Consumer advocate Louis Rossmann highlighted on Nov 10, 2026 that the incoming Democrat‑heavy Congress could address right‑to‑repair legislation, using his own iPhone 14 battery failure as an example. He explained that Apple’s self‑repair program requires renting about 80 pounds of equipment and official parts, which offers little cost savings, and that third‑party components can trigger feature lockouts, a problem that also affects consoles, cars and smart‑home devices.
If Congress enacts stronger right‑to‑repair rules, manufacturers may be forced to open hardware and software interfaces, reducing repair costs and extending device lifespans. This could reshape supply chains, boost third‑party parts markets, and limit vendor lock‑in across consumer electronics, automotive and IoT sectors.