Samsung to bring Galaxy smartphone repair service to more Best Buy stores
But only for Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Note devices at first.
Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra (left) and Galaxy S21 (right).
Samsung is bringing its Galaxy smartphone repair service to more than 100 Best Buy stores across the country starting Tuesday, the company said on Monday. Devices in Samsung's Galaxy S and Galaxy Note lines will be the only ones eligible for repair services through Best Buy at launch, but support for Galaxy Z foldable phones is coming in early November.
It builds on Samsung's existing authorized service center options, which include Samsung stores as well as the repair chain uBreakiFix. Samsung previously offered authorized repair services at some Best Buy locations as part of a pilot program, but it's now expanding those efforts more broadly.
As part of the program, those who own eligible Galaxy devices will be able to schedule an appointment with a Samsung-trained Geek Squad agent to get screen replacements, port and camera repairs, battery replacements and other services. The expansion could help Samsung remain competitive with rivals like Apple and Google, both of which have expanded their in-person retail and repair offerings in recent years.
Apple similarly partnered with Best Buy in 2019 when it announced that nearly 1,000 locations across the US would offer Apple-authorized support. Google opened its first physical retail store in New York earlier this year, where customers can buy products like Pixel phones and Nest speakers and also explore interactive exhibits.
Read more: Samsung Care Plus: What to know about Samsung's take on Apple Care
Having more repair options readily available could be especially important as Samsung continues to push its premium foldable smartphones like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip. Such devices are among Samsung's most expensive Galaxy phones, with the Z Fold 3 available at $1,799 through Samsung's website, without a device trade-in, and the Z Flip beginning at $999 without a trade-in. Since foldable phones are still relatively new to the market, we don't know much about their long-term durability, as my colleague Patrick Holland mentioned in his review of the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
The Samsung-authorized services available at Best Buy will include both in and out-of-warranty services as well as software troubleshooting. Samsung's store locator tool can be used to find nearby authorized service centers, and you can view the full list of eligible devices at Samsung's website.
