In New Delhi’s repair markets, technicians like Sushil Prasad and Manohar Singh are breathing new life into discarded laptops by repurposing broken parts. The ‘Frankenstein’ laptops, hybrids of salvaged components from multiple brands, offer a lifeline to students, gig workers, and small businesses priced out of India’s growing digital economy.
The demand for these affordable devices is on the rise, with many people prioritizing functionality over brand new technology. Prasad and Singh’s workshop, where they stitch together motherboards, screens, and batteries from scavenged parts, serves as a daily ritual to resurrect machines at a fraction of the cost.
However, this booming market faces significant challenges, entangled with global technology giants pushing planned obsolescence. The Indian government has started discussions on right-to-repair laws, but progress remains slow, leaving repair shops in legal limbo and forcing them to rely on informal supply chains.
Despite the dangers associated with e-waste salvaging, workers continue to source laptop components for technicians like Prasad, who admit to handling toxic materials daily. The demand for Frankenstein laptops is expected to grow as India’s digital economy expands, making it essential to integrate the repair sector into the formal economy.
By recognizing independent repair businesses and providing access to spare parts, the government can transform this industry, reducing e-waste, creating jobs, and making technology more accessible. For now, Prasad and Singh’s work continues, proving that India’s repair ecosystem is set to thrive.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/639126/india-frankenstein-laptops