News Apple announces Self Service Repair Program

[Haziqonfire]

Apple is opening up iPhones and Macs to DIY repairs. The company plans to start selling parts and tools and offering instructions on how to repair Apple products at home, without having to bring them into a store or a third-party repair shop. Apple plans to start with the iPhone 12 and 13, followed by Macs with M1 chips. You’ll be able to replace the iPhone’s display, battery, and camera using parts from Apple at first, with other options coming later.

This is a huge shift from Apple, which has historically been resistant to the right-to-repair movement and from any repairs happening outside of its own stores. Even this week, Apple was walking back software that prevented Face ID from working if customers replaced their own screen.

Apple is calling the program “Self Service Repair,” and it’ll launch “early next year” in the US and then expand to other countries. The company says the program is only meant for “individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices,” and that most customers should still go to a professional. But Apple is at least now offering an option for the customers who do feel comfortable undertaking the repair on their own. Critically, making these repairs yourself won’t void a device’s warrant, according to TechCrunch, although damaging your device in the process still might.

You can read The Verge article as well as the official press release from Apple.

This is a HUGE win. I’m so glad this is finally starting to happen with Apple products. Unfortunate that it’s only starting with iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and M1 Macs, but it’s still something.

 

[Derachi]

HELL yeah that fuckin rules!!!!

 

[Raccoon]

YES megaton news

I've worked on a Macintosh before and got shocked by 120, can't wait to work on something newer and less fatal

 

[Martin]

Fuck that’s amazing! Always repaired iPhones myself since the 4S.
Because they are one of the easiest to repair.

The most happy I’m about getting original batteries.

 

[Seik]

Louis Rossmann jizzing his pants right now probably.

 

[Terrell]

Not just allowing self-repair, but stating it will not void warranty. That last part was not something I expected.

I expect it will open up a cottage industry for repair technicians getting people to order parts and bring them in to have them do the labour for under the price you'd pay for Apple to do it in total.

 

[Lord Azrael]

It's about time

 

[boris_feinbrand]

Oh, someone wants to get ahead of regulations it seems. About fucking time something changes in this space.