Cell phones have been around since the 1990s, but smartphones weren’t fully normalized until 2007 when the iPhone revolutionized the industry. Today, smartphones dominate the sector, accounting for about 98% of all cell phones. With each new generation, these devices evolve, introducing new features that reshape the cell phone repair industry.
Cell phone repair shops need to stay ahead of these changes to remain competitive, keep customers happy, and stay informed about the latest legal and manufacturer updates.
In this blog, we’ll explore the top cell phone repair industry trends for 2025 and how they’ll shape your business in the future.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how cell phone repair software works, making processes faster, smarter, and more reliable. With these industry innovations, you can expect to:=
Diagnose device issues more quickly: AI-powered diagnostics can detect issues and malfunctions without spending hours on manual troubleshooting. They can analyze the device’s logs and usage patterns to detect anomalies within minutes so that repair technicians can find and address problems faster.
Perform predictive maintenance: AI’s pattern prediction capabilities can help a repair shop determine when a device is likely to fail or need repairs long before it happens. For example, an AI-powered tool can analyze battery usage and charging habits to predict when the battery will need servicing.
Manage your inventory with AI: AI isn’t just for big tech — it can also make running your phone repair shop easier. With AI-powered inventory management, your point of sale (POS) system can automate part reordering, predict demand based on past sales, and help reduce errors from manual tracking.
Businesses in the cell phone repair industry should expect AI to take an even bigger role in their stores in 2025 and beyond. These technologies will make repair and part management processes easier than ever, so you can speed up repair rates and keep your customers happy.
Four out of five customers say speed, convenience, friendly service, and knowledgeable help are critical to a good experience. That’s especially true when dealing with a broken phone.
Customers don’t just want quality repairs — they need fast service so they can get back to using their devices as soon as possible. When a repair shop delivers both, customers are more likely to return and spend more.
Same-day repairs and device pickup alerts are a growing solution to meet these expectations. Screen damage is one of the most common phone issues, with 78 million smartphone owners reporting damage in 2023 alone. Of those, 67% had cracked screens and 24% experienced touchscreen problems.
To keep up, more phone repair businesses now offer fast, convenient services like same-day screen repairs, battery replacements, and charging port fixes. These options save customers from extra costs like replacement phones or unwanted upgrades, making them a valuable part of any repair shop’s service lineup.
The Right to Repair movement for consumer electronics started in 2013 when the Digital Right to Repair Coalition began advocating for device owners and the cell phone repair industry.
As of March 2025, five states in the U.S. have right-to-repair legislation for cell phones and other electronics: California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon. If your store is located in one of these states, you have the right to order all necessary parts, components, tooling, and repair documentation to repair devices from any phone manufacturer.
This legislation gives mobile phone repair stores access to everything they need to meet demand, promotes better customer relationships, and improves their competitiveness against manufacturer-affiliated stores. Your customers will also appreciate being able to keep their older but still functioning devices in good condition, reducing the need for unnecessary (and costly) device upgrades.
Foldable smartphones started as a niche product but quickly gained traction with modern buyers. Most major brands now offer at least one model, and the market is expected to grow to $33.64 billion by 2025.
As more people buy foldable phones, the demand for repairs is growing. These devices are more complicated than traditional smartphones, with advanced components that make them trickier to fix.
Mobile phone repair shops looking to keep up in 2025 need to be ready. When servicing foldable phones, you might find it challenging to:
Repair flexible displays: Foldable smartphones use flexible, ultra-thin OLED displays designed to fold and bend without breaking. These materials are fragile and prone to wearing out over time, requiring specialized skills and training to repair or replace.
Fix hinges and folding systems: Like the traditional flip phones of the past, foldable smartphones have hinges and mechanisms that must open and close easily. However, these mechanisms are more complex than their flip phone counterparts because they must support extra functionality at various angles, like tent mode.
Repairing and maintaining these folding systems requires dedicated training and unique tools specifically designed for these devices.
Make sure your mobile phone repair store is ready for foldable devices by investing in training, specialized tooling, and foldable parts and components. They’ll allow you to continue providing customers with fast service, quality repairs, and the necessary convenience. In return, you gain a competitive advantage over other repair businesses.
The cell phone repair industry shows no sign of slowing down in terms of innovation and growth. Technological advancements like AI and foldable device developments, changing customer demands, and an ever-evolving legal landscape are introducing many new challenges.
As a cell phone repair shop owner, meeting customer demand while managing these new changes can be challenging. Consider investing in quality equipment, foldable device components, technician training, and advanced shop management software like CellSmart POS.
Schedule a demo to discover how CellSmart can help you manage your store like the industry’s top players, from inventory to device repairs to customer relationships.