Today, new insight from iSmash, the UK’s leading tech repair specialist, highlights a growing trend of consumers that purchase an entirely new phone when their current device breaks, rather than choosing to repair. This costs the nation a staggering £505 million per year3.
With the number of smartphone users in Britain now sitting at 80 per cent of all adults4, iSmash’s research not only uncovered the financial costs of purchasing a new phone, but also the environmental one, with a low rate of smartphones being recycled5.
iSmash found that across the UK, a whopping 5.05 million Brits have recently smashed their phone and chose to purchase a new device, at an average cost of £190, rather than getting it repaired, which costs an average of £90 at iSmash. Collectively this equals a total of £505 million a year ‘wasted’ on buying a new phone when replacing parts was a better and much cheaper option.
The research uncovered that 35 per cent of Brits have broken or smashed their phone more than once, with 39 per centconfessing they ended up buying a new phone and 44 per cent not taking the damaged device to be repaired.
Further to this, the research also reveals the real reasons customers decide to replace their device, with 48 per cent admitted they bought a new phone because it was just more convenient, 42 per cent said they believed the cost of repair to be too high, 23 per cent said they wanted a newer phone and 17 per cent said they believed repairing their phone was going to take too long.
In terms of the way devices break, the survey shows a shocking 18 per cent of those aged between 25-34 break their phone whilst taking a selfie, closely followed by breaking their phone whilst exercising (17 per cent). Those aged 18-24 were found to be more likely to have their phone fall out of their pocket with half admitting to dropping their device in the toilet (60 per cent).
To help Brits figure out exactly how much they could stand to save by replacing specific parts, iSmash has created a tool that breaks a phone down by its components and lists the average repair price for each: https://www.ismash.com/blogs/replace-or-repair/to-replace-or-to-repair
Julian Shovlin, founder and managing director at iSmash, said: “With mobile devices an integral part of our daily life, many people who break their phones panic and purchase a new device entirely, not realising that repairing is more cost effective and quicker. With an average repair time of just 30 minutes, anyone can drop into their local iSmash store and get back up and running in no time at all. There’s no need to waste money on a new device when replacing the parts in your old phone could save you hundreds of pounds and benefit the environment too.”
iSmash specialises in offering an express repair service for smartphones, tablets and computers along with a wide range of mobile accessories and refurbished devices. Since launching in 2013, iSmash has grown to 26 stores across the UK and counting. It prides itself on offering an express repair service powered by iSmash accredited technicians, on-site at each of its stores, and all its screen replacements are backed by a lifetime warranty.
