iFixit, the renowned repairability advocate, is officially parting ways with Samsung after failing to renegotiate their contract. The decision, as stated by iFixit’s CEO and co-founder Kyle Wiens, comes as a result of Samsung’s lack of interest in enabling repair at scale, diverging from the successful partnerships iFixit has with other tech giants like Google, Motorola, and HMD.

Wiens emphasized that the high pricing of Samsung’s parts, coupled with the complexity of repairing Samsung phones, has led to a disconnect between the two companies. One significant issue highlighted by iFixit is Samsung’s practice of shipping preglued batteries attached to phone screens, forcing consumers to pay over $160 for a battery replacement, a stark contrast to the more reasonable pricing of batteries for iPhones and Pixels.

Furthermore, the limitations imposed by Samsung’s contract hindered iFixit’s ability to assist local repair shops effectively. The restriction on the number of parts that could be sold per customer within a specific timeframe hampered iFixit’s efforts to make a substantial environmental impact through repair services.

Additional concerns arose when it was revealed that Samsung required iFixit to disclose customers’ email addresses and purchase histories, a requirement not present in iFixit’s other partnerships. This demand, along with the obligation for repair shops to report customer information, further strained the relationship between the two entities.

Despite the dissolution of their partnership, iFixit remains committed to its mission of promoting repairability and providing consumers with the tools and resources needed for DIY repairs. Moving forward, iFixit will continue its operations independently, ensuring that customers can still access high-quality repair guides and components for a wide range of devices.