The case for repairing your gadgets
A new battery or screen can add years to a phone or laptop. Why repair often beats replacing — for your wallet and the planet.
When a phone's battery fades or a laptop slows down, the reflex is to replace it. But most devices fail in small, fixable ways — and repair is often the smarter choice.
What usually breaks
- Batteries wear out after a few years of charging
- Screens crack
- Charging ports fill with lint or loosen
- Storage fills up or, in older laptops, hard drives slow down
All of these are commonly repairable.
Why repair makes sense
Cost. A battery or screen replacement typically costs a fraction of a new device.
Environment. Most of a device's environmental footprint comes from manufacturing it. Using it longer is one of the most effective ways to reduce electronic waste.
Familiarity. You keep a device that is already set up just the way you like it.
When replacement is better
- The device no longer receives security updates
- The repair costs close to the price of a new equivalent
- It can't do what you now need, even after repair
Getting a good repair
- Use authorised service centres or reputable independent shops with warranties on their work
- Ask whether parts are original or compatible, and what that means for quality
- Back up your data before handing over a device
A growing movement
"Right to repair" efforts in several countries aim to make spare parts, manuals and tools more available, and some manufacturers now sell repair parts directly. Designs that are easier to repair benefit everyone.
The bottom line
Before buying new, ask what is actually broken. Often, one part — not the whole device — needs replacing.