Nokia’s parent company, HMD Global, has launched the Nokia G22, a DIY-friendly smartphone that supports the right-to-repair movement. The G22 boasts a 6.2-inch Gorilla glass screen, four cameras, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a long-lasting three-day battery life, making it comparable to mainstream smartphones. However, what sets it apart is its accessibility for at-home repairs, as users can replace the battery, back cover, screen, and USB-C charging port in under 20 minutes. This is a departure from the norm, where users have had to visit authorized repair shops, which can be costly and inconvenient.
The growing right-to-repair movement has put pressure on manufacturers to allow users to repair their devices themselves, which some have reluctantly responded to by introducing DIY repair options in partnership with iFixit. Nokia’s release of the G22 represents a more enthusiastic, collaborative response to this movement. The phone is financially accessible, starting at just $189, and its iFixit repair kits run from $25 to $55. Some parts of the G22 are also made with recycled plastics.
There is a market for DIY- and Earth-friendly smartphones, as evidenced by Fairphone’s success. The company produces net-zero e-waste phones with recycled plastic and aluminum bodies that are easy to fix at home, earning them a perfect score on iFixit’s repairability grade sheet. Fairphone also guarantees that its devices will last for at least five years. While it remains to be seen whether Nokia will compete with Fairphone in the long term, the release of the G22 is a promising step in that direction.
