Apple is making parts, tools, and manuals available for its products for individual consumers, starting with iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.
Apple announced Self Service Repair, which will allow customers who are comfortable with completing their own repairs access to Apple genuine parts and tools. Available first for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 line-ups, and soon to be followed by Mac computers featuring M1 chips, Self Service Repair will be available early next year in the US and expand to additional countries throughout 2022.
Customers join more than 5,000 Apple Authorised Service Providers (AASPs) and 2,800 Independent Repair Providers who have access to these parts, tools, and manuals. The initial phase of the program will focus on the most commonly serviced modules, such as the iPhone display, battery, and camera. The ability for additional repairs will be available later next year.
“Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer. “In the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and training, and now we’re providing an option for those who wish to complete their own repairs.”
Apple explained to ensure a customer can safely perform a repair, it is important they first review the Repair Manual. Then a customer will place an order for the Apple genuine parts and tools using the Apple Self Service Repair Online Store. Following the repair, customers who return their used part for recycling will receive credit toward their purchase. The new store will offer more than 200 individual parts and tools, enabling customers to complete the most common repairs on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13.
The Right to Repair campaign welcomes this announcement but remains cautious about the implementation, which is not expected to be applicable to Europe until later in 2022.
The Right to Repair campaign added: “After years of resistance, the company is now acknowledging for the first time that repair and self-repair are key when it comes to the sustainability of their products and the satisfaction of consumers.”
“This move represents a major reversal from Apple, who have spent untold millions lobbying against legislation which would require them to do this. We hope it represents a genuine, new direction that recognises we must have more repair options,” said Chloé Mikolajczak, Campaigner at Right to Repair Europe.
In its review, the Right to Repair campaign points out that “the devil is in the detail” for this deal. It is important that parts are affordable and “the ordering process must be simple and fast in order to minimise the time and logistical effort necessary to undertake a repair.”
Read the Right to Repair Europe reaction here.
Our take on this: Maybe Apple being a big player can be the inspiration for other OEMs (you know who) to follow. Consumers should be given the choice and the opportunity to mend and reuse. However, if it is just a nice idea and impractical because Apple makes the prices too high or the repairs just not worth it for a consumer nothing is being achieved with this apart from Greenwashing. I hope some printer OEMs watch this closely and rethink their strategies on reuse and repair of their hardware as well as supplies. They all want a slice back of the aftermarket share – is this a way to get in on the action for the OEM?
