Android

Manufacturers should release smaller phones which can actually be put into pockets. They'll also need to come up with a better way than to just glue down screens and batteries in place.

One thing I'm really surprised about is that the overall screen strength doesn't seem to have improved over the last 5 years. Screens are still much better than what they were over a decade ago (where a drop without a case was pretty much a screen crack)

But I'm finding on my Pixel 7 pro for example that I'm still finding light scratches, it feels like these screens only have a 5 or 6 on the mohz scale where you'd usually expect a 7 or beyond.

I really like what Framework is doing with their laptops - what we need is an equivalent in the mobile space. It's a shame that Project Ara never took off, their original idea was great and had a pretty good public reception, but they kinda sabotaged themselves and ultimately released a very nerfed version of their original idea. It's been seven years since it was canned and I think it's worth revisiting - technology has progressed a lot since then.

Also, more than repairability, I think the bigger question should be around sustainability, after all, repairability is only a small part of the sustainability equation. So in regards to that, we need to look at what we can do to make Android devices last longer. Updates is the most obvious thing - Apple is offering 6-7(?) years of updates, whereas in the Android world it's more like 4-5, if you're lucky. Even if updates cannot be offered for that long, there should be some sort of certification or recognition process for third-party custom ROMs such as GrapheneOS or LineageOS. The fact that custom ROMs fail to pass the Play Integrity checks is very unfair, especially for GrapheneOS, when they're likely to be more secure and updated than stock ROMs. This is a major roadblock for people in switching to custom ROMs, and thus a roadblock in the sustainability pathway.

At least one positive thing to look forward to is EU's mandate for smartphones to have replaceable batteries by 2027.

I did expect a slower thread this week, but the comment quality has been great though.

Hi from my other account on Lemm.ee everyone!

Off - topic but I'm really liking these threads.

Maybe its just me but I think ever since we entered the "Glass Sandwich" era its a lot easier. What I have lernt as a novice is that the screen is by far the easist thing that breaks during a repair atempt and luckily most glass sandwich phones can be opened from the back without ever touching the screen.

Back in the day with most Metal phones you were always risiking breaking the display. And especially old HTC and Google Pixel phones are a nightmare to fix.

One gripe I have with build quality. Why do people associate having glass back and metal frames with good build quality?

Looking back, Apple touted its superior plastic quality with the iPhone 5C, and it wasn't bad at all iirc. The Zenfone 9 and 10 have the soft touch plastic back and feels good. I had a Pixel 5 before and enjoyed using it bare without having to worry about damaging the back.

Meanwhile, glass is prone to shatter and scratches, is more heavy and slippery, and is expensive to repair. Which means people will likely put on a case to protect their phones, which defeats the purpose of having a glass back, adds thickness and weight, and adds another layer between the wireless charger coils, and I argue creates more plastic waste.

PLASTIC IS FINE WHEN DONE PROPERLY!

Maybe it's just me but I'm surprised that Apple isn't taking more of a stance regarding EU's new regulation on smartphone batteries, especially considering how greenwashing-loving and anti-repair Apple is.

I have repaired my old S20 Ultra screen this week. Even with all of the extra bits it's miles ahead of the repairability of my Motorola Atrix 4G. I think it's a huge plus being able to get OE parts through ifixit and other places nowadays. Everything in the S20 came apart really easily, and went back together quite well. There were a few glued in pieces, but the process went well for me.

Waterproofing requirement means that glue is mandatory even with the presence of a gasket

Huh?

I don't know about other repairable phones, but what I like about the Fairphone and why I'd most likely get one in the future is that it's easy to open up, nothing is glued, you can replace even the camera and official parts are available on their store.

What I really dislike though is the pricing, it feels expensive for what it offers; the Snapdragon 750G of the Fairphone 4 is almost 3 years old, it still ships with Android 12 and the version 13 update will only come out by this year-end.

I mean okay, one could still install LineageOS on it and get the latest Android experience, but I just feel that like with everything else we're always expecting the consumer to pay extra for more sustainability.