If you’re looking for a laptop that’s easy to repair yourself, you’re best off with an Acer or Asus. Less can be said about Apple’s MacBooks.

The American consumer organization PIRG conducted a comparative study on the repairability of laptops. Seven well-known brands were examined: HP, Dell, Lenovo, Apple, Asus, Acer and Microsoft. The test was based in part on criteria that French repair legislation uses to indicate the repairability rating of consumer laptops. Criteria that play a role include the availability and cost of spare parts.

However, PIRG chose the easy disassembly of the laptop as a decisive factor. To repair a laptop, you first have to get under the hood. Providing inadequate information about self-repair or supporting lobbying campaigns against the right to repair were also severely punished.

Award for Acer and Asus

Asus emerges as the winner. The fourteen models examined had an average repair score of 7.7 out of ten. Asus laptops generally seem to be easy to open. Second place Acer also has a good lead with 7.3 out of 10 points. The study praises the manufacturer because it is the only manufacturer that does not in any way violate the right to repair.

At the bottom of the rankings we find Dell, HP, Lenovo and Microsoft with values ​​between 5.5 and 6.5. Dell was best in class last year, but is performing worse this year, although with 48 laptops tested, by far most of the brand’s models have been repaired. HP does particularly poorly with its Chromebooks, which generally perform significantly worse than Windows laptops when it comes to repairability.

Consideration for Apple

The brand that performed worst in the test is Apple. With a rating of 4.3 out of 10 points, it could perhaps simply be discussed by a class representative. Apple’s biggest problem is that MacBooks are almost impossible to open.

In the same smartphone test, Apple performed slightly better with its iPhones, but that should also be noted. The iPhone 15 may be a little easier to disassemble than its predecessor, but Apple can use software to block parts that you replace yourself, which wasn’t taken into account in this test.

In March 2023, the European Commission put the right to repair on paper, which was subsequently incorporated into a draft law. The EU wants to make it easier for consumers to extend the life of their electronic devices. The basis of this new regulation is a ban on hindrance and an extension of the seller’s liability by at least one year.