Skip to main content

Have a broken Samsung phone? We have good news for you

The back of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung has announced an expansion of its self-repair program. The program will now cover a broader range of products, models, and parts to make it more convenient for consumers to fix their broken devices themselves. The self-repair program was first introduced in 2022 and offers full access to online repair guides, replacement parts, and repair tools through third-party resources.

The latest expansion of the program includes 14 models of Galaxy smartphones, tablets, and PCs — including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Tab S9 series, and the Galaxy Book 2 series. The program also now covers home entertainment products with the addition of 20 visual display products.

Recommended Videos

Owners of supported Galaxy phones and tablets now have the option to perform self-repairs on the speakers, SIM tray, side key, and volume key. This is in addition to access to the existing parts for display assemblies, back glass, and charging ports. Galaxy Book users will now be able to replace the left and right speakers and fan, in addition to the previous repairs to the display, battery, power key with fingerprint reader, touchpad, front and rear cases, and rubber feet.

A person folding up the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Mobile products already in the Samsung self-repair program include the Galaxy S22, S21, S20 series, and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus.

Of the expanded program, Mark Williams, vice president of customer care at Samsung Electronics America, said: “For those who want to take repair into their own hands, we’re supplying them with more options for a wider array of products to extend the life of the products they love.”

The latest expansion of Samsung’s self-repair program is tied to an evolving relationship Samsung has with Encompass Supply Chain Solutions. The company provides replacement parts and supply chain solutions for home products and consumer electronics.

Robert Coolidge, president and CEO of Encompass Supply Chain Solutions, said: “Encompass has been a trusted distributor of Samsung [original equipment manufacturer] replacement parts for many years, and this expansion to new product categories will play a critical role in continuing to empower Samsung customers to easily repair equipment and extend the life cycle of their products.”

For those who don’t want to self-repair their devices, Samsung recently made it easier for customers in underserved areas to get support. In October, it partnered with Battery Plus stores in the U.S. to provide timely in-warranty repair services for Galaxy smartphones. These folks are separate from the 80% of the U.S. population with access to Samsung’s 2,000 Authorized Service Centers (ASC), which offer two-hour repair service.

Bryan M. Wolfe
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.
Have one of these Samsung devices? You won’t get software updates anymore
Four galaxy z flip3 5g phones.

When you buy a phone, you expect it to work for at least a couple of years, if not longer. For many people, the time to upgrade to a new device is when it no longer receives security updates. Samsung has announced the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, Galaxy Tab S7, and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus will receive no more software updates. All three devices are now four years old, having launched in August 2020. That's about the average timespan for supporting mobile devices, but it still feels a little too short.

If you own one of these three gadgets, you might want to think about getting a newer version. While the Z Flip 5G, Tab S7, and Tab S7 Plus will all continue to work (at least for a while), they will be less secure. Software updates aren't just for improving performance and adding new features but also for patching vulnerabilities that could put your data at risk. If nothing else, make sure to use a VPN when handling any personal or banking information.

Read more
We have disappointing news about the next big Samsung phone
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE hole-punch AMOLED display bezels alongside a Samsung notebook.

We are only a few weeks away from the anticipated launch of Samsung’s newest smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. There has been a lot of positive buzz surrounding this “fan edition” model — until now.

According to recently published certifications (found by Tech Outlook), the upcoming Samsung phone is expected to feature 25-watt wired charging, similar to its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 FE. This could be a drawback for the Galaxy S24 FE, especially compared to other mid-tier phones, such as the OnePlus 12R, which offers significantly faster 80W charging speeds.

Read more
Samsung’s next folding phone could get a surprising name change
A person opening the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

In July, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Even before this happened, there were rumors that the company was planning to release another foldable phone this year. Initially, that handset was rumored to be called the “Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim.”

However, it seems that might not be correct. According to leaker Evan Blass (via Tom’s Guide), the phone might be called the “Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition” or “Galaxy Z Fold SE.” This is the latest in a series of rumors about an upcoming Samsung phone that could be unlike any other.

Read more