Apple's iPhone 14 has been publicly touted as the most repairable iPhone in recent history due to its repairable iPhone backplate. The backplate on Apple's mobile phones is made out of glass, and is at the very back of the phone. This becomes an issue when repairing the devices because modern mobile phones are opened primarily by removing the screen. This means the phones without repairable backplates would need to be fully disassembled to be repaired.
Apple, though, made the backplate directly removable on the iPhone 14 for quick and affordable repairs. This backplate design will now be the company's standard going forward on future iPhone designs. For reference, a backplate repair on the iPhone 13 costs approximately $500 USD, while the backplate on the iPhone 14 can be repaired for just over $100 USD, or only $29 USD with an AppleCare+ plan.
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What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Repairable Mobile Devices
- The trend of designing mobile devices for easy repair will continue to grow, presenting an opportunity for companies to differentiate from competitors and reduce waste in the technology industry.
- Modularity in Electronics
- The trend of designing modular devices that can be easily taken apart and repaired will continue to gain popularity, allowing for greater customization and reducing waste in the electronics industry.
- Customer-centric Sustainability
- The trend of prioritizing customer satisfaction in sustainability initiatives will grow, providing companies with an opportunity to gain customer loyalty and contribute positively to the environment.
Sectors Adopting This
- Consumer Electronics
- Companies in the consumer electronics industry should embrace the trend of designing repairable devices and create business models around sustainable practices.
- Mobile Technology
- The mobile technology industry should invest in creating modular and easily-repairable devices to differentiate from competitors and increase customer loyalty.
- Environmental Sustainability
- Initiatives that promote sustainability and reduce waste in the electronics industry, such as repairability and modularity, will continue to gain momentum and support from customers and stakeholders.
