# Can it still be repaired? > A phone returns to use through a sequence of doors: who is responsible, what failed, where the part is, who can work on it, and what happens to the data. Follow two documented phones and see where the path stays open. An edition built from public pages and manuals, checked on 15 August 2026. ## Start with the seller In the EU, a new good has a minimum two-year legal guarantee. That guarantee belongs to the contract with the seller. A manufacturer’s commercial warranty and self-repair are separate routes. ## Choose a phone, then open the gates Keep the same fault in mind. Change the phone and watch the documents, parts, and exit route change with it. ### Fairphone 5 Published modules, replacement guides, and a question about stock. #### Who is responsible? conditional: Start with diagnosis and check coverage Fairphone asks for a diagnosis before choosing a route. Its repair page separates warranty-covered work from repairs for which the centre sends a quote. For a fault in a product bought from a trader, the legal guarantee is first discussed with the seller. **The question to carry forward:** Do you have a described fault and proof of purchase? [Fairphone repairs](https://www.fairphone.com/repairs); [Guarantees on goods bought in the EU](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees/indexamp_en.htm) #### What failed? documented: Diagnosis separates a fault from a guess Fairphone places diagnosis before the replacement guide. That keeps the fault close to the relevant part and reduces the risk of ordering the wrong module. The page describes the manufacturer’s published path; it does not confirm the cause of an individual fault. **The question to carry forward:** What observation can you repeat before opening the phone? [Fairphone repairs](https://www.fairphone.com/repairs) #### Is the part available? documented: The part is a stock and model question Fairphone’s parts page lists a battery, display, USB-C port, back cover and cameras for Fairphone 5. The prices shown there are a snapshot of the checked page, not a promise for tomorrow, and they do not automatically include shipping. **The question to carry forward:** Does the part match the model and is it available in your region? [Fairphone spare parts](https://www.fairphone.com/spare-parts); [Fairphone repairs](https://www.fairphone.com/repairs) #### Can it be opened? documented: The guide names the tools and steps Fairphone says home repair uses, depending on the operation, a Phillips 00 or Torx T5 screwdriver. For Fairphone 5, its page gives approximate times of 2 to 20 minutes for several modules. The published time describes the guide; it does not guarantee your skill or the result. **The question to carry forward:** Do you have the tool, light and space for the exact step? [Fairphone repairs](https://www.fairphone.com/repairs); [Fairphone 5: Information on how to repair and recycle](https://www.fairphone.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Fairphone-5_-Information-on-how-to-repair-and-recycle.pdf) #### How does it leave service? conditional: A repair ends with the phone and its data If a Fairphone repair is not covered, the centre may send a quote. The page describes the options after that quote: accept and pay, pay shipping for the unrepaired return, or leave the phone for recycling. Before handover, data and account access remain a separate problem. **The question to carry forward:** What happens to the phone and data if the quote is not worth it? [Fairphone repairs](https://www.fairphone.com/repairs); [Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1670) ### iPhone 15 A public manual, several service routes, and post-repair configuration. #### Who is responsible? conditional: Legal guarantee and Apple service are different routes Apple describes several service options, including Apple, authorised service, independent repair and self-service repair for people with experience. Apple says self-service repair is for out-of-warranty repairs. The European legal guarantee remains a separate route through the seller. **The question to carry forward:** Does the fault belong to the purchased product or to a later intervention? [Apple Repair and Repair Status Check](https://support.apple.com/repair); [Guarantees on goods bought in the EU](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees/indexamp_en.htm) #### What failed? documented: The iPhone 15 manual starts with checks The iPhone 15 repair manual includes checks and branches for battery, charging, power, cameras, Face ID and display. The list shows what the manufacturer’s document can investigate. It does not identify the cause of your phone’s fault. **The question to carry forward:** Which manual check reproduces the problem without making it worse? [iPhone 15 Repair Manual](https://support.apple.com/en-lamr/104900) #### Is the part available? conditional: A genuine part comes with an eligibility condition Apple says genuine parts, tools and self-service manuals are available for certain models and regions. A public iPhone 15 manual exists. Actual part availability, the right store and local conditions still need separate checking. **The question to carry forward:** Do the model, region and purchase channel match? [Genuine parts and self-service repair](https://support.apple.com/genuine-parts-distributor); [iPhone 15 Repair Manual](https://support.apple.com/en-lamr/104900) #### Can it be opened? conditional: The tool is also experience, not only metal Apple describes self-service repair as an option for people experienced with the complexity of electronic-device repair. The manual may require specialised tools, exact procedures and a configuration step after a part replacement. This page does not turn the manual into an invitation to experiment. **The question to carry forward:** Is the intervention within your experience, or do you need a repair provider? [Apple Repair and Repair Status Check](https://support.apple.com/repair); [Genuine parts and self-service repair](https://support.apple.com/genuine-parts-distributor); [iPhone 15 Repair Manual](https://support.apple.com/en-lamr/104900) #### How does it leave service? documented: The phone keeps a record of the part Apple explains parts and service history. A part can appear as Genuine, Used or Unknown, and an unknown part can have several explanations, including missing verification after repair. That history is part of the phone’s auditable exit. **The question to carry forward:** What appears in parts history after the repair, and who stands behind the result? [iPhone parts and service history](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102658); [Genuine parts and self-service repair](https://support.apple.com/genuine-parts-distributor) ## The same question, two paths Fairphone publishes self-repair steps for specific parts. Apple publishes diagnostics, service routes and manuals for eligible models, while some repairs also need software configuration. | Gate | Fairphone 5 | iPhone 15 | | --- | --- | --- | | Who is responsible? | conditional: Start with diagnosis and check coverage | conditional: Legal guarantee and Apple service are different routes | | What failed? | documented: Diagnosis separates a fault from a guess | documented: The iPhone 15 manual starts with checks | | Is the part available? | documented: The part is a stock and model question | conditional: A genuine part comes with an eligibility condition | | Can it be opened? | documented: The guide names the tools and steps | conditional: The tool is also experience, not only metal | | How does it leave service? | conditional: A repair ends with the phone and its data | documented: The phone keeps a record of the part | ## The path ends where the document ends A manual cannot tell you whether a part is in stock tomorrow in your town. A rule cannot repair a phone. The unknowns that change the decision stay visible here. - local part stock - labour and shipping cost - liquid or accidental damage - actual waiting time - exact model and regional eligibility - the state of your data before handover ## Before you hand it over - Who is the first contact for my problem: the seller or the manufacturer? - Which part will be replaced, and which document identifies it? - Does the repair need calibration or a software step afterwards? - What happens if the diagnosis finds a different fault? - How will my data stay protected before and after the repair? ## Sources and status Sources were checked on 15 August 2026. Prices and availability can change. This page explains published paths; it does not diagnose a device or replace qualified repair advice. - [Guarantees on goods bought in the EU](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees/indexamp_en.htm) : Your Europe. the minimum legal guarantee and the first route through the seller. - [Directive on repair of goods](https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/consumer-protection-law/directive-repair-goods_en) : European Commission. the repair obligation and its limits. - [Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1670) : EUR-Lex. repair, spare-part, battery and secure-erasure requirements for phones and tablets. - [Fairphone repairs](https://www.fairphone.com/repairs) : Fairphone. diagnosis, DIY steps, parts and replacement times for Fairphone 5. - [Fairphone spare parts](https://www.fairphone.com/spare-parts) : Fairphone. the manufacturer-listed parts and prices on the checking date. - [Fairphone 5: Information on how to repair and recycle](https://www.fairphone.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Fairphone-5_-Information-on-how-to-repair-and-recycle.pdf) : Fairphone. the technical manual, parts, diagnosis and disassembly steps for Fairphone 5. - [Apple Repair and Repair Status Check](https://support.apple.com/repair) : Apple Support. Apple, authorised, independent and self-service repair options. - [iPhone parts and service history](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/102658) : Apple Support. parts and service history and the meaning of an unknown part. - [iPhone 15 Repair Manual](https://support.apple.com/en-lamr/104900) : Apple Support. the published troubleshooting and repair areas for iPhone 15. - [Genuine parts and self-service repair](https://support.apple.com/genuine-parts-distributor) : Apple Support. genuine parts, tools and post-repair software steps for some repairs.