Is your smartphone broken or damaged and you want to know if the warranty covers it? First, you should know that there are several types of warranties. Find out what each of these warranties covers and whether you are eligible for them.

The various guarantees

1. Statutory warranty

The statutory warranty refers to the consumer's rights under the law, regardless of any warranty offered by the seller or manufacturer.

There are two main types:

Legal guarantee of conformity (or guarantee of conformity):

Duration: 2 years from delivery of the goods.

What it covers: If the smartphone has a lack of conformity (for example, if it does not match the description given by the seller, or if it does not work as expected), you are entitled to a repair, replacement, or, if this is not possible, a refund.

Conditions: The defect must appear within two years of purchase and must be reported within two months of its discovery.

Warranty against hidden defects:

Duration: 2 years from the discovery of the hidden defect (but the defect must have existed prior to purchase).

What it covers: If the smartphone has a hidden defect (i.e. a defect that is not visible to the naked eye and that renders it unusable or reduces its functionality), you can request repair, replacement or cancellation of the sale.

Conditions: The defect must be discovered after purchase, and it must be proven that it existed before the sale, rendering the product unfit for its intended use.

2. Commercial warranty

A commercial warranty is an additional warranty offered by the seller or manufacturer beyond the statutory warranty. This warranty may be free and/or paid for and is generally more extensive than statutory warranties, but it is optional.

Duration: This varies depending on the offer. For example, some sellers or manufacturers offer a commercial warranty of 1 to 5 years, sometimes even longer. More recently, it has even been offered in the form of a monthly subscription, such as Apple Care +.

What it covers: It may cover damage or defects that are not covered by the statutory warranty, or offer extended coverage (e.g. repairs after the statutory warranty period, or against certain types of damage).

Conditions: It is defined by the seller or manufacturer, and certain terms and conditions must be met (e.g. product registration, or maintenance/repair at an authorised centre).

3. Manufacturer's warranty

The manufacturer's warranty is specific to the smartphone manufacturer. It is a form of commercial warranty, but with characteristics specific to each manufacturer.

Duration: Generally 1 to 2 years, but some manufacturers offer extensions for certain products or models.

What it covers: It generally covers manufacturing defects, faults related to phone components (processor, screen, battery, etc.), and in some cases, accidental damage (depending on the option chosen). Some manufacturers even offer international warranties, allowing you to have your phone repaired or replaced abroad.

Conditions: These may vary depending on the manufacturer and where you purchased the phone. Sometimes you need to register your product or take certain steps to benefit from the warranty.

What damage is covered or excluded by these warranties?

First, check how long you have owned your phone.

The legal warranty (conformity and hidden defects) is valid for two years from the date of purchase.

The manufacturer's warranty varies depending on the manufacturer, so check their terms and conditions.

Have you taken out a commercial warranty? This generally extends the legal and manufacturer's terms and conditions in terms of time and/or damage.

If you have exceeded the two-year period, you will not be able to invoke the legal warranty or the manufacturer's warranty, which rarely extends beyond this period. If you have not taken out a commercial warranty, then regardless of the fault, you will have no recourse.
If the fault/damage occurs within two years of purchase, you will need to analyse the source. If it is a product non-conformity or a hidden defect present at the time of purchase that prevents its use, you can invoke the legal warranty.
If the fault/damage appears to be due to a manufacturing defect, you will need to refer to the manufacturer's warranty, provided that you are within the time limit (check the manufacturer's terms and conditions).
If it is any other type of damage (excluding hidden defects, non-conformities or manufacturing defects), such as damage caused by dropping the product, refer to the commercial warranty if you have one. Warranty offers vary depending on the seller and the package. The more you pay, the more damage will be covered. Therefore, check whether the damage in question is covered by your warranty and whether the warranty has expired.

Here are some examples of faults/damage covered by the various warranties:

Legal warranty

Manufacturing defects: For example, a screen that does not respond or a malfunctioning power button.
Software problems: If the operating system does not work properly (e.g. applications that do not open, recurring failures).
Incompatibility with the description: For example, if the smartphone does not have the promised features (e.g. a poor-quality camera when it was supposed to be high-resolution).
Functional failures: For example, if the phone does not pick up the network properly or if the battery does not hold its charge as it should.
Invisible internal defects: For example, a manufacturing defect in the processor, a soldering problem, or poor hardware design that causes the phone to fail or malfunction.
Damage affecting product use: If a hidden defect renders a key feature of the smartphone unusable, such as a problem with the motherboard preventing the phone from starting up.
Performance issues: For example, a memory defect that prevents the phone from storing data correctly.

Manufacturer's warranty

Manufacturing defects: Component problems (defective screen, processor malfunction, hardware defects in the internal circuitry, etc.).
Software problems: If a system update causes the smartphone to malfunction (e.g., an unstable operating system version).
Premature wear and tear: If a component wears out abnormally early, such as a battery that does not hold its charge after a few months of use.
Hardware problems: For example, a fingerprint sensor that stops working, or a camera that no longer takes photos properly.

Commercial warranty (varies depending on the seller and package)

Accidental damage: Some commercial warranty contracts may cover damage due to accidents, such as impacts, broken screens, or even immersion in water (sometimes under certain conditions).
Additional repairs: After the end of the statutory warranty (which is 2 years), some commercial warranty contracts offer extended repairs, covering additional defects or breakdowns (e.g. a broken screen, a faulty battery, etc.).
Repairs or replacement: If the phone breaks down due to manufacturing defects after the legal warranty expires.
Theft or loss: Some commercial warranties (often additional options) also cover theft or loss of the phone, although this is not always the case.

What damage is excluded from the guarantees from the outset?

Certain faults or damage will be automatically excluded from statutory and manufacturer warranties.

Do not attempt to claim for a fault under these warranties if:

your phone has been subjected to impact
your phone has been exposed to water

Please note that even if your smartphone does have a defect in conformity or manufacture that is covered by these warranties, if it is found that your phone has been subjected to impact or water damage, the warranty will probably not apply.

Smartphones are even designed to detect impact or water damage.

This is a way for manufacturers to avoid honouring these warranties by claiming that the fault could have been caused by impact or contact with water. Without certainty about the cause of the problem, manufacturers can absolve themselves of responsibility.

As it is not uncommon to drop your phone, it is difficult to make a claim under either of these warranties.

You are then left with the commercial warranty, if you have taken one out, provided you are still within the warranty period and covered for the type of damage in question.

What about wear and tear on the phone?

No warranty will cover any faults related to wear and tear. Normal wear and tear is not covered. This mainly concerns the battery, which will naturally deteriorate over time. This can affect the proper functioning of your smartphone.

Please note that you can replace your phone's battery to extend its life and performance!

What should I do if my phone is broken or malfunctioning and I cannot claim on the warranty?

Good news: if your phone is faulty or damaged, you no longer have to replace it.

Once the damage or fault has been identified, simply replace the affected part to extend the life of your smartphone! If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service team.

You will find more than 20,000 references on our website, and we offer repair tutorials so you can do it yourself. You'll save time and money!

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