In exchange for selling them repair parts, Samsung requires independent repair shops to give Samsung the name, contact information, phone identifier, and customer complaint details of everyone who gets their phone repaired at these shops, according to a contract obtained by 404 Media. Stunningly, it also requires these nominally independent shops to “immediately disassemble” any phones that customers have brought them that have been previously repaired with aftermarket or third-party parts and to “immediately notify” Samsung that the customer has used third-party parts.
An acquaintance yesterday showed me that she bought a new phone, a Samsung S24 plus(?)… the reason? “To take good photos”, and that it takes way less space than a real, proper camera. I’d never pay that much for a phone, and I think she could do amazing photos even with “lesser” phones, but alas.