Apple has received the lowest repairability ratings for both iPhones and MacBooks in a new analysis based on official European criteria, and the findings show that fixing Apple devices remains difficult despite recent changes in repair policies.
The report compares major brands using a standardized system that focuses on how easy it is to repair devices over time, and Apple finishes at the bottom in both smartphone and laptop categories.
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Public Interest Research Group reviewed detailed repair data from 105 devices and used European Union and French government scoring methods to rank brands. The evaluation looks at factors such as repair documentation, ease of disassembly, spare parts availability and pricing, tools required, fasteners used, and how long software updates last, which together define how practical it is for users or technicians to repair a device.
Apple scores lowest across categories
Public Interest Research Group placed Apple last among smartphone brands with a D minus grade, while Motorola led with a B plus, followed by Google at C minus and Samsung at D. The same pattern appears in laptops, where Asus topped the list with a B plus, while Apple again ranked last with a C minus score.
Public Interest Research Group states:
“This annual report calculates a repairability score for the most popular cellphone and laptop brands, and grades which manufacturers are designing devices to last and which are ‘Failing the Fix.’”
The rankings reflect a broader issue where many devices remain hard to repair due to design choices and software restrictions, which increases long term costs for users and contributes to electronic waste.
There is a rare exception
The MacBook Neo stands out as a clear exception in Apple’s lineup, and early teardown analysis shows that Apple has made meaningful progress with this model by improving internal design and access to components. Repair experts describe it as one of the most repairable MacBooks in over a decade, which signals that Apple can improve when it focuses on repairability.
iFixit reported that it is the most repairable MacBook in fourteen years, reflecting increasing pressure from regulators and right-to-repair laws urging companies to design devices that are easier to repair and maintain.
The report highlights that repairability directly affects both cost and environmental impact, since hard devices to fix often get replaced instead of being repaired.
Public Interest Research Group explains:
“Consumers should be able to choose electronics knowing they are durable and fixable, but right now manufacturers and vendors aren’t making that information easy to access or understand.”
Clear repair scores now help buyers compare products before purchase, and they also push companies to design devices that last longer and reduce waste over time.
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