It's still hard to fix devices you own in the way you want them. State-level bills here and there have made a difference, though only one has passed. A Joe Biden executive order gave the movement some regulatory teeth, but haven't yet effected many tangible results. Apple's Self Service Repair program comes as a welcome shock because it's a well-established quagmire.
The repair manual for the iPhone 12 and 13 devices will be available for US customers early next year. Other countries will gain access to the program throughout the year of 2022. You will be able to order from a selection of more than 200 parts and tools from a new Self Service Repair Store, covering common repairs like replacing the iPhone display, battery, and camera. You will get credit for the repair purchase if you recycle the used part.
Apple has a longstanding right to repair boogeyman. The company has fought legislation and regulation every step of the way, claiming that allowing consumers to fix their own devices would endanger their safety and security. In terms of pivots, it's clear that the man is rolling out a line of toothpaste.
Kyle Wiens, co-founder and CEO of online repair community iFixit, says he has received legal threats from Apple in the past related to consumer repair efforts. We have been asking them for 18 years.
Right to repair advocates don't see the Self Service Repair Store as a total victory, and a few nagging questions remain about how it will play out in practice. If the new system works in a similar way to Apple's existing Independent Repair Program, you will only be able to use the specific component you purchased from the company to complete a repair. The majority of customers are better off seeing a certified technician, according to the company. It's not easy to repair Apple products, like the AirPods that are designed to be disposable.
There are plenty of bright spots. Independent repair stores will be able to go through this program, rather than having to sign an IRP contract, though they will miss out on certain perks, like being able to stock up on parts. The announcement indicated that the company plans to make self-repairs more manageable. There are hints of that in the redesign of the MacBook Pro, which gained a significantly more replaceable battery. It makes it easier for consumers to swap in a new component, but also to go longer without having to upgrade their laptop altogether.
