Apple gets bottom ranking for repairability of iPhones and MacBooks

Key Points:

• Apple received the lowest repairability ratings for both iPhones and MacBooks based on official European government criteria, which assess factors like repair documentation, ease of disassembly, spare parts availability, pricing, fasteners, tools required, and software update longevity.
• The French government mandates that manufacturers display repairability ratings to enable consumers to compare brands, with similar criteria used by the EU and the US Consumer Organization Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).
• In the latest PIRG report covering 105 devices, Motorola topped smartphone repairability with a B+ grade, followed by Google (C-), Samsung (D), and Apple last with a D-; for laptops, Asus scored highest with a B+ while Apple scored the lowest at C-.
• The MacBook Neo stands out as a notable exception, receiving praise for its repairability and being described by iFixit as the most repairable MacBook in fourteen years, suggesting potential for improved repairability in future Apple products.
• It remains unclear whether the MacBook Neo's design signals a broader shift by Apple toward better repairability or is simply a unique case.