We are now in the year 2024 and it's time to look back at the highlights from the past year's smartphone industry. We've seen devices that are designed to be easy for users to repair, as well as those that excel in terms of aesthetics and sophisticated design. Conversely, some phones showed structural vulnerabilities that led to significant damage during JerryRigEverything’s durability tests and could potentially face the same outcome under real-life circumstances.

In the smartphone repairability category, the Google Pixel 8 Pro came out as one of the most repair-friendly phones of 2023, ranking just below the modular Fairphone 5. Google has collaborated with iFixit to make parts for self-repair available. Although screen repair for the Pixel 8 Pro still necessitates the use of a heat gun, this is to be expected for a flagship phone designed for water resistance.

Additionally, Google has committed to providing seven years of software and hardware support for users of the Pixel 8 series devices. Meanwhile, the title of the most repairable smartphone of 2023 was awarded to the Fairphone 5, which features easily replaceable components.

However, the year 2023 wasn’t only marked with user-friendly and environmentally friendly smartphones, there were also some that encouraged users to upgrade to a brand-new device. JerryRigEverything bestowed the award for the least repairable smartphone of 2023 to the ROG 7 Ultimate. Interestingly, this device was also recognized as the most innovative smartphone of 2023, due to its unique motorized flap and internal copper fins for cooling.

Despite widely held beliefs that foldable phones are more fragile, some showed remarkable resilience in durability tests. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 weathered all tests and remained fully operational even after complete disassembly and reassembly. However, the Google Pixel Fold was not so fortunate, failing the durability test due to its design where the two halves separated when the phone was unfolded, which did not provide mutual support and led to the device’s failure.

For the fans of Pro iPhones, they took home JerryRigEverything's 2023 award for their interior aesthetics, featuring visible electromagnets surrounding their primary sensors to provide stabilization.

Having reviewed the various categories, JerryRigEverything bestowed the title of the most durable smartphone from 2023 to the Google Pixel 7a, a budget option from the Pixel 7 series. Its durability stems from its plastic back which resists breakage and the fact that repair parts for it are readily available from iFixit, just like the components for the Pixel 8 series devices.