What you should know
- In December 2023, Google and Apple had a strong competition over the repairability issue, with both companies introducing new tools and programs.
- Google has endorsed a proposed Right to Repair bill in Oregon, stating that it would benefit consumers, the environment, and companies seeking to make their products more repairable and sustainable.
- The company has released a white paper titled “Google & Repairability”, emphasizing that repair is a crucial part of their focus on product longevity and sustainability.
- Google’s efforts to make repair accessible include ensuring the availability of repair parts, reducing the cost and number of required repair tools, and providing clear repair instructions.
Full Story
December 2023 was a hotbed of rivalry. Google and Apple were at each other’s throats over the repairability issue. Apple was busy adding the iPhone 15 to its Self Service Repair program. They even introduced a new diagnostic tool. Google, on the other hand, was launching the Pixel Diagnostic app.
Fast forward to 2024, and Google is still holding on to the repairability issue. They’re not just any company, they’re the search engine behemoth behind the Pixel phones. They’re throwing their weight behind a proposed Right to Repair bill in Oregon. They’ve even published a white paper (via 9to5Google).
“Today, we’re excited to reaffirm our support for the Right to Repair movement by releasing our first white paper on repair while endorsing proposed Oregon Right to Repair legislation”, Google’s blog post begins. The company is all in. They believe that if the Right to Repair bill advances, it would be a win-win. Consumers would get affordable repair options, the environment would benefit, and companies could invest in making their products more repairable and sustainable.
Google didn’t stop there. They also showcased the aforementioned white paper, titled “Google & Repairability”. They stated, “Repair is a critical component of Google’s focus on enabling product longevity and sustainability”. So, what does Google’s efforts to make repair accessible look like?
Repair parts: “We ensure that parts for our phones are accessible to the public. We also do not require burdensome parts pairing or registration, meaning that a properly installed screen or battery will work no matter who is doing the repair. This accessibility is table-stakes, as far as we are concerned. We also believe this effort enables small businesses and local repairers to thrive and grow by encouraging scalable processes with genuine parts that enable efficient repairs.”
Accessible tools: “We have consistently reduced the cost and number of repair tools required for our devices, and have now also made them available online for anyone to purchase. We have also launched an on-device Diagnostic App to help users test device functionality before and after repairs.”
Clear instructions: “We recently redesigned our repair manuals so it’s easier for repairers to use them, and we plan to continue to upload manuals for previous and future devices going forward. Additionally, we’ve elevated the visibility of repair-related resources on our Help Pages, including information on how to order parts, view repair manuals, and run diagnostic tests — all elements of quality repairs.”
