores have not been affected.

The researchers also found no correlation between price and maintainability, meaning that the cheapest devices were not as difficult to repair as one might expect.

Apple spun off over parts costs, though tech giant deployment of a self-repair service for customers in an attempt to boost their environmental credentials.

Apple’s program delivers spare parts and tools to people’s homes for a fee so they can fix their broken iPhones and Macs.

Apple recently introduced a self-repair service to customers in the UK, although it has been criticized for being overly complicated and producing

Apple recently introduced a self-repair service to customers in the UK, although it has been criticized for being overly complicated and producing “disastrous” results.

Big tech companies that make it difficult to repair devices are creating a mountain of electronic and electrical waste, wasting resources and harming the environment, green campaigners say.

Big tech companies that make it difficult to repair devices are creating a mountain of electronic and electrical waste, wasting resources and harming the environment, green campaigners say.

However, Apple has stated that the program is only suitable for “customers who have experience repairing electronic devices.”

This means that for those who lack understanding or little confidence in their ability to fix the problem, it is better to entrust their device to a professional.

One attempt at self-repair of the iPhone 12, the purpose of which was simply to replace the battery, ended in a “catastrophe” and the phone broke down. New York Times.

Reviews suggest that the program is designed to make it look like Apple supports the right to repair while actually discouraging repairs by making it too difficult for non-specialists.

According to scientists and environmental campaigners, major tech companies, including Apple and Google, have deliberately made it harder to repair their devices.

“Smartphones and many other technical devices are increasingly being designed in such a way that it is difficult to repair or replace individual components,” said Ritesh Chug, professor of information technology at CQUniversity in Queensland, Australia.

“This can include soldering the CPU and flash on the motherboard, unnecessary bonding of components, or using non-standard pentagon head screws that make replacement problematic.”

When big tech firms regularly release new products with incremental updates, old ones stay often hiding Houses.

Eventually, they are thrown away and added to the mountains of e-waste, wasting resources and damaging the environment.

Once the device is discarded and e-waste is heated, toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases are released into the air, damaging the atmosphere.

What’s more, e-waste in landfills can seep toxic materials into groundwater, poisoning and killing animals and plants.

A 2019 study found that in Europe, extending the life of smartphones and other devices by just one year could reduce carbon emissions by as much as taking two million cars off the road every year.

The full life cycle of European smartphones is responsible for 14 million tons of emissions per year, which exceeds Latvia’s carbon budget, the report said.

E-waste and its health hazards

Electronic waste (e-waste) includes anything that has plugs, cords, and electronic components.

Common sources of e-waste are smartphones, TVs, computers and any household appliances, from air conditioners to children’s toys.

These electronics contain valuable non-renewable resources including gold, silver, copper, platinum, aluminum and cobalt.

This means that when we dispose of them without recycling, we are throwing away precious materials.

According to a 2021 report from the World Health Organization, human health is at risk due to the “informal handling” – such as incineration – of discarded e-waste.

The health risk associated with e-waste can result from direct contact with hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium, chromium or brominated flame retardants.

They are also provoked by the inhalation of toxic fumes, as well as the accumulation of chemicals in soil, water and food.

For an expectant mother, exposure to toxic e-waste can affect the health and development of her unborn child for the rest of her life.

Source: WHO/Natural History Museum.