It’s easy for Apple to make a concession on something like this, knowing hardly anyone will take advantage of it.
18 November 2021 – Apple has announced its Self Service Repair, a new program designed to let users perform common repairs on devices at home. Through the program, users with damaged devices will be sent “Apple genuine” tools and components — same as the ones they use at the Genius Bar. The company will also be offering up online repair manuals (text, not video), accessible through the new Apple Self Service Repair Online Store. The system is similar to the one the company rolled out for Independent Repair Providers (of which there are currently 2,800 in the U.S. plus 5,000 Apple Authorized Service Providers), beginning with the iPhone 12 and 13, focused on display, battery and camera fixes. A similar service for M1 Macs will be launching “soon” after.
Apple notes that performing these tasks at home won’t void the device’s warranty, though you might if you manage to further damage the product in the process of repairing it — so hew closely to those manuals. That’s quite the warning, isn’t it.
While it appears to be a big step by Apple, most techie blogs have noted it seems more likely this may enable a cottage industry of repairers (who previously existed but were stymied by Apple’s designs of the past few years) than everyone DIYing their cracked screens. Readers in the UK might see an analogy – a whole new generation of Haynes manuals. Though iFixit is sort of like that already.
Ah, the beneficence of Apple knows no bounds, yes? Given the symbiotic relationship between the news media and Apple (coverage drives traffic to media websites and sales to Apple), it’s no surprise that Apple’s Self Service Repair program got serious news treatment.
But it’s hard to see this as anything other than theater. Apple is responding to pressure from the newly activist U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which wants everyone to have the “right to repair” their own products.
Since most people struggle to even put a screen protector onto their phone, it’s hard to imagine too many will feel comfortable unscrewing the back and replacing one of the 200 parts Apple will make available to consumers. Apple doesn’t pretend otherwise, to be sure. It acknowledges in its announcement that “the vast majority of customers” will stick with professional technicians, including the independent shops that for two years have been able to obtain “genuine parts” to repair iPhones.
It’s easy for Apple to make a concession on something like this, knowing hardly anyone will take advantage of it. It would be far more meaningful if Apple showed the same openness about its App Store, allowing developers to offer alternative payment mechanisms inside their own apps. That could save people money while costing Apple a fortune—which is why the company fights it tooth and nail. Any Apple retreat on that subject would be worthy of coverage. As for the Self Repair Program—not so much.