https://www.ifixit.com/repairability/smartphone-scores
Apple iPhone 14: 4
Apple iPhone 14 Plus: 7
Apple iPhone 14 Pro: 6
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max: 6
iPhone 13 Pro: 6
iPhone 12 Mini: 6
iPhone 12 Pro: 6
iPhone SE 2020: 6
vs. Samsung Galaxy S22: 3
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra: 3
Fairphone 4: 10 (ok clear winner :D)
Google Pixel 6: 6
Google Pixel 6 Pro: 5
Google Pixel 5a: 6
Mi 11: 4
Huawei Mate 40 Pro: 4
Microsoft Surface Duo: 2
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra: 3
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip: 2
Motorola razr: 1
Google Pixel 4 XL: 4
I mean, they are all bad, but looks like Apple is not "harder to repair".Repairability and open source software isn't what the lay person cares about, at least not until they break their phones.
Apple's fix to failing software is the same as what any computer service will do for a random customer: reinstall the entire OS, see if that helped, restore the backup you definitely didn't forget to make. Someone deeply knowledgeable can often use tricks to get a broken system to run like normal again, but that's not easy or time efficient to offer as a service.
Apple removed the worst UI to intuit (3D Touch, or "you didn't press the unmarked location hard enough"). After that, I think their software isn't any better or worse than their competition's in terms of usability, unless you have a visual disability; iOS is still king when it comes to the quality of built in accessibility features for those who can't/struggle to see a screen.
> They may make a few things easier than Microsoft or Google
Enough few things that make them worthwhile purchasing.
> All their hardware is harder to repair than what is available from competition.
Possibly true, but at least my Apple hardware is built well and lasts. The awful MS ”flagship” I had the misfortune of being forced to buy flexes when I type on it. The Android phones I’ve had have been of such poor build and material quality I’m not surprised people need stuff repaired all the time. Not saying repair isn’t important, but in the last 5 years of Apple devices the one repair I’ve needed was a screen replacement which was done in 10 mins, for free.