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Gadgets Need a ‘Check Engine’ Light
Repairing devices is a key part of reducing their long-term environmental impact, but many consumers don’t know when to do it
While consumers generally expect to be notified of regular maintenance on their car — any time the “check engine” light comes on, they know it’s time to take it to the shop — many remain unaware of a host of common repair needs for their gadgets or don’t know when to get their devices serviced.
It doesn’t have to be this way. After Apple was caught throttling iPhones with older batteries, the company added a Battery Health feature that does a decent job of letting users know when it’s time to seek a replacement. But this exception puts into stark contrast how rare such a feature is for other devices to offer the same information, an especially glaring omission considering repairing a device is a crucial step in reducing its long-term environmental impact.
Though gadgets do not have an equivalent of a “check engine” light, most of them require some repairs to…
