Philips
Medical & mobility · Last assessed 6/9/2026
Score breakdown
Why this grade
Most strongly documented as repair-hostile. A jury found Philips's right-to-repair restrictions unlawful: it refused to provide documents, programs, and information needed to repair/maintain its imaging systems in a timely manner and refused to sell training to independent service organizations even when they offered to pay. Philips is repeatedly named as a leading OEM restricting access to manuals, parts, and diagnostic tools; an ISO (Image Technology Consulting) alleged a 2018 Philips software update locked it out of installing machines. On the consumer side, Philips Respironics' June 2021 Class I recall of millions of CPAP/BiPAP/ventilator units (PE-PUR foam) was handled entirely as OEM repair/replace, with no independent or owner repair pathway. Strong, name-specific evidence supports an F.
Methodology & version
Five dimensions — parts availability, schematic access, repairability, OEM pricing, and software freedom — are scored 0–100 and weighted equally; the letter grade is the average (A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60). This assessment is current as of 6/9/2026 and cites its sources below. It covers the Medical & mobility category and is not a claim about every device the maker ships.
Sources
- TechNation: Philips' Right to Repair Restrictions Are Illegal, Jury Finds
- DOTmed: Inside one ISO's right-to-repair battle with a leading MR manufacturer (
- Philips Respironics Sleep & Respiratory Care recall (Class I, PE-PUR foam)
- Sleep Foundation: CPAP Recalls overview
- PIRG Hospital Repair Restrictions