Samsung and Apple are the two most popular smartphone makers in the US. As such, we're bound to see tons of damaged devices that need repair.

But because first-party repair centers are often too expensive or simply refuse to repair smartphones, many users are forced to go to third-party service providers. Some shops do good work and use original or OEM parts, while some provide substandard service and use non-genuine parts—and it's sometimes hard to differentiate the two.

That's when you could resort to self-repair. But which smartphone maker offers the better self-repair program? Let's find out below.

Self-Repair Supported Phone Models

two iPhone 13 Pros

Apple only manufactures four to five models at a time, while Samsung has so much more. For example, as of April 2023, Apple produces the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14, and the iPhone SE. While you can still buy the iPhone 13, the iPhone 13 mini, and the iPhone 12 on Apple's website, these are existing stocks the company is slowly but surely using up.

On the other hand, Samsung currently has the S23 Ultra, S23+, and S23 in its flagship line-up. If you pick its mid-range line, you have the A54 5G, the A34 5G, the A14 5G, the A14, the A04s, the A04, and the A04e. You can also get an entry-level Samsung phone with the M-series. This includes the M54 5G, the M14 5G, and the M04.

Looking at this, Samsung has 13 active models while Apple only has five. If you include its previous designs that are still available brand new, you get a total of eight iPhone models.

Now let's compare the number of self-repairable models for both companies. Samsung lets you self-repair the following models:

  • Samsung Galaxy S22
  • Samsung Galaxy S22+
  • Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy S21
  • Samsung Galaxy S21+
  • Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy S20
  • Samsung Galaxy S20+
  • Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

On the other hand, Apple lets you self-repair the following iPhones:

  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone SE (2022)

Both Apple and Samsung offer self-repair for nine models. But because Samsung offers more models than Apple, we can say that the latter is more consumer-friendly.

Winner: Apple

Guide Availability and Ease of Use

iPhone Self Repair manuals for download

Both Apple and Samsung have official guides for repairing their smartphones. It's pretty hard to find where to download Apple's official repair manuals on Apple's website. If you search for your specific phone model plus "self-repair," the guide won't appear in the first five results.

Your best option is to search for it in Google, and the first result should be "Self Service Repair." You can also go to Apple's repair manual page to find the instructions for your specific device.

On the other hand, you can easily find Samsung's self-repair page from the home page. Just go to Samsung.com and navigate to Support > Repair Services > Self-Repair Program. On the Self-Repair page, you'll find links for specific types of repair for each self-repair-supported model.

Samsung self repair program link on the website menu

We also compared the battery replacement instructions for the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the S22 Ultra. We tried to look for the iPhone 13 Pro Max repair manual, but, unfortunately, Apple's page led to a dead end at the time of writing.

Although Apple's repair manual is comprehensive and covers every repair you might need, finding the parts and tools you need isn't as straightforward. On the flip side, the Samsung instructions from iFixit include a section where you can buy everything you need directly from it.

But aside from that, both instructions are detailed and come with images. However, because Samsung's instructions are easier to find, and you can buy the parts and tools you need straight from the repair instruction page, we give the win to Samsung.

Winner: Samsung

Parts Availability and Cost

iPhone 13 Pro Max Display repair parts

You must buy genuine parts from the authorized supplier when self-repairing your device. If you have an iPhone, you'll have to order the parts from Self Service Repair Store. But if you're repairing a Samsung Galaxy phone, go to iFixit's Samsung Self-Repair page for everything you need.

Whether you're repairing an iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy phone, the parts and tools you need are generally available on their respective sources. So, let's check the cost of the parts when replacing the screen of two flagship devices: the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the S22 Ultra.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max Display Bundle costs $311.96. This bundle includes the display, screw kit, display adhesive, and security screws. However, you need additional tools to work on your iPhone. You can rent all the tools required for your device for $49 a week.

However, aside from the rental fee and the bundle cost, Self Service Repair Store will also put a temporary hold on your card that covers the total replacement value of the rented tools. For the iPhone 13 Pro Max, this could go as high as $931.55—an prohibitive amount, especially if you don't have extra credit or funds.

So, the total cash you'll have to outlay for an iPhone 13 Pro Max screen replacement is $1,292.51. Once you return the tools and aren't charged for any damages, you would've spent $360.96 to replace your screen. And if you include the replaced parts in your return shipment, you get a further $33.60 in credit.

With that, an iPhone 13 Pro Max screen replacement costs $327.36 at the time of writing.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Screen and Battery Fix Kit from iFixit

Now, let's check the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra screen replacement cost. On iFixit, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Screen and Battery Fix Kit cost $239.99. This package includes the following:

  • The front glass digitizer screen
  • A 6.8-inch 1440 x 3088-pixel AMOLED display
  • A model EB-BS908ABY battery
  • The front frame and edge bezel
  • The side button covers and internal button switches
  • The iOpener heating pad
  • A set of six iFixit opening picks
  • An iFixit spudger for prying clips and cable connections
  • The iFixit opening tool for wedge breaching, lifting clips, and levering
  • A suction handle
  • A pair of angled and blunt tweezers
  • The iFixit precision bit driver
  • And the following 4mm precision bits: Phillips #00, Torx T3, and Torx T5.

As you can see, you get a lot of parts and tools for just $239.99. And best of all, you don't have to return anything. You don't need to shell out more than $1,000.00 to repair your phone's screen—it costs less than a quarter of that and some elbow grease to get a new display on your S22 Ultra.

Winner: Samsung

Tool Requirements

Apple Repair Tools on iFixit
Image Credit: iFixit/YouTube

As mentioned earlier, Apple provides specific tools for repairing iPhones. Without those, it will be challenging to execute the repair because some steps require those tools. Furthermore, you can't buy these tools elsewhere as they're specifically made for one iPhone model.

So, unless a third-party company starts making generic parts, you have no choice but to rent or buy these expensive tools from Apple's service provider. Furthermore, you need an iPhone serial number before purchasing parts and tools. You can't add any tools or parts to your cart without that.

On the other hand, the Samsung Fix Kit already includes all the parts and tools you need for your repair. You also don't need anything to buy it—just your payment information. So, even if you don't have a Samsung S22 Ultra (or any Samsung phone, for that matter), you can buy a Samsung repair kit.

Winner: Samsung

Repair Complexity

iPhone 12 mini being repaired by Snazzy Labs
Image Credit: Snazzy Labs/YouTube

Both Apple and Samsung take multiple steps to open, and you must exert effort to remove the adhesive that holds the battery in place. Taking apart both devices requires care and patience, and you should follow the instructions to a T to avoid any unexpected side effects.

Given that, repairing smartphones is a complex undertaking—one of the primary reasons against the right-to-repair movement. However, Apple's self-repair is much more complicated. And that's because Apple controls what parts you can use on your iPhone repair.

You cannot buy anything you want on Apple's self-repair page. Instead, you need to input your iPhone's serial number before you can order anything. Furthermore, repairs involving electronic parts, like the screen, battery, or camera, require System Configuration. Without this, your repair won't work correctly.

On the other hand, Samsung doesn't need any software mumbo-jumbo after your self-repair. Just put it all back together, and your phone will start working again if repaired correctly.

Winner: Samsung

Post-Repair Warranty

a disassembled device

Since most users aren't authorized service personnel, it makes sense if companies do not offer post-repair warranties on self-repair. However, that isn't the case. In a surprising move, Samsung offers a warranty on your self-repair parts. Although it's only guaranteed for 90 days, this is still a bold move for the company.

On the other hand, Apple does not mention anything about warranties on self-repaired devices. Because of issues like this, people often ask if Apple's self-service repair program is set up to fail.

Winner: Samsung

Which Smartphone Maker Is More Sustainable?

After careful consideration, we can say that Samsung is a more sustainable smartphone manufacturer. Its phones are much easier and more affordable to repair than the iPhone. You can easily find the instructions on fixing Samsung phones, and parts are also easy to buy.

However, it's unfortunate that most flagship phones get this kind of self-repair support. After all, people who purchase these phones are more likely to buy a new phone or shell out money for first-party repair. So, it would make more sense for companies to open this service to mid-range and entry-level smartphones.

These self-repair programs are a good start, but we're hoping this becomes the norm for all devices, not an exclusive service for the most expensive gadgets.