I have been covering Apple for a long time. I don't know if I've ever seen an announcement from the company as unexpected and warmly received as Self Service Repair. After dropping the news last November, Apple has officially opened the service to users in the U.S.
It will be possible to purchase spare parts and tools for the third-gen SE, as well as peruse instruction manuals that will walk you through the process of fixing common issues with the phone. The new offering is being positioned as a follow-up to the move to open iPhones to repair and resell.
The image is from Apple.
Over the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to genuine Apple parts, tools and training. Apple customers are located within 20 minutes of an authorized service provider in the US.
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Self Service Repair is being framed as more of a niche offering despite the excitement surrounding the announcement. The company doesn't recommend it for most users. It is an option for those with experience in repairing modern consumer electronics. As devices have gotten thinner, the ease of reparability has been sacrificed.
That is the reason why companies like FairPhone have been able to make a name for themselves. The act of cracking a phone open without doing damage is difficult without the right tools. Apple has tools for sale and rental. A heating tool is needed to open the phone.
If you're not opening a phone repair shop or doing repairs at volume, buying it on its own is not worth the cost. You can rent the device for seven days and mail it back to Apple. If you play your cards right, you can save money by buying parts and tools from the company at the same rate it charges third-party shops.
The image is from Apple.
Depending on the device model and whether you are trading in on parts, the prices can vary a bit. For example.
Battery 12/13 models: $69 ($24.15 credit potential when replaced part is returned)Battery SE: $49 ($24.01 credit potential)Display 12/13 models: 225.96 – 309.96 depending on model (33.60 credit potential)Display SE: 128.44 (30.40 credit potential)
The company will help you figure out which parts are required. After you pay, Apple will send you a box with the parts and a return label to give you a discount on the total cost.
Even if you don't buy Apple's tools and parts, the new manual will be available to everyone. The company writes that its tools are engineered for professional repair providers to deliver the same performance as factory tools used to build Apple products. They are designed to be shared across multiple product models. The display press and battery press can be used with all iPhone devices that have been released in the last 7 years.
The act of opening and repairing a device won't void its warranty if you damage the phone in the process, but if you use Apple's tools, that's a different story.
The image is from Apple.
This is a sort of deal.
There is a definite sustainable angle for Apple. The number of products that end up in landfills can be reduced by extending the life of a device. The timing of these offerings comes as state and national lawmakers are looking at new right to repair legislation.
Repairs for M1 Macs will be done later this year. European customers will be the first to get Apple's phone offering.
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