Choosing between Apple and Samsung used to be about ecosystem and feature preferences. These days, repairability is just as important, especially when a single drop can cost you a third of the phone's value.
We've repaired tens of thousands of phones at SidekickMobile, and we have strong opinions on which brands are easier to live with long-term. Here's an honest comparison.
Screen Repairs
iPhone: Apple screens have become harder to repair year-over-year. iPhone 12 and newer use serialised displays, swap in a non-genuine screen and you may lose True Tone, auto-brightness, or even Face ID. Our calibration tools work around this, but repair cost is higher.
Samsung: Flagships (S20 and newer) use curved OLED displays that are fragile and expensive. A Galaxy S24 Ultra screen costs almost as much as the same iPhone. But mid-tier A-series phones are far cheaper to fix.
Tie at the flagship level. Samsung wins for mid-range.
Battery Replacements
iPhone: Reasonably straightforward. The battery is held by adhesive strips that pull out cleanly. Most iPhone battery replacements take 20-30 minutes.
Samsung: Battery is glued in with stronger adhesive requiring heat and careful prying. Takes longer and risks damaging the back glass.
iPhone, clearly. Faster turnaround, lower labour cost.
Back Glass Repairs
iPhone 8 onwards: Glass back glued to the frame with industrial adhesive. Removal requires a laser machine or laborious manual prying. Pro model back glass: $200-400.
Samsung: Easier to remove, slightly cheaper to replace.
Samsung, easier and cheaper to fix.
Software & Longevity
- iPhone, 6-7 years of iOS updates. Your 2017 iPhone X still runs modern apps.
- Samsung flagships, Galaxy S22+ gets 7 years of OS and security updates.
- Samsung mid-range, A-series typically gets 4-5 years of updates.
Parts Availability
Both ecosystems have excellent parts availability through professional repair networks. At SidekickMobile we keep common iPhone and Samsung parts in stock, so same-day repair is the norm for both.
Our Honest Take
Want the longest-lived phone with the easiest software upgrade path? Get an iPhone. Want maximum hardware value for your dollar and don't mind slightly higher repair friction? Get a Samsung. Either way, buy refurbished, get AppleCare or Samsung Care+, and bring it to us when something breaks.