The most repairable phone you can buy right now is the Fairphone 6. You can swap its battery, screen, cameras and USB-C port at your kitchen table with a single screwdriver. Below we rank seven phones by how easily you can fix them, explain what makes a repairable cell phone different from the rest, and cover why it matters for your wallet, the planet and how long your phone stays useful.
What actually makes a phone repairable
Every phone is technically “repairable” if a skilled technician has enough heat, suction cups and patience. That is not what you care about. A truly repairable phone is one where the common failures (dead battery, cracked glass, worn charging port) can be fixed quickly, cheaply and without destroying something else in the process.
When we judge repairability, these factors carry the most weight:
- How you get inside. Standard screws beat glue. A back you can pop off beats a glass sandwich you have to heat to 80°C.
- Battery access. The battery is the part you are most likely to replace. Phones that use screws, stretch-release tabs or electrically released adhesive are far kinder than ones that bond the cell straight to the frame.
- Modular design. If the USB-C port sits on its own small board, replacing it costs a few euros. If it is soldered to the main board, the same fault can write off the phone.
- Parts availability. A brilliant design means nothing if you cannot buy the screen. Official parts stores, iFixit partnerships and long parts commitments matter.
- Parts pairing. Some manufacturers serialize components, so a genuine replacement screen or camera throws warnings or loses features unless the manufacturer’s software “approves” it.
- Repair documentation. Free, official repair guides make a huge difference for you and for independent shops.
- Software support. A phone you can physically fix but that stopped getting security updates three years ago is still headed for the drawer.
That last point is the one most repairability rankings skip, and we think it belongs in the score. Hardware longevity and software longevity are two halves of the same question: how long can you keep this phone?
The 7 most repairable phones at a glance
| Phone | Chipset | Display | Battery | Battery swap | Software support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairphone 6 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | 6.31 in, 10 to 120 Hz | 4,415 mAh | Screws, minutes | Updates to 2033 |
| Fairphone 5 | Qualcomm QCM6490 | 6.46 in, 90 Hz | 4,200 mAh | Tool-free | Security updates to 2031 |
| HMD Skyline | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 | 6.55 in, 144 Hz | 4,600 mAh | Screws and pull tabs | 2 OS upgrades, 3 years security |
| Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 | MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ | 6.6 in LCD | 4,050 mAh | Removable, no tools | Samsung enterprise schedule |
| iPhone 17 / iPhone 16 | A19 / A18 | 6.3 in / 6.1 in | Not published | Back opens, tools needed | Apple typically gives 6+ years |
| iPhone Air | A19 Pro | 6.5 in, 120 Hz | Not published | Metal-cased cell, tools needed | Apple typically gives 6+ years |
| Google Pixel 10 | Tensor G5 | 6.3 in, 120 Hz | 4,970 mAh | Tools and adhesive | 7 years |
Now the detail on each one, starting with the phone that sets the benchmark.
1. Fairphone 6: the most repairable phone you can buy
Fairphone announced its sixth-generation phone in June 2025, and it keeps the Dutch company’s reputation as the reference point for repairability. iFixit awarded it a perfect 10 out of 10, matching the Fairphone 5 before it. If you only read one section of this article, this is the phone to look at.
Design and display
The Fairphone 6 is noticeably smaller and lighter than its predecessor, which was one of the most common complaints about the Fairphone 5. The 6.31-inch LTPO pOLED panel scales from 10 to 120 Hz, so you get smooth scrolling without the battery penalty of a fixed high refresh rate. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i.
The body is built from swappable sections rather than a sealed slab. Fairphone also added accessory mounting points on the back so you can screw on a lanyard, a card holder or a stand. It sounds gimmicky until you realize the same screw system is what keeps the internals so easy to reach.
A physical slider switch triggers Fairphone Moments, a stripped-back mode that limits you to a handful of chosen apps. It is a nice touch if you are trying to use your phone less, and it costs nothing in repairability.
Hardware and what’s in the box
Inside, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset is a big step up from the Fairphone 5’s ageing Qualcomm chip. You get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, plus a microSD slot, which has become rare above the budget tier.
The main camera uses a 50MP Sony Lytia 700C sensor, paired with a 13MP ultrawide and a 32MP selfie camera. That is a modest setup next to a Pixel or iPhone, and photography remains the area where Fairphone trails rivals at the same price.
The box is minimal. Fairphone does not include a charger, and you should expect to supply your own USB-C cable and power brick.
Repairability in practice
This is where the Fairphone 6 earns its place. Twelve modules are designed to be replaced by you, including the battery, display, USB-C port, cameras, speaker and SIM/microSD tray. Every one uses the same Torx screws, so one screwdriver handles all of it.
Fairphone sells every module through its own store, at prices that make DIY repair genuinely worthwhile. A new battery costs a fraction of what a third-party shop would charge to replace a glued-in cell on a flagship.
One change from the Fairphone 5 is worth knowing about. The older phone let you pull the battery out by hand after removing the back. The Fairphone 6 secures it with screws instead. It adds a minute to the job, but the swap is still trivial.
Software and performance
The Fairphone 6 shipped with Android 15, and Fairphone promises seven Android version upgrades and security updates through 2033. That is eight years of support, on par with Google and Samsung flagships and better than almost every mid-range phone.
The software is close to stock Android, with a few Fairphone additions. If you want to avoid Google services entirely, a de-Googled version running /e/OS is sold through Murena, Fairphone’s long-term partner.
Performance is solid mid-range. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 handles everyday apps, video streaming and casual games without trouble. Heavy 3D gaming is not its strength, and you will notice it next to a Snapdragon 8 Elite phone.
Battery life and charging
The 4,415 mAh battery is replaceable, which matters more than its raw capacity. When it degrades in three or four years, you swap it in a few minutes instead of replacing the phone. Fairphone rates the phone for 30W wired charging with a compatible charger.
Availability, network and pricing
The Fairphone 6 launched at €599 in Europe and £499 in the UK, sold directly by Fairphone and through selected European retailers and carriers. North American availability has historically come through Murena’s /e/OS models rather than Fairphone’s own store, and US carrier band support is narrower than on phones built for that market.
Watch out
Check band support with your carrier before importing a Fairphone. A phone that cannot reach your carrier’s main LTE and 5G bands is not a bargain, however repairable it is.
Who should buy it: anyone in Europe or the UK who wants to keep a phone for six to eight years and is happy with a mid-range camera in exchange.
2. Fairphone 5: still the easiest battery swap
The Fairphone 5 launched in September 2023 and also scored 10 out of 10 with iFixit. It remains on sale, often discounted, and it is still one of the best repairable phones available.
Its party trick is the battery. You pry off the plastic back with a fingernail, lift the battery out and drop a new one in, no tools required. It is the closest any modern phone gets to old BlackBerry phones and other early-2010s handsets with snap-off backs.
The Qualcomm QCM6490 is an industrial version of a Snapdragon chip, chosen because Qualcomm commits to supporting it for far longer than consumer chips. That choice let Fairphone promise security updates through 2031, and the company has said it wants to stretch support even further.
The trade-offs are real. The Fairphone 5 is chunky and heavy, the 90 Hz OLED is fine rather than impressive, and the camera lags well behind similarly priced phones. It is also rated only IP55, so it handles rain and dust but not a dunk in the bath.
Who should buy it: you want the absolute simplest DIY repairs, you find it at a good discount, and you care more about longevity than performance.
3. HMD Skyline: a mainstream phone designed to be fixed
HMD, the Finnish company that made Nokia-branded phones for years, launched the Skyline in July 2024. It is the best example of a repairable phone that does not ask you to compromise on looks. The squared-off design nods to the old Nokia Lumia line, and it feels like a normal mid-range phone in the hand.
The spec sheet is competitive for its price. You get a 6.55-inch 144 Hz pOLED display, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, a 108MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide and a 50MP 2x telephoto. Charging runs at 33W wired and 15W wireless with Qi2 magnets.
HMD calls this its “Gen 2” repairability design, developed with iFixit. The back panel comes off with a handful of screws, and the battery uses pull tabs rather than permanent glue. HMD says you can replace the screen in around 20 minutes. Parts and repair kits are sold through iFixit.
The weak spot is software. HMD promises two Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates. That is short next to the seven or eight years Fairphone, Google and Samsung now offer, and it undercuts the long-life promise of easy hardware repair. Our view: a phone you can fix for six years but that only gets patches for three is a three-year phone for most people.
Who should buy it: you want easy repairs and a strong camera at a lower price, and you plan to upgrade within three or four years.
4. Samsung Galaxy XCover 7: the removable battery survivor
Samsung’s XCover line is built for warehouses, building sites and delivery drivers, and it keeps a feature mainstream phones abandoned a decade ago: a user-removable battery. Launched in early 2024, the Galaxy XCover 7 lets you pop the back off and swap the battery in seconds, while still carrying an IP68 rating and MIL-STD-810H drop testing.
That combination is unusual. Most manufacturers argued that removable batteries made waterproofing impossible. The XCover proves it can be done, at the cost of a thicker body.
The hardware is modest. The MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ is an entry-level 5G chip, the 6.6-inch screen is an LCD rather than OLED, and charging tops out at 15W. A microSD slot, a programmable side key and glove-friendly touch sensitivity point to its work-phone roots. Samsung also sells a Pro version with a stronger chip and better screen.
Batteries are easy. Screens and ports are less so, because once you go beyond the battery you are into a conventional Samsung teardown. Samsung’s own self-repair parts program covers some Galaxy models, though the company’s earlier partnership with iFixit ended in 2024 amid disagreements over parts pricing and batteries glued to display assemblies.
Who should buy it: you are hard on phones, you value a hot-swappable battery for long shifts, and you do not need flagship power or camera quality.
5. iPhone 17 and iPhone 16: Apple’s quiet repairability turnaround
Apple was the villain of the right-to-repair movement for years, and you will still hear that reputation repeated. It is out of date. The iPhone 15, 16 and 17 series are meaningfully easier to fix than the phones that came before them.
The design changes that matter
The shift started with the iPhone 14, whose redesigned internal frame let technicians open the phone from the front or the back. That matters because the back glass is one of the most commonly cracked parts. Before, a broken back often meant swapping the entire housing, a repair that cost close to the price of a new screen.
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus then introduced a battery adhesive that releases when you apply a low-voltage electrical current. Instead of prying a bonded cell out with plastic picks and isopropyl alcohol, a technician (or a careful owner) can loosen it cleanly. iFixit rated the iPhone 16 a 7 out of 10, a big jump for an iPhone.
The iPhone 17, released in September 2025, keeps the dual-entry design. It is also a strong phone in its own right, with a 6.3-inch 120 Hz ProMotion display (a first for the base model), the A19 chip and 256GB of storage as standard.
Parts, tools and pairing
Apple’s Self Service Repair program, launched in the US in 2022 and since expanded to more countries, sells genuine parts and repair manuals directly to you. You can buy the tools or rent a full repair kit for a week instead of paying for heavy equipment you will use once.
Parts pairing used to be the bigger problem. Apple serializes many components, and swapping in a genuine screen or battery from another iPhone used to trigger warnings or disable features. Since iOS 18, the Repair Assistant built into Settings can calibrate genuine used parts on the device itself, and the phone tells you when a third-party part is installed rather than blocking it outright. It is still more controlled than Android, but far more workable than it was.
Apple’s own out-of-warranty battery service for recent models costs about $99 in the US. That is a reasonable price for a phone you are likely to keep for five or six years, especially since Apple historically supports iPhones with iOS updates for six years or more.
Buying tip
If you want the most repair-friendly iPhone on a budget, the iPhone 16 has dropped to $699 and has the electrically released battery adhesive that makes battery swaps so much easier.
Who should buy it: you are staying in Apple’s ecosystem and want a phone that independent shops and Apple can both fix without drama for years.
6. iPhone Air: thin, but not a repair nightmare
When Apple unveiled the iPhone Air in September 2025, repair advocates braced for the worst. Ultra-thin phones usually mean more glue, more fragile parts and less room to work. The Air turned out better than expected.
Apple moved most of the logic board into the camera plateau at the top of the phone, leaving the flat lower section mostly for the battery. iFixit’s teardown found the battery sits in a metal casing, which protects it from bending during removal and makes it far less risky to pull out than a soft pouch cell. The rigid case also reduces the chance of puncturing the cell, a real fire risk with traditional glued batteries.
The trade-offs are elsewhere. The Air has a single 48MP rear camera, a smaller battery than the iPhone 17 Pro, and it is eSIM-only in every market. Its thin titanium frame is also more exposed to bending forces than a thicker phone, though Apple and early durability testers have shown it holds up to normal use.
It ranks below the iPhone 17 mainly on value and because the thinner body leaves less margin for clumsy DIY work. For a shop technician, it is a straightforward job.
Who should buy it: you want the thinnest iPhone and accept compromises on battery and camera, without giving up repairability.
7. Google Pixel 10: excellent support, average teardown
Google’s case for repairability rests more on support than on screwdrivers. The Pixel 10, launched in August 2025, carries seven years of Android OS and security updates, the same commitment Google has offered since the Pixel 8. That is the longest promise in the US market alongside Samsung’s flagships.
Google also partners with iFixit to sell genuine Pixel parts and publish official repair guides, so you can buy a real screen, battery or charging port rather than gambling on unbranded parts from a marketplace.
The hardware is a strong all-rounder. The Tensor G5 is the first Google chip built by TSMC, and the base Pixel 10 finally adds a 5x telephoto camera alongside its 48MP main and 13MP ultrawide sensors. Built-in Qi2 magnets mean MagSafe-style accessories attach without a case.
The teardown is where it falls behind. Like most flagships, the Pixel 10 opens through an adhesive-sealed screen, and recent Pixels have drawn criticism from repairers for stubborn battery adhesive. It is fixable, especially with official parts and guides, but it is not a ten-minute job for a first-timer. The phone’s IP68 rating depends on that seal, so a DIY repair needs fresh adhesive to keep water out.
As for the Pixel 11, Google has not announced it at the time of writing. Based on Google’s usual schedule it would arrive in late summer, but we will not guess at its design until there is official information or credible reporting.
Who should buy it: you want the cleanest Android experience and the longest support window, and you are happy to use a repair shop rather than fixing it yourself.
The least repairable phones: what to avoid
The worst performers share a few traits. Foldables top the list. Their inner folding screens are expensive, delicate and tightly integrated with the hinge, and a replacement can cost a large share of the phone’s price. They are improving, but you should budget for screen protection plans if you buy one.
Ultra-premium flagships with batteries bonded to the display assembly are next. When the battery and screen come as one part, a simple battery swap becomes a costly screen replacement. iFixit criticized Samsung for exactly this pattern on several Galaxy models.
Phones from brands with no official parts channel round out the list. Many budget brands sell great hardware for the money, but if you cannot buy a genuine screen two years later, your options shrink to whatever unbranded part a marketplace seller happens to stock.
Why repairability matters
It saves you real money
A new mid-range phone costs $400 to $600, and a flagship costs $800 to well over $1,000. A replacement battery, by contrast, costs tens of dollars on a Fairphone and around $99 through Apple for recent iPhones. A charging port module can cost less than a takeaway meal.
Batteries are the single most common reason people replace working phones. Lithium-ion cells lose capacity with every charge cycle, and after two or three years many phones struggle to last a day. If you can swap the battery cheaply, a three-year phone becomes a six-year phone.
It keeps devices out of landfill
Most of a phone’s lifetime carbon footprint comes from manufacturing, not from charging it. Mining the metals, making the chips and assembling the device generate far more emissions than years of daily use. Keeping a phone in service longer is one of the most effective things you can do to reduce its impact, and repairability is what makes that practical.
E-waste is also a growing problem. The UN’s Global E-waste Monitor has repeatedly found that only a fraction of discarded electronics are formally collected and recycled. A phone that stays in your pocket for six years is a phone that does not need recycling yet.
It protects your independence as an owner
When only the manufacturer can fix your phone, the manufacturer sets the price and decides when your phone is “too old” to service. Repairable designs and fair parts access let independent shops compete, which keeps repair prices honest. It also means a cracked screen on holiday can be fixed in a local shop the same day.
The repair math: when fixing beats replacing
Here is a simple way to decide what makes sense for your situation. Compare the cost of the repair to how many more years of software support your phone has left.
| Scenario | Fix it? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Battery worn, 4+ years of updates left | Yes | Cheapest way to add years |
| Cracked screen, 4+ years of updates left | Usually yes | Even a pricey screen beats a new phone |
| Cracked screen, under 1 year of updates left | Probably not | You will replace it soon anyway |
| Charging port faulty on a modular phone | Yes | Often a cheap, quick module swap |
| Water damage on a sealed flagship | Get a quote first | Can affect the board, not just one part |
A useful rule of thumb: if the repair costs less than a quarter of the price of a comparable new phone, and you have at least two years of updates left, fix it. This is also why we weigh software support so heavily in our rankings. The Fairphone 6’s 2033 support window makes every repair over its life easy to justify.
When you are weighing up how to choose a phone in the first place, put “years of updates” and “battery replacement cost” near the top of the list, next to price and camera.
Right to repair: how the rules are changing
Repairability is no longer just a brand choice. Laws in Europe and several US states are forcing manufacturers to make phones easier and cheaper to fix.
European Union
Since 20 June 2025, EU ecodesign rules apply to smartphones and tablets sold in the bloc. Manufacturers must keep spare parts available for seven years after a model stops being sold, provide operating system updates for at least five years after that point, and meet minimum battery durability standards (at least 800 charge cycles while keeping 80% of capacity).
Phones sold in the EU must also carry an energy label that includes a repairability class from A to E, alongside drop resistance, battery endurance and water resistance information. It is the easiest way for European buyers to compare repairability in a shop.
The EU Battery Regulation goes further. From February 2027, portable batteries in devices like phones are meant to be removable and replaceable by the user, although the rules include exemptions for phones with highly durable batteries and strong water resistance. How manufacturers respond to those exemptions will shape phone design for the rest of the decade.
United States
There is no federal right-to-repair law for phones, but several states have passed their own. New York’s Digital Fair Repair Act took effect in 2024. California’s law requires manufacturers to provide parts, tools and documentation for seven years on products that cost more than $100. Minnesota and Oregon went further, with Oregon specifically targeting parts pairing on devices made from 2025 onward.
Because manufacturers rarely build separate phones for individual states, these laws tend to improve repair access for everyone in the US. Apple’s expansion of Self Service Repair and its looser parts-pairing rules arrived in the same period these laws were being debated, and that is not a coincidence.
The honest downside of repairable phones
Read the Fairphone community forums for long enough and you will find owners who are frustrated with their phones. The complaints are worth taking seriously because they reveal something the marketing does not.
Repairable is not the same as reliable. A phone that is easy to fix can still need fixing more often than a sealed flagship. Some owners report replacing modules more than once, dealing with software bugs, or waiting longer for updates than they would on a Pixel. Others are unhappy that they paid flagship-adjacent money for a mid-range camera.
There are structural reasons for this. A small company like Fairphone has a fraction of the engineering budget of Apple, Google or Samsung. Modular designs use more connectors, and every connector is a potential point of failure. Screws and seams also make it harder to achieve top-tier water resistance, which is why both recent Fairphones are rated IP55 rather than IP68.
None of this makes Fairphone a bad choice. It means you should go in with clear expectations. You are buying a phone that will be cheap and easy to keep alive for many years, not one that will never give you trouble. If having a phone that simply works with zero fuss matters more to you than fixing it yourself, an iPhone 17 or Pixel 10 with an affordable official repair channel may suit you better.
How to check repairability before you buy
You do not need a teardown video to make a smart decision. Run through this checklist before you buy any phone:
- Look up the iFixit repairability score. iFixit publishes scores out of 10 for most major phones after its teardowns. Anything 7 or above is good for a modern phone.
- Check the EU label if you are in Europe. The A to E repairability class on the energy label gives you a standardized comparison.
- Search the manufacturer’s site for a parts store or self-repair program. Apple, Google, Samsung, Fairphone and HMD all offer some form of official parts access. Many budget brands do not.
- Find the software support end date. Look for a specific year, not vague promises. Seven years or more is now the standard to aim for.
- Price a battery replacement. Check what the manufacturer charges out of warranty. This is the repair you are most likely to need.
- Check for parts pairing restrictions. Search for owner reports on whether genuine replacement parts lose features.
- Consider your local repair options. A well-known model from a major brand will have far more independent shop support than a niche import.
Buying tip
Before you buy, search for the official price of a replacement battery and screen for that exact model. If the manufacturer will not tell you, that tells you something too.
Our verdict
The Fairphone 6 is the most repairable phone you can buy and the one to get if you live in Europe or the UK and want to keep a phone for close to a decade. The Fairphone 5 is a cheaper route to the same philosophy, with the easiest battery swap on the market.
If you want a mainstream phone with easy repairs and a better camera for the money, the HMD Skyline is a smart pick, as long as you accept its shorter software support. Hard-working users who want a battery they can swap mid-shift should look at the Galaxy XCover 7.
In the US, the most practical repair-friendly choices are the iPhone 17 (or the discounted iPhone 16) and the Google Pixel 10. Neither matches Fairphone for DIY simplicity, but both combine long software support with genuine parts, official guides and wide repair-shop coverage. For most people, that combination is what really keeps a phone alive.
FAQ
What is the most repairable phone in 2026?
The Fairphone 6 is the most repairable phone currently available. It earned a 10 out of 10 repairability score from iFixit, has 12 user-replaceable modules that all use the same screwdriver, and comes with software support through 2033.
Is a repairable cell phone worth it if I’m not good with tools?
Yes. Repairable phones are also cheaper and faster for repair shops to fix, so you still benefit even if you never open the phone yourself. Shorter labor time and cheaper parts mean lower repair bills.
Are iPhones repairable now?
Much more than they used to be. The iPhone 14 and later can be opened from the front or back, the iPhone 16 introduced a battery adhesive that releases with electrical current, and Apple sells genuine parts and manuals through Self Service Repair. iPhones still use parts pairing, but the Repair Assistant in iOS 18 and later makes genuine replacements much easier to calibrate.
Which phones still have removable batteries?
The Fairphone 5 lets you remove the battery by hand after taking off the back cover. Samsung’s Galaxy XCover 7 and XCover 7 Pro also have user-removable batteries while keeping IP68 water resistance. The Fairphone 6 battery is replaceable in minutes but secured with screws.
Are repairable phones waterproof?
Some are, but usually less so than sealed flagships. The Fairphone 5 and Fairphone 6 are rated IP55, which covers rain and splashes but not submersion. The Galaxy XCover 7 shows a removable battery and IP68 can coexist, though the phone is thicker as a result.
Do repairable phones get software updates for as long as flagships?
It depends on the brand. Fairphone leads with support through 2031 for the Fairphone 5 and 2033 for the Fairphone 6. HMD offers much less on the Skyline, with two OS upgrades and three years of security patches. Always check the end date before you buy, because software support decides how long a repair stays worthwhile.
Will EU rules make all phones repairable?
They are pushing hard in that direction. Since June 2025, phones sold in the EU must have spare parts available for seven years after sales end, minimum battery durability and a repairability label. From 2027, the EU Battery Regulation aims to make batteries user-replaceable, with some exemptions for highly durable, water-resistant designs.