Planned obsolescence: these brands that design products made to last (or not)

Planned obsolescence remains a worrying reality in 2026. 🚨 Five major brands concentrate the most virulent criticism: Apple for its locked repairs, HP and Epson for their consumables restricted by chips, Samsung for its discouraging service prices, and Microsoft Surface for a track record of limited disassemblability. Faced with this trend, tools like the repairability index and strengthened legislation offer concrete levers for consumers. But the fight against waste also involves wise purchasing choices, an informed understanding of hidden tactics, and the adoption of simple maintenance gestures.

Key points to remember: 📌

• 🔧 Planned obsolescence comes in four forms: technical (fragile components), software (limited updates), commercial (scarce parts) and locked consumables
• ⚠️ Apple, HP, Epson, Samsung and Microsoft Surface are among the most criticized brands
• 💰 The true cost of devices includes expensive repairs, locked consumables and accelerated replacement cycles
• 🌍 More than 62 million tonnes of electronic waste are generated globally, with a recycling rate around 22%
• ✅ Credible alternatives are emerging: Fairphone, Framework and Miele focus on durability and repairability
• 🛠️ The repairability index, the right to repair and transparency on updates are now accessible tools

Understanding the hidden mechanisms of planned obsolescence 🔍

Planned obsolescence is not a myth, but a documented commercial strategy. It consists of designing products with a deliberately limited lifespan, pushing consumers to replace them more frequently than necessary. This practice today takes many forms, far more sophisticated than simple physical fragility.

The first form, technical obsolescence, relies on fragile or inaccessible components: glued batteries, sealed screens, riveted chassis. A modern smartphone can no longer have its battery easily replaced, forcing the user to buy a new device as soon as battery life declines. The second, software obsolescence, deliberately slows performance via updates or shortens security support. Apple was in fact sanctioned in 2017 in France for having slowed down its older iPhones without transparency.

Commercial obsolescence makes spare parts unavailable or prohibitively expensive. With Silvercrest, users can no longer find components to repair a food processor after a few years. Finally, obsolescence related to locked consumables — ink cartridges with proprietary chips, filters blocked by firmware — creates economic dependency. Que Choisir details these practices in its comprehensive dossier, highlighting the traps often invisible at the time of purchase.

The five brands that crystallize consumers’ fears ⚡

Apple: the empire of controlled repairs

Apple embodies the paradox between innovation and restriction. The deliberate slowdown of iPhones in 2017 left a strong impression. The California firm justified this practice for thermal and battery management reasons, but the lack of transparency tarnished its image. Today, while practices have officially changed, several issues remain.

Parts are often paired with software, complicating independent repairs: replacing a screen with a third party risks triggering system alerts. AirPods remain sadly notorious for their non-replaceable battery and replacement cost equivalent to a new purchase. Access to official parts is limited, and Apple’s prices far exceed those of the competitive market. For the informed buyer, it is advisable to check the exact duration of software support before investing, and to document the repairability limits linked to each model.

HP: when ink becomes a commercial weapon

HP printers illustrate how consumables can become a profit machine. The Dynamic Security system blocks the use of third-party cartridges via firmware updates, forcing customers to buy overpriced official products. This tactic, contested by consumer associations, has been the subject of legal actions in several countries.

The total cost of an HP printer rarely stops at the purchase price; it is through cartridges that the margin is made. A user will easily spend €600 to €800 on ink over five years for a machine bought at €200. The alternative? Disable automatic updates and opt for compatible cartridges, or switch to a more transparent brand like Epson — although Epson itself faces similar accusations.

Epson: the “end of life” messages that block everything

Epson was targeted as early as 2017 by associations for its alleged obsolescence practices, notably the display of “part at end of life” messages that prevent printing even though parts can be replaced. The ink pad, a normal physical consumable, becomes an artificial software obstacle.

The company does offer maintenance programs, but access to service kits remains complicated, and locking chips persist. A user faced with this message must either pay an expensive after-sales service or replace the printer — exactly what the manufacturer counts on. The frustration is all the greater because manually resetting the counter is technically possible but intentionally hidden.

Samsung: software promises and expensive repairs

Samsung has improved its image by announcing longer software support on its flagships (up to 7 years), but this promise only applies to premium models. For mid-range and older lines, repairs remain prohibitive. A Galaxy S21 screen costs almost as much as a good entry-level smartphone.

The situation worsens with Samsung televisions: the adhesive used makes panels inaccessible, and official spare parts are only distributed for a few years. Foldable models, the group’s technological showcase, display outrageous repair costs for a simple internal screen crack. Before buying Samsung, therefore, one must carefully check the support duration by specific series, not trust general announcements.

Microsoft Surface: repairability improving, but uneven

Microsoft was long a poor student in repairability. The early generation Surface Laptops were almost impossible to disassemble without breaking the chassis. Microsoft has since forged partnerships and improved access to parts, but the legacy remains heavy.

Recent models offer a better experience: more accessible screens and batteries, replaceable SSDs on some models. However, the spare parts catalog varies greatly by region, and glued components (screens, trackpads) increase the cost of out-of-warranty interventions. A Surface buyer should therefore check the exact model, consult official repair rates and cross-reference with the second-hand value to assess the “real economic durability”.

The true cost: beyond the purchase price 💸

The trap of planned obsolescence does not lie solely in the purchase ticket. The total cost of use — repairs, consumables, end-of-life — can exceed the initial price by two or three times. A French household spends on average €600 to €800 per year on electronics and household appliances, a budget artificially inflated by accelerated replacement cycles.

Take a user who buys an €800 smartphone. He thinks it will last five years, but by the third year the battery weakens and the battery is glued to the chassis. Replacing the battery at Apple costs €120; at Samsung, €90. With a new battery, the phone works properly for two additional years. The alternative: buy a new phone for €800. Over five years, the annual cost rises from €160 to €240 — a silent but real increase.

The environmental impact doubles this equation. More than 62 million tonnes of electronic waste are generated annually worldwide, with a documented collection and recycling rate around 22%. The rest often ends up in landfill or is incinerated, releasing toxins. Every product that is difficult to repair feeds this mountain of waste. Mon Match Carbone offers tools to assess the real ecological impact of your purchases, putting into perspective the hidden environmental weight of brands.

The hidden tactics behind modern design 🎯

Glue versus screws: the anti-repair revolution

Why would manufacturers glue components instead of screwing them? The answer is simple: manufacturing savings and obstacles to repair. A glued battery costs less to assemble, but makes disassembly impossible without destroying the case. Consumers then pay the price in an inability to repair.

An iPhone screen glued to the chassis can only be replaced by Apple or by an expert with specialized tools. At Framework, a pioneer of the repairable computer, all elements are screwed or modular. This increases assembly costs by a few percent but guarantees lifespan. Apple prefers to sacrifice repairability for a thinner design and lower production cost — a profitable equation as long as customers accept regular replacements.

Locking chips: the weapon of dependency

HP cartridges, Epson consumables, DJI batteries: all use RFID chips or firmware to lock usage to a brand. Technically, nothing would prevent a third-party cartridge from working; it is a software decision. This tactic creates artificial captivity from which the customer cannot escape.

Updates can then retroactively block generic cartridges. HP has legally won several lawsuits on this point, arguing the right to protect its equipment. But morally, it is the embodiment of commercial planned obsolescence. The consumer thinks they buy a standalone device; they actually acquire access to a closed ecosystem.

End of software support: the invisible killing

A cutting-edge smartphone in 2024 may no longer receive security updates in 2026. Without security patches, the device becomes progressively unusable for online services: banking, e-commerce, email. The product works physically, but it is electronically dead.

Apple and Google now offer 5 to 7 years of support, a welcome standard. But some entry-level Chinese brands abandon devices after two years. The uninformed user discovers they can no longer access their apps, without understanding that it is an editor’s decision, not a technical inevitability. The BioGénie documentation details this dynamic for several brands, decoding the real commitments masked by marketing.

Legislative solutions and concrete tools to protect yourself ⚖️

Since the French law of 2015, the legal arsenal against planned obsolescence has been strengthened. The repairability index, displayed since 2021 on certain devices, offers a score from 1 to 10 based on parts availability, access to repair information and ease of disassembly. This tool, initially restricted to electronic products, is progressively extending to household appliances.

The European Union is also pushing the right to repair: manufacturers will have to provide spare parts and documentation for a minimum period. Microsoft and Samsung have already signed commitments, announcing parts available for 7 to 10 years for certain models. Apple resists more, but even Cupertino yields under pressure: France has imposed limited access to repair parts.

At the citizen level, the association Halte à l’Obsolescence Programmée (HOP) plays a key role: it documents practices, launches legal actions and raises awareness. Consumer reviews and social networks also amplify this pressure: a brand criticized for planned obsolescence will see its reputation damaged, its sales fall. This dynamic pushes giants to improve their practices, not out of moral virtue, but for economic calculation.

Identify the weak signals before buying 🔎

Before taking out your credit card, ask yourself four simple but decisive questions. First: is the repairability index available and above 6? A high score means parts available, documentation accessible and easy disassembly. Second, what is the precise duration of software and security support? Do not trust vague promises; check by specific model.

Third, check the price of key parts: screen, battery, power supply. If they cost more than 40% of the device price, the repair will be discouraging. Fourth, read user feedback after 18 to 24 months, not at product launch. Early failures appear there, not in initial reviews. One last reflex: check the resale value on the second-hand market. A product that loses 70% of its value in two years is often a bad investment — it signals a short real lifespan.

Online resources help: En Cause dissects brand strategies, offering a necessary critical reading. Repair forums like iFixit also expose unpleasant surprises during disassembly — a glued battery, fragile ribbons, proprietary screws.

Brands that break with the dominant model 🌱

Fairphone imposed a new vision: a modular smartphone, easily disassemblable, with accessible spare parts. The Dutch manufacturer publishes a transparent support schedule and sells each component separately. Its phone costs more than an iPhone at purchase, but its real lifespan justifies the price. After four years, a Fairphone remains useful and repairable; an iPhone of the same vintage already accumulates costs.

Framework revolutionized the laptop with a fully modular design: battery, RAM, SSD, screen, keyboard — all replaceable. The company commits to ten years of parts availability. Miele, a German appliance manufacturer, has always bet on “long life”: its machines are designed for thousands of cycles, with spare parts offered for two decades.

These brands prove that the circular economy is not a utopia, but a profitable model when the supply chain and after-sales service follow. They offer a credible alternative to the giants, provided the consumer accepts to invest a little more at purchase — a cost quickly offset by the absence of accelerated replacement.

Maintenance as a weapon against programmed wear 🛠️

Before considering an expensive repair, regular maintenance drastically extends life. A well-treated smartphone ages better than a device abandoned to the everyday acidic rains. Clean ventilation grilles every three months, avoid extreme charges (aim for 20–80% daily for batteries), store in a dry place away from heat: these basic gestures change everything.

For a printer, printing a weekly test page prevents printhead clogging and expensive cleaning cycles in ink. Having a refrigerator’s hydraulic vent purged annually extends its life by five years. A washing machine? Limiting the maximum load reduces bearing wear. A television? Limiting maximum brightness preserves LCD or OLED panels that gradually degrade with intensive use.

These quarterly maintenance tasks require one hour in total for the whole household. In return, expected lifespan often rises from five to ten years. It’s a David versus Goliath fight: manufacturers rely on consumer inertia; an informed minority can outsmart them by taking care of their goods.

When to repair, resell or replace? 💡

The decision is not simple. Repair is worthwhile if it costs less than 40% of the new price and if the part is available within 10 days. For a smartphone bought for €600 with a cracked screen, unscrewing the screen and the battery together for €200 is rational: the phone works perfectly after for two additional years.

Reselling on the second-hand market is also a strategy. A tired iPhone “for parts” sells for €150 to €250, partially financing a refurbished, more recent model, cheaper than a new one. This secondary circulation reduces demand for new products and thus overall manufacturing pressure — an ecological act often overlooked.

Sustainable replacement becomes necessary when repair becomes costly, the product accumulates faults, or critical components (battery, screen) cost more than 50% of a new one. At that point, switching to a durable brand — Fairphone instead of an iPhone, Framework rather than a MacBook Air — is a rational five-year decision, even if the initial purchase seems heavy.

No magic calculation replaces reflection. But the trend is clear: the more you maintain, the less you repair; the more you dare to repair, the less you replace. And the less you replace, the more the environment breathes — and the better off your wallet is.