Concerns over a disturbing trend—consumer electronics were getting increasingly unrepairable— surfaced in 2013. Ultrabooks and tablets enthralled consumers with their elegant, light forms back then, but the concessions were hard to overlook. Motherboards sold RAM, and SSDs soldered on them. There were glued batteries in place. Lock consumers out of their gadgets using proprietary screws and tools.
The writing was on the wall: engineering out of existence was being done to exclude repairability.
Ten years later, the issue escalated into something considerably worse. Almost every gadget we depend on is meant to fail, from laptops and cellphones to Internet of Things devices. Upgrades are unattainable, repairs are too costly, and replacement is usually the only choice when something fails.
“This isn’t just bad design,” a trade insider said. “This is a business model—one that depends on making consumers dependent on repeated purchases and helpless.”
Are socs hurting longevity and repairability?
The ascent of system-on-chip (SoC) designs has transformed modern electronics. SoCs give fantastic performance and efficiency by grouping the CPU, GPU, RAM, and occasionally storage into a single chip. However, a deadly trade-off is associated with this development: whenever a component of the SoC fails, the whole gadget turns into a brick.
Consider the Apple M-series MacBooks. The RAM and storage you choose at checkout represent the highest you will always have. Two years from now, we will need extra storage. Too bad—you will have to replace the whole gadget. Worse, any SoC failure—that of the CPU, RAM, or storage—makes the entire device useless, and replacement costs run into the thousands.
A former technician described a closed-loop mechanism meant to capture you. You are enrolling in planned obsolescence, not only purchasing a laptop.
Soldered components have evolved into the standard even outside of SoCs. Previously modular tools like laptops and desktops are now repair nightmares.
Is that the weakest link in batteries?
While manufacturers have weaponized it, battery degeneration is unavoidable. Originally meant to be changeable, batteries are now cemented into devices, transforming replacements into an expensive, dangerous process.
Think of Apple’s extremely popular AirPods. Once the non-replaceable batteries run for two to three years, the product generates e-waste. Likewise, smartwatches, laptops, and cellphones all follow the same trend, transforming a once-easy chore—changing out a battery—into an exercise in irritation and cost.
“Glues, proprietary screws, and sealed casings — these aren’t design innovations; they’re roadblocks,” a repair specialist said. “It’s about preventing you from prolonging the life of your device.”
Is leanness compromising durability?
Modern equipment values appearance more than a lifetime. Skinny laptops and cell phones are delicate and easily damaged by small spills or falls. Often half the cost of a new smartphone, a shattered screen on a flagship phone might cost $300 to $400 to repair.
A customer advocate said, “It’s a feature, not a bug.” “You are more likely to replace a device rather than repair the more delicate it is.”
Do Software Dependencies Indicate Built-In Obsolescence?
It is more than just the problematic hardware. Software dependencies have produced still another layer of intended obsolescence. Devices depending on proprietary software or cloud ecosystems are typically worthless when manufacturers stop updating or closing systems.
For instance, consumers were left with hundreds of dollars worth of outdated technology when Google recently turned off its Nest Secure alarm system. Likewise, Sonos received criticism for its “recycle mode,” which blocked older speakers upon consumer upgrading.
“Fitness trackers, IoT devices, even laptops are all at risk,” said a tech blogger. “You might have just a fancy paperweight even if your hardware is perfectly working without software support.”
What environmental expenses does this cycle generate?
Designed obsolescence has effects outside of consumer wallets. One of the environmental emergencies that is quickest to develop is e-waste. Many discarded devices—which might have been improved or repaired—end up in landfills or are exported under the pretense of “recycling” to underdeveloped countries.
Workers in regions like Agbogbloshie, Ghana, break gadgets in dangerous settings, exposing themselves to harmful metals, including lead and mercury. While heavy metals leach into the ground and water, plastics burn and produce carcinogens.
An environmental activist said, “this system is built on exploitation — of consumers, of workers, and of the planet.”
Is there a way forward offered by repair culture?
Not every corner of the planet has adopted this throwaway attitude. Repairability rules in some areas provide a guide for environmentally friendly substitutes.
Cuba: Years of trade embargoes have encouraged creativity. Repair shops save components to extend the life of old appliances and electronics, and mechanics keep 1950s-era vehicles functioning.
India: A vast network of family-run repair stores specializes in reasonably priced repairs, reverse-engineering ideas, and obtaining parts for out-of-date equipment.
Japan: Repair cafés and government-funded initiatives empowering individuals to fix broken goods have emerged from the mottainai or cultural philosophy of valuing resources and minimizing waste.
Europe: Europe is setting the pace with right-to-repair rules, guaranteeing spare parts and repair tools for at least a decade after a device is sold.
How Should We Oppose Planned Obsolescence?
Designed to keep consumers caught in a loop of expensive replacements, this approach does not have to be the standard. Demanding better answers will help consumers, activists, and legislators push back.
Tech activists said, “We need open-source firmware, modular designs, and robust right-to-repair laws.” They also suggested that “we should give top priority to products meant to last.”
We can break out from this cycle of exploitation by embracing repair culture, pushing manufacturers for change, and helping legislative initiatives.
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