Apple tackles: Consumers can fix iPhone or Mac themselves

Apple has been criticized for years that it is too difficult, for example, to have an iPhone repaired by a nearby store, or to do the repair yourself. Apple announced this afternoon that that will change from next year. Customers who want to fix something themselves can buy a screen or battery from Apple, for example, and get the right manuals and tools.

These are the parts and tools currently available from several thousand Apple Authorized Service Providers and independent repairers. And for the first time, Apple is also making it available to consumers themselves.

Replace the screen or camera

In the beginning, the new Self Service RepairThe program focuses on the most frequently used parts of the iPhone, such as the screen, cameras, and the battery. The company says that more advanced repair options will be available later in 2022. Pricing has not yet been announced.

According to Apple, self-service repair is for “people who have the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices.” “For the vast majority of customers, visiting a professional service provider is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair done,” the company says.

First for iPhone 12 and 13

Apple will eventually provide more than 200 parts for repairs iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13. then parts for MacBook and an iMac with Apple’s own M1 chipset.

At the beginning of 2022 the United States will take over, and other countries will follow over the next year. “This gives our customers more options when repair is needed,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.

Among other things, the company will release repair manuals to the public for the first time. After the repair, customers who return their replacement parts for recycling will receive a credit on their purchase.

Cash

In recent years, there have been frequent criticisms of repair policy From Apple, because the company would have made repairs by third parties very difficult. The repairs were often out of Apple’s warranty, but made by Apple, which are also very expensive.

Since 2019, Apple has provided more than 2,800 independent repair shops worldwide with access to original parts and tools. There are also more than 5,000 approved service providers.

iPhone repair is often not possible without the official parts. For example, for security reasons, iPhones do not accept unofficial offers. iPhones with fake screen will then be locked automatically.

Joe Biden

Apple’s transformation comes after US President Joe Biden In a decree in July He argued that big tech companies should drop their restrictions on third-party fixes.

Apple founder Steve Wozniak also spoke expresses his support For the Right to Repair movement, which campaigns for the release of resources and information for appliance repair.