Smartphones haven’t exactly been getting easier to repair over the years. If anything, most modern devices are now glued shut and actively fight you when something inside breaks.
That’s what makes the Samsung Galaxy A57 a breath of fresh air.
A recent teardown of the new mid-range device reveals that Samsung built one of its most repairable phones in years, earning an impressive 9/10 repairability score.
What’s so special about this one?
With the announcement of the Galaxy A57, Samsung made a bunch of tiny updates in the annual refresh. But it appears that the biggest improvement comes down to the repairability.
The teardown video from PBKReviews highlights a major change to the battery. The Galaxy A57 houses a 5,000mAh battery pack, which is now held in place with pull-tab adhesives. This makes removal significantly easier. So no excessive and frustrating prying, which also means less risk of battery damage. It is a small change, but one that makes a huge difference after a couple of years of use when battery degradation kicks in.
Samsung has also made thoughtful design updates to the internals of the phone. After removing the back panel, the components are secured with standard Philips screws, which makes the device easier to disassemble without specialized tools.
The company has improved the internal layout for easier access, added a larger vapor chamber for cooling, and designed components to avoid accidental damage during basic repairs.
It’s not perfect, but a big step forward
This doesn’t mean the phone is completely user-repairable. The video notes that users will still have to remove the back panel by applying heat and need basic tools for deeper repairs. But compared to a vast majority of flagship devices out there, these aren’t heavily glued and layered. This makes the Galaxy A57 feel more approachable.
Why this actually matters
Repairability isn’t a term that only matters to enthusiasts or repair technicians. It directly affects how long you keep your phone. It also adds to the price of repairing a device and can be the deciding factor of whether your broken phone gets fixed or replaced. And in a market where phones are getting more expensive, these kinds of things matter more than ever.
