I just read that a huge chunk of e-waste repair attempts fail because of one specific part

I was looking at a report from a university in Oregon about e-waste recycling, and it said something like 40% of attempted repairs on modern laptops get stopped by proprietary firmware locks. I mean, I knew it was bad, but that number is way higher than I thought. I found it last night while trying to figure out why a client's 2022 model tablet was a brick after a simple screen swap. It's not just Apple anymore, it's spreading to other brands too. How are you guys getting around this stuff, or are you just turning those jobs away now?

3 comments

3 Comments

uma_ellis17d ago

That 40% number from Oregon is just wild to me. Security is one thing, but bricking a tablet over a screen swap is a quality control failure, not a feature. If the official repair was affordable and quick, people would use it, but it often isn't. This feels more like protecting a service monopoly than protecting anyone from a fake battery.

grace_campbell17d ago

Look at it from the company's side though. Those locks are there for security and to make sure repairs are done right. If anyone could swap parts, you'd get a ton of unsafe, janky devices with fake batteries catching fire. That 40% number probably includes a lot of DIY attempts that should have been official service anyway. It's not about stopping repair, it's about controlling quality and protecting their brand.

lucasschmidt17d ago

Hold on, you think 40% of people are trying dangerous DIY repairs? That's crazy. Most folks just want to fix a cracked screen or swap a tired battery, not rig up some fire hazard. If the company's own service was fast and didn't cost half the price of a new device, people would use it. This isn't about safety, it's about making sure you have to go back to them and pay their price.