Replacing the broken screen of your smartphone will cost you less

The long-awaited repair bonus for smartphone screens will finally see the light of day on January 1, 2024, as recently announced by the Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu. With amounts still under discussion, this system arouses as much hope as concern in the repair ecosystem.

Last Saturday, September 30, the Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, announced in an interview with Ouest-France the extension of therepair bonus» to smartphone screens, from January 1, 2024.

This device was initially scheduled to be launched in December 2022, but has suffered delays. It guarantees financial support to owners of broken devices. This is a first, because cases of breakage caused by users are not eligible for this assistance… except for screens.

The bonus is already effective for other types of smartphone repairs. For screensthe exact amount spent on screen repair remains to be determined and is currently in arbitration, as the minister mentioned. The costs of repairing a smartphone screen can vary considerably, ranging from 50 to 500 euros depending on the model.

As reported by Le Monde, the confirmation of the extension of this financial aid, however, raises concerns at Ecologic, an eco-organization responsible for setting the amount of the eco-contribution on new devices. This contribution, added to the sale price of electronic devices, helps finance the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment and the repair bonus. The eco-organization fears that the funds intended for the bonus will be insufficient following this new measure.

Developments announced without a precise timetable

Christophe Béchu also announced other changes to the repair bonus without providing a precise timetable. The amount allocated for this aid should increase by at least 5 euros for all eligible devices. In addition, three types of devices, including televisions (which have a significant carbon footprint), should benefit in the future from a “super bonus“. This measure aims to encourage the repair of these devices, the rate of repair of which is considered unsatisfactory.

The ministry also plans to facilitate the process of labeling approved repairers to distribute the bonus. The objective is to increase their number, from 4,000 to 7,500 during the year 2024, then to 22,000 by the end of 2026. However, independent repairers, who represent the majority of repair shops local repair, are often excluded from this labeling. The Stop Planned Obsolescence association denounces the eligibility criteria imposed by eco-organizations as being “very restrictive», thus limiting access to the bonus for users who use the services of these professionals.