Despite aggressive marketing around carbon footprint reduction, major smartphone brands are failing on the fundamentals of circular design. A new analysis by Gianluca Managò using ISO-based formulas reveals that none of five flagship devices tested scored above 7.7 out of 10 on reparability. Apple’s low-carbon Apple iPhone 15 Pro received just 4.1, raising questions about what tech giants prioritize when promoting sustainability.
Four criteria define circularity index
The smartphones were assessed across four key dimensions: reparability coefficient, disassembly efficiency, lifecycle extension potential, and an overall circularity index. These categories reflect how easily a device can be repaired, how durable and modular it is, and how long it can realistically stay in use. The circularity index aggregates these factors into a single score representing the product’s readiness for a circular economy.
Galaxy S24 Ultra leads on repair
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra ranked highest with a reparability score of 7.7 and strong results in disassembly and lifecycle support. Google’s Pixel 8 Pro followed, bolstered by long-term software support despite weak reparability. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro came third overall but was near the bottom for repairability. The Nothing Phone (2) and Huawei P60 Pro filled out the bottom half with average or poor performance.
Real-world repairability scores by iFixit confirm gap
The iFixit repair index backs up these results. The Pixel 8 Pro scored 6/10, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra scored 5/10 and the Apple iPhone 15 Pro only 4/10. For the models from Huawei and Nothing, no iFixit score is available.
Market
Trade-in
Repair
Refurbishing
