Google reaffirms support for Right to Repair, releases a white paper

December 2023 was a month of fierce competition between Google and Apple on the issue of repairability: Apple added the iPhone 15 to its self-service repair program and introduced a new diagnostic tool; Google introduced the Pixel Diagnostic app.

We are in 2024 now, but Google is not letting go of the subject of repairability. The search engine giant that makes Pixel phones is backing a right-to-repair bill in Oregon and has released a white paper (via 9to5Google).

“Today, we are pleased to reaffirm our support for the right to repair movement by releasing our first white paper on repair while endorsing the Oregon Right to Repair bill,” the statement reads. from Google. blog post.

The company says that once advanced, the Right to Repair bill would be a victory for consumers seeking affordable repair options, for the environment, and for companies wanting to invest in making their products more repairable and durable.

Google also presented the aforementioned white paper, titled “Google and repairability”stating that “repair is a critical part of Google's focus on product longevity and durability.”

Here's what Google's efforts to make repairs accessible include:

• Repair Parts: “We ensure that parts for our phones are available to the public. We also don't require tedious pairing or registration of parts, meaning a properly installed display or battery will work no matter who performs the repair. This accessibility is table stakes for us. We also believe this effort allows small businesses and local repairers to thrive and grow by encouraging scalable processes with genuine parts that enable efficient repairs.
• Accessible Tools: “We have continually reduced the cost and number of repair tools required for our devices, and have now also made them available online for anyone to purchase. We also launched a diagnostic application on the device to help users test the functionality of the device before and after repairs.
• Clear instructions: “We recently redesigned our repair manuals to make them easier for repairers to use, and we plan to continue uploading manuals for previous and future devices in the future. Additionally, we've improved visibility of repair-related resources on our help pages, including information on how to order parts, view repair manuals, and perform diagnostic tests – as much as possible. of elements for quality repairs.