Apple recently announced Self Service Repair, a program that allows customers to fix their own devices using Apple’s genuine parts and tools.
Self Service Repair is intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices.
The program is available for iPhone 12 and 13 devices first and will soon be expanded to include Mac computers running on the M1 chip.
The service will be available in the US in early 2022. More countries will be added throughout the year.
Parts, tools and manuals offered in the program are the same ones used by more Apple Authorised Service Providers (AASPs) and Independent Repair Providers.
The program will begin with a focus on the most commonly serviced modules and repairs such as the iPhone display, battery, and camera modules. Additional repairs will be introduced later next year.
After reviewing the Repair manual, individuals can order Apple genuine parts and tools from Apple Self Service Repair Online Store.
Apple will then take the used or damaged parts for recycling and credit it towards customers’ purchases.
The new online store will offer more than 200 parts and tools.
This is a huge win for the Right to Repair movement.
iFixit, a device repair and teardown site, says they are excited about the news and is hopeful that Apple will provide individuals with the same information that AASPs get.
However, the decision by Apple has been received with some skepticism. Some techtubers point out that the announcement lacks details.
Ben Lovejoy, EU Editor for 9to5Mac, in an opinion piece labeled it as “Another Apple PR fail“ and opines that Apple is acting only after global pressure.
