Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone could cost a fortune to repair as the excessive use of strong adhesive and small components make it nothing short of a nightmare to dismantle and reassemble, according to iFixit.
The Galaxy S9 can be stripped to its bare bones in twelve painstaking steps, with access to all major components hidden behind the all-glass backplate – which has been known to shatter during the removal process on more than one occasion.
Image: iFixit
Something as simple as replacing a shattered screen also requires the rear panel to be removed, likely sending the cost of repairs through the roof as engineers look to introduce a safety net to cover any accidental breakages that may occur.
Image: iFixit
For that reason, the good folks over at iFixit awarded the Galaxy S9 – and the larger Galaxy S9 Plus – a disappointing repairability score of four out of ten, with ten being the easiest to repair and one, well, the most difficult.
Image: iFixit
The Galaxy Note 8 and former flagship Galaxy S8, for comparison, also scored four, while Android mastermind Andy Rubin’s first-generation Essential Phone (Essential PH-1) received the lowest rating possible: a disturbing one out of ten.
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With all that in mind, we’d recommend slapping a durable case on your Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9 Plus. But with so many already on the market, how do you know which one to choose? Well, not to worry – we have that covered.
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What do you think of the repairability rating iFixit assigned to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus? Be sure to let us know over on Facebook and Twitter @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
