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RightTo/Repair
Article 03 · By brandFiled 2026-08-14

Washington / smartphone/Fairphone

Fairphone smartphone owners in Washington.

4 statutory rights, plus Fairphone's own self-service repair channels and known controversies.

Figure 01 — Fairphone repair channels

Self-service available

Fairphone repair channels

Self-service portal

shop.fairphone.com

Fairphone is widely regarded as the gold standard for repairability. All spare parts are sold direct-to-consumer at transparent prices, and modules can be swapped by users with a standard Phillips screwdriver - no proprietary tools or pairing required. Fairphone 5 (2023) ships with 8 years of OS/security updates and 8+ years of spare parts availability. Step-by-step repair guides are co-published with iFixit.

Authorized providers

support.fairphone.com

Sample spare parts

  • Fairphone 5 display modulesee source
  • Fairphone 5 batterysee source
  • Fairphone 5 USB-C port modulesee source
  • Fairphone 5 rear camera modulesee source
  • Fairphone 5 back coversee source

Known repair issues

  • Limited geographic availability. Fairphone devices are sold primarily in Europe, which limits the impact of its repairability advantages on consumers in North America, Asia, and other regions.

Figure 02 — Statutory rights in Washington

Statutory rights in Washington

  1. 01

    Right to parts, tools, and documentation

    Original equipment manufacturers of digital electronic products and appliances sold in Washington must make parts, tools, and documentation needed to diagnose, maintain, or repair the product available to owners and independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms.

    Washington Right to Repair Act, HB 1483 (2025), RCW 19.380
  2. 02

    Restrictions on parts pairing

    Manufacturers cannot use software locks or pairing requirements that prevent a replacement part from functioning, reduce its functionality, or display misleading warnings about non-OEM or used parts installed by an independent repair provider or owner.

    Washington HB 1483 (2025), parts-pairing provisions; Ch. 353, Laws of 2025
  3. 03

    Fair and reasonable terms standard

    Manufacturers must offer parts, tools, and documentation at terms equivalent to those given to authorized repair providers, without requiring an additional fee or burdensome obligation to access them.

    Washington HB 1483 (2025), §3
  4. 04

    Enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act

    Violations are unfair or deceptive practices under Washington's Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86). The Attorney General can seek injunctive relief and civil penalties; the CPA also generally allows private actions for actual damages, treble damages, and attorney fees.

    Washington Consumer Protection Act, RCW 19.86

Personalised version

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