By On Wednesday, HMD Global, the company behind Nokia-branded smartphones, unveiled a new device that emphasizes user repairability. The smartphone, available in the U.K., allows customers to fix damaged parts using components provided by iFixit, an organization focused on repair advocacy. Priced at £199 ($252) for the 128GB version, the purple phone aims to encourage people to purchase new devices by offering repairability.
The G42 5G is an upgraded version of HMD Global’s G22 phone, which was previously introduced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Sporting a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 6.56-inch screen, and an impressive three-day battery life, the phone provides users with three years of monthly security updates and two years of operating system upgrades.
While customers will need to pay for replacement parts, the phone’s approach to repairability aligns with the increasing trend among smartphone companies to extend the lifespan of their products. Regulators are pressuring manufacturers to enhance the sustainability of electronic devices. In the European Parliament, lawmakers are advocating for legislation that enforces the “right to repair,” empowering consumers to easily repair their gadgets.
The European Commission’s Green New Deal, targeting a circular economy by 2050, aims to repurpose, repair, reuse, or recycle nearly all physical goods to reduce waste. Repairing smartphones has become more challenging due to the extensive use of adhesive to seal components, including the battery.
Apple, previously resistant to altering its repair policies, introduced a self-service repair program in November 2021, allowing customers to purchase parts for their own device repairs. In December, the program expanded to eight European countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K.
