Apple today revealed a Self-repair program that will allow customers to perform repairs themselves using genuine Apple parts and tools. The program will be available early next year in the US and expand to other countries throughout 2022.
Apple will begin providing parts, tools, and manuals to individual iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 owners early next year. Customers will be able to use the parts to repair cell phone screens, batteries and cameras from scratch. The ability to perform repairs on iPhone extras will be available later this year.
According to Apple, the iPhone program will soon be followed by a similar program for Mac computers with the M1 chip.
“Creating greater access to genuine Apple parts gives our customers more options if repairs are needed,” Apple CEO Jeff Williams said in a blog post. . “Over the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and training, and we are now offering an option for who want to fix it themselves.”
Until now, access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals has been reserved for approximately 5,000 Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP) and 2,800 Independent Repair Suppliers.
Jack Gold, president and principal analyst at J. Gold Associates, said via email to answer questions from Computerworld.
“It’s always nonsense,” Gold writes, “because there are so many great stand-alone repair technologies out there. “But it has made it difficult for independent facilities, as genuine Apple repair parts are not available to those independent facilities, and they primarily use third-party parts.”
Just as consumers often choose a local mechanic over an authorized – and more expensive – dealer for auto repairs, Apple device owners often turn to independent repair techs, those that are less expensive but are not always original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.
However, times have changed, however, with consumers and governments pushing for the right to repair – not just for smartphones, but for all types of technology and cars, etc. . “So I think Apple is seeing the handwriting on the wall and trying to get ahead of the legislation that will probably be in place in many states and some countries that will mandate it. It’s a way for them to say, “See, we’re on the side of the consumer.”
It remains unclear whether Apple will sell its repair tools and genuine Apple parts at “market competitive” prices or at some of Apple’s higher prices, Gold said.
“It is also not clear that they will price parts reasonably when selling directly to consumers, and not charge lower overall prices at their facilities to push most repairs their way. surname. Gold added.
Parts and e-commerce site iFixit called Apple’s announcement important news for everyone, “but we’re especially excited about iFixit.”
“We started in 2003, when cofounder Kyle Wiens tried to repair his iBook but was blocked from service manuals for it. If Apple does so next year, it will be the first time the company publishes iPhone repair manuals,” the company writes on its website.
Above his Twitter pageWiens writes that Apple wanted people to believe it had made the decision to allow self-repair, but it only came after the involvement of regulators on three continents, dozens of proposed bills and proposals. investor output.
“Apple blinked,” Wiens wrote.
Apple’s new online parts store will offer more than 200 individual parts and tools, allowing customers to complete the most common repairs on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. Consumers will be able to use the book online guide to identify the part or parts they need.
“The bottom line: while this is a potentially big win for consumers and independent businesses, it’s too early to say for sure that Apple’s policies and pricing will be attractive and won’t change.” This becomes a “nominally advantageous consumer only” program,” says Gold. “Apple needs more details on this.”
Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc.
