Don't underestimate the ability to make it very difficult to non-destructively reach the actual LEDs in many of these devices in the name of being small or "stylish."
It's rarely the actual diode which failed. It's normally a part of the driver circuit. So you need to non-destructively disassemble the device (quite challenging in a lot of designs), then have at least basic EE skills and tools to diagnose what is actually going wrong, and then once again some basic soldering skills.
> A bag of bulk LEDs imported from China is surprisingly cheap.
Like a lot of repairs it's not the parts that cost it's the time of even somewhat skilled local labor to repair.
userbinator · · focus · HN ↗
They certainly can, with the right tools. A bag of bulk LEDs imported from China is surprisingly cheap.
majormajor · · focus · HN ↗
vel0city · · focus · HN ↗
> A bag of bulk LEDs imported from China is surprisingly cheap.
Like a lot of repairs it's not the parts that cost it's the time of even somewhat skilled local labor to repair.