iFixit embodies the “I don’t care, I’ll do it myself” mentality that has always harbored some tech enthusiasts. As one of the advocates of the right to repair movement, the company is now flexing its muscles with its own electronics products: the FixHub is a USB-C-powered soldering iron designed to help you fix whatever you have on your bench (and it’s easy to repair itself). The soldering iron comes with a stand and a 55Wh battery pack that doubles as a thermostat, so you can fix things wherever you are.
Founder Kyle Wiens explained that FixHub was born out of frustration with soldering irons and their limitations. He was upset about having to drag an extension cord out onto the street to fix his car stereo. So the iFixit team started looking for ways to improve on a traditionally inelegant tool, including making it smarter, more flexible, and easier to repair.
The 100 watt soldering iron reaches the desired soldering temperature in just 5 seconds. There is an accelerometer built inside the soldering iron body that can detect if the soldering iron is in the holder but not in use. If not in use, it will automatically go into cooling mode to extend the life of the soldering iron tip. And if the soldering iron falls out of your hand, it will power off to prevent a terrible accident. There is also an LED ring on the body that lets you know if the soldering iron is cool to touch, warm, and ready to use.
Photo: Daniel Cooper/Engadget
The iron can be used with any USB-C power source capable of 20W output, but it comes with a factory default temperature of 660f/350c. For more control (and portability), you’ll need to use the company’s new 55Wh battery pack, the FixHub Power Station. It outputs up to 100W at a time, providing enough power to run two irons simultaneously. Or you can charge another USB-C device while running one iron. On the front, there’s a display and a rotary dial that lets you control the temperature of the iron as needed.
Being iFixit, we aim to make both our products modular, repairable, and easy to fix. We even included our own screwdriver in the package so you can take both products apart if necessary. We hope you’ll be using them to fix electronics for decades to come.
iFixit will begin shipping FixHub products in the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe on October 15. The Smart Soldering Iron will cost $80, while the Soldering Station, which includes the soldering iron and battery pack, will cost $250. Customers can also purchase a Soldering Toolkit, which includes the above products plus a number of accessories and materials, for $300.
