The Android phone maker says go ahead, fix your own phone.

The right-to-repair movement continues to gain steam as another big tech company shows its support for letting people fix their own broken devices.

Google endorsed an Oregon right-to-repair legislation Thursday calling it a “common sense repair bill” and saying it would be a “win for consumers.” This marks the first time the Android phone maker has officially backed any right-to-repair law.

The ability to repair a phone, for example, empowers people by saving money on devices while creating less waste,” said Steven Nickel, devices and services director of operations for Google, in a blog post Thursday. “It also critically supports sustainability in manufacturing. Repair must be easy enough for anyone to do, whether they are technicians or do-it-yourselfers.”

In the Oregon repair bill, manufacturers will be required to provide replacement parts, software, physical tools, documentation and schematics needed for repair to authorized repair providers or individuals. The legislation covers any digital electronics with a computer chip although cars, farm equipment, medical devices, solar power systems, and any heavy or industrial equipment that is not sold to consumers are exempt from the bill.

Google has made strides in making its Pixel phones easier to fix. The company enabled a Repair Mode for the phones last month allowing the protection of data on the device while it’s being serviced. There’s also a diagnostic feature that helps determine if your Pixel phone is working properly or not. That said, Google’s Pixel Watch is another story as the company said in October it will not provide parts to repair its smartwatch.

Apple jumped on the right-to-repair bandwagon back in October. The iPhone maker showed its support for a federal law to make it easier to repair its phones after years of being a staunch opponent.

  • Hal-5700X@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    🤔 What’s really going on? Very time I see a big company back something good. I get a funny feeling.

    • TheMurphy@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      They have to because of the EU. So now they will get a good story out every time a state in the US “forces” them to do so.

      Apple did the exact same thing a few months earlier.

    • jayandp@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      Companies see the writing on the wall with all the right to repair legislation going around, so they’re trying to make themselves look good now instead of fighting it anymore. At least publicly.

      • Baku@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        Yeah. I have no doubt behind closed doors they’re still trying to bribe sorry I mean “lobby” the politicians to repeal right to repair, or in some way cripple the legislature

    • piecat@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Enemy of my enemy is my friend

      Android has always been easier to repair, apple is notoriously against repair.

      Force policy to cut out a large portion of your competition’s revenue strategy (Apple authorized repair only)