UPDATE: Samsung phones are harder to repair than ever before, iFixIt tears down the Galaxy S7 (S7 edge too!)

08 March, 2016
UPDATE: Galaxy S7 edge now on the site as well!

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • FMY
  • 10 Mar 2016

.alpha, 09 Mar 2016Love those Android fanboy comments. Back when Android was e... moreshow me one apple store which is open 24/7

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • FMY
    • 10 Mar 2016

    gee I cant see why reparability would be low, oh wait do they mention the ip 68 rating of the phone ? yeah that might make it difficult to get into.

      Karate Obachi, 09 Mar 2016Why have a glass back?Wireless charging, probably. It's a pretty useless feature to be honest but OEMs seem to like it.

        • p
        • poor american
        • mTn
        • 10 Mar 2016

        AnonD-124732, 09 Mar 2016American do not repair "broken" items, they replace them!you mean "some" American's.

        Do you really think that everyone in the US can afford 800USD phones and just throw them away when the battery needs to the replaced after 2 or 3 years? Many people buy an expensive phone (indeed) but keep it in service for much longer than 3 or 4 years. You have no idea how many people still use their e.g. iPhone 4 or 4S which was ridiculously expensive when bought unlocked in 2011. This is even worse in e.g. Europe where most phones are sold unlocked and at their most expensive.

        Or do you truly believe I'm gonna throw away my perfectly capable Galaxy S5 just because the new S7 comes around? Especially since Samsung is supposed to release Android 6.x for it later this year. No sir, I'm gonna buy a new 25$ battery and keep on using it for the next 2 years.

          • t
          • throwaway kid
          • mTn
          • 10 Mar 2016

          Dr Danger, 09 Mar 2016Repair ability score of s 7 is low but galaxy s7 is a prett... moreOkay, lets sell you a car with sealed wheels and tires. Then when your tires are worn out (after let's say 50'000km) you buy a new pretty car. And when you have a flat-tire by bad road-conditions or other crap on the road before you reach that 50'000km then you simply have bad luck.

          But we'll make the car very pretty. We'll even make it so that can't even pop-up the hood. How'd you like that?

            • P
            • Paulw
            • TSB
            • 10 Mar 2016

            You must have lots of spare money then..

              • b
              • boy but not fanboy
              • mTn
              • 10 Mar 2016

              Let's not forget that not all of us are fanboys (or girls for that matter). Or even brand-loyal. I know I'm not.

              Some of us have specific needs or requirements and if eventually brand A or brand S don't/won't/can't fulfill our wishes then we simply shop somewhere else.
              The problem starts when all manufacturers start copying one specific design that WE, that particular group with specific requirements, don't want!!! And I'm afraid that this is happening now. Even LG goes for a unibody-like design thus you can't insert a thicker battery in the G5 anymore to a) keep the camera flush with the body or b) have more juice :-(

              That with this trend repair ability is next to zero doesn't come as a surprise to me.

                • a
                • another fool
                • mTn
                • 10 Mar 2016

                AnonD-507785, 09 Mar 2016With difference, that plastic cover can be easily removed, ... moreI'm not talking about one piece body. I was talking about a replaceable back cover!!!It should have read: "You can seal a metal back the SAME as a plastic back.
                Samsung could use a similar structure as the S5 to seal off a replaceable back-cover."

                The S5 has a user replaceable back cover sealed with a rubber lining .
                You can make similar structure in metal. A few examples of devices with user-replaceable metal covers are The Nokia C7/701 or Jiayu G5. Both devices are NOT unibody-design but do have metal parts (including battery cover).

                A similar design could be used for full metal phones.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-375713
                  • Pkp
                  • 09 Mar 2016

                  Anonymous, 09 Mar 2016Big fail We're all still gonna buy the s7 series. Your g... moreI can't even understand your logic here...
                  Well internet trolls have no logic so nothing new

                    • D
                    • Dr Danger
                    • utp
                    • 09 Mar 2016

                    Repair ability score of s 7 is low but galaxy s7 is a pretty phone
                    Anyway Missing you Nokia
                    .....

                      • D
                      • AnonD-280781
                      • JFm
                      • 09 Mar 2016

                      Typhoon, 09 Mar 2016The S7, a great phone with crappy fanboy users..Samsung fanboy detected

                        • T
                        • Typhoon
                        • jeu
                        • 09 Mar 2016

                        The S7, a great phone with crappy fanboy users..

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • vx6
                          • 09 Mar 2016

                          .alpha, 09 Mar 2016Love those Android fanboy comments. Back when Android was e... moreThis apple fanboy is so amazing. he search the things about Ifixit on google just to show here in GSMA how smart he is. @samsungfan KILL THIS lol

                            • K
                            • Karate Obachi
                            • N$m
                            • 09 Mar 2016

                            Why have a glass back?

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • nEc
                              • 09 Mar 2016

                              AnonD-375713, 09 Mar 2016Welcome to the new stupid trend of disposable electronics. ... moreBig fail
                              We're all still gonna buy the s7 series.
                              Your gonna have to try another headline and try harder pr boys.

                                • D
                                • AnonD-375713
                                • Pkp
                                • 09 Mar 2016

                                Irony, 09 Mar 2016I don't think that the glass on the back costs higher than ... moreWelcome to the new stupid trend of disposable electronics.
                                I'm one that repairs stuff when they break, and heck they are objects, they do break (we break... why would objects not...). Having something that pretty much kills the chances is not a plus at all, and the reasons OEMs give aren't more than sore excuses like you pointed.
                                What is funny is that there are still people that believe their PR talk, and don't just look back friggin' 2~4 years and see that... they managed all the same with more repairability.
                                It's exactly as pointed: just a reason to force you trow the phone away and buy a new one instead.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • uS$
                                  • 09 Mar 2016

                                  S7 and S7 edge to technicians: "A little privacy please!"

                                    • a
                                    • axcelctw
                                    • t4v
                                    • 09 Mar 2016

                                    No problem for me. no matter how hard i drop my phone i never crack any phone. of course that wasnt no purpose.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-507785
                                      • nF{
                                      • 09 Mar 2016

                                      Anonymous, 09 Mar 2016Oh please. You can seal a metal back the SAME as a plastic ... moreWith difference, that plastic cover can be easily removed, since it's a clip on, and then you are inside. Unlike with metal one piece chasis.

                                        • .
                                        • .alpha
                                        • 9Aw
                                        • 09 Mar 2016

                                        Love those Android fanboy comments. Back when Android was easy to repair, self repair for cheap was touted as advantage of Android. Now with Android phones so hard to repair, service center is an advantage. Guess which company have the largest 24/7 walk-in accepted service network? Apple. All Apple Store can repair iPhone/iPads on site while you wait. No mail phone in and wait for weeks to get it back.

                                        iPhones are also very easy to self repair because Apple design the phone to be easy to repair by Apple Store.

                                        iFixIt:
                                        The iPhone 6s Plus inherits a 7 out of 10 on the Repairability scale:
                                        -The display assembly continues to be the first component out, simplifying screen repairs.
                                        -The battery is straightforward to access. Removing it requires a proprietary Pentalobe screwdriver and knowledge of the adhesive removal technique, but is not difficult.
                                        -The Touch ID cable is still tucked out of the way, but is paired to the logic board, complicating repairs.
                                        -The iPhone 6s Plus still uses proprietary Pentalobe screws on the exterior, requiring a specialty screwdriver to remove.