apple is launches its DIY phone repair service in the US today, making parts available for iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and the third-generation iPhone SE. When the company announced its “Self-Service Repair” initiative last yearApple said it planned to sell more than 200 “individual parts and tools” to customers. For now, they’re only available in the US, but Apple plans to expand the program to other countries, as well as additional devices, such as Macs equipped with M1 chips, later this year.
Parts are available through Apple self service repair shop. Tool rental kits will also be available to rent for seven days at a cost of $49 for customers who don’t want to buy tools outright, the company said in its press release.
The program marks a significant shift for Apple, which has historically limits set on the availability of original spare parts. While alternative aftermarket parts are sometimes available, Apple devices have occasionally shown sinister caveat signs if they have been repaired with non-original components. However, with the self-service repair initiative, anyone in the US can buy a replacement part directly from Apple, safe in the knowledge that it should work exactly as expected.
Apple has previously warned that its DIY repair program is aimed at “individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices” and that the “vast majority of customers” should still turn to a professional repairer. But there’s nothing to stop unsuspecting customers from attempting repairs themselves, and Apple offers repair manuals that are available to view before purchasing parts.
Apple says the parts will be sold to customers at the same price as its existing authorized repair providers and that, in some cases, it will offer a credit if customers return a replaced part for recycling. For example, TechCrunch grades that an iPhone 12 or 13 battery costs $69 with a potential $24.15 credit for returning a replaced part. Screens for the same phones range in price from $225.96 to $309.96 with a potential credit of $33.60.
The launch of Apple’s self-service repair program comes amid a wave of DIY repair announcements from other smartphone makers. In recent months, both Google Y Samsung have announced partnerships with repair specialists iFixit to sell spare parts for their devices while, on the computer side, Valve is also working with the organization to facilitate DIY device repairs. steam cover.
These initiatives follow years of pressure from reparations activists and regulators for manufacturers to make their devices easier to repair, which will hopefully prevent them from ending up in landfills prematurely. Apple specifically faced additional issues activist shareholder pressure reassess its stance on independent reparations last year.