The PIRG organization published the Failing the Fix 2026 report, which evaluated how easy it is to repair smartphones and laptops from popular brands. Apple ended up in last place among both smartphones and laptops. The only bright spot is the MacBook Neo, which repair experts call the most repairable MacBook in 14 years.
MacBook Neo has become the most repairable Apple device in recent years
How Smartphone and Laptop Repairability Is Evaluated
US PIRG is an American advocacy organization that promotes right-to-repair laws and demands greater transparency from manufacturers. For smartphone evaluation this year, the European EPREL system was used, while for laptops, the French repairability index was used, which manufacturers are required to disclose by law.
The evaluation considers seven key parameters: availability of repair documentation, ease of disassembly, availability and cost of spare parts, types of fasteners, required tools, and the duration of software update support. Companies also lose points if they belong to trade associations lobbying against the right to repair — both Apple and Samsung received penalties for this.
The Most Repairable Smartphones of 2026
According to the report, Motorola topped the smartphone ranking with a B+ rating, followed by Google with a C−. Samsung received a D, and Apple got a D−, the lowest score among all phone manufacturers.
Apple is far from the top of the repairability ranking
One of the reasons for the low score is that Apple and Samsung guarantee updates for only five years, which is below the expectations of the rating system. Third-party parts, which can cost half the price of original ones, remain restricted, and replacing Face ID with third-party components is still impossible.
At the same time, PIRG notes some positive shifts. Apple has improved the situation with parts pairing: the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 introduced a built-in “Repair Assistant,” and original parts can now be transferred between devices — previously, this required Apple authorization.
The Most Repairable Laptops of 2026
Among laptops, Apple received a C− rating, the worst in the category. Overall, PIRG notes stagnation in the category: the repairability situation for laptops has barely changed year over year. Only HP showed notable improvement — from C last year to B− this year.
Repairing the MacBook Neo is much easier than other devices from the company
But there’s an important caveat. The head of PIRG’s right-to-repair campaign separately praised Apple for releasing the MacBook Neo — as an example of repairable design. It became the exception to the overall picture.
How MacBook Neo Differs from Other MacBooks
iFixit conducted a detailed teardown of the MacBook Neo and gave it 6 out of 10 points — Apple’s best laptop result in over a decade. For comparison: the MacBook Pro with M5 received 4 out of 10, and the MacBook Air with M4 got 5 out of 10.
The device has almost no adhesive, making it easier to replace components
Here’s what changed in the MacBook Neo’s design:
- The battery is held by 18 screws instead of adhesive — replacement is easier and safer
- USB-C ports are modular: a broken connector can be replaced separately without touching the main board
- The display is easy to remove — just remove the antenna module and hinge screws
- The keyboard is secured with 41 screws, but it can be replaced separately from the top case, which reduces repair costs
But there are downsides too. RAM and storage (8 GB and 256 or 512 GB) are soldered — they cannot be replaced or expanded. Apple also still uses proprietary pentalobe screws on the bottom cover, which require a special screwdriver.
Why iPhone and MacBook Are Difficult to Repair
Apple’s low scores aren’t just about the physical difficulty of disassembly. The company has expanded its Activation Lock feature (theft protection) to individual components, which, according to repair shops, devalues working spare parts — they simply cannot be reused.
Additionally, 8 out of 10 brands evaluated belong to trade associations opposing repair, including TechNet and the Consumer Technology Association. Manufacturers receive penalty points for this.
It’s worth noting that the European EPREL system does not account for the cost of spare parts — yet it’s precisely the high cost of repair that most often leads people to buy a new device instead of fixing the old one.
Should You Pay Attention to iPhone and MacBook Repairability?
If you’re choosing Apple products and want something relatively easy and affordable to repair, the MacBook Neo at $599 (approximately 65,000 ₽) is currently the only Apple laptop with a truly well-thought-out design for repairs. Adhesive-free battery, modular ports, no parts pairing — all of this matters for both home repair enthusiasts and independent service centers.
Choosing a computer solely based on repairability is definitely not the way to go
For iPhone owners, the situation is less encouraging for now. Apple is taking steps toward the right to repair, but its smartphones are still harder to fix than devices from Motorola or Google.
The main question is: will the MacBook Neo remain a one-off exception, or will Apple start applying the same approach to MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPhone? There’s no answer yet, but the very fact that MacBook Neo exists shows that affordability and repairability don’t necessarily have to contradict each other.
