The EU Right to Repair Directive takes effect July 31, 2026. Manufacturers must offer repair at fair prices. The US has no equivalent federal law. Here is what changed.
It’s both. I tried to repair my last phone but it would have cost me more in special parts than to just buy a new one. Meanwhile my family members are buying new phones because theirs are a little slow or have a crack in the screen. I’ve known so many people to ditch their iPhone for the latest model regardless of how well theirs was functioning. And I know a ton of people who are clinging onto an almost-new phone that randomly shuts off every 30 minutes because “it still works” or just keep buying new batteries until the software stops updating.
I guess what I’m saying is that planned obsolescence is bullshit AND we have a consumerist culture that encourages people to always want the latest and greatest. We need tech that lasts and is easily repaired and we need people to prioritize using what they have
It’s both. I tried to repair my last phone but it would have cost me more in special parts than to just buy a new one. Meanwhile my family members are buying new phones because theirs are a little slow or have a crack in the screen. I’ve known so many people to ditch their iPhone for the latest model regardless of how well theirs was functioning. And I know a ton of people who are clinging onto an almost-new phone that randomly shuts off every 30 minutes because “it still works” or just keep buying new batteries until the software stops updating.
I guess what I’m saying is that planned obsolescence is bullshit AND we have a consumerist culture that encourages people to always want the latest and greatest. We need tech that lasts and is easily repaired and we need people to prioritize using what they have