Kyle Wiens and iFixit: Never Settle for Broken

Meet Kyle Wiens, the CEO of iFixit, a go-to destination for all things related to repairing smartphones, tablets, laptops, and more. Wiens, sporting a red t-shirt with the motto “Never take broken for an answer,” embodies the attitude that defines iFixit’s mission.

Recently, Wiens discussed iFixit’s rocky partnership with Samsung, South Korea’s largest company, with Android Authority. Despite facing challenges, Wiens remains committed to his belief in fixing what’s broken.

At the heart of iFixit’s partnership with Samsung was the innovative Galaxy Upcycling program, which aimed to repurpose old Galaxy phones for new uses. However, despite initial excitement and successful demos, the program was abruptly discontinued with no explanation.

Undeterred, Wiens continued to focus on iFixit’s repair partnerships with other brands, including Motorola. In early 2022, Samsung approached iFixit once again with a new proposal to enable DIY repair for its devices.

Despite past setbacks, Wiens saw the potential to help a vast number of people through this partnership. While acknowledging the skepticism from the repair community, Wiens believed that working with Samsung on DIY repair could be a meaningful opportunity.

With a renewed sense of collaboration and a determination to make a difference, Wiens embraced the chance to work with Samsung once more, setting aside past grievances for the greater good of helping people fix their devices.