Apple launches the current US DIY telephone repair service, providing spare parts for the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone SE third generation. When the company announced the initiative of "independent service improvement" last year, Apple said that his party plans to sell more than 200 "individual components and tools" to customers. They are only available in the US for now, but Apple plans to expand programs to other countries and enhancements, such as Macs equipped with M1 chips, later this year.
Spare parts are available through the Self -Service Repair Shop. The tool rental kit will also be available for custom cell phone case rent for seven days at a cost of $49 for customers who do not want to buy tools directly, the company said in a press release.
This program marks a significant change for Apple, which historically puts limits on the availability of original substitute spare parts. While alternatives, aftermarket spare parts are sometimes available, Apple devices sometimes show unpleasant warning signs if they have been repaired with non-genuine components. However, with the initiative to improve independent service, anyone in the US is free to buy a direct substitute part of Apple, safe in knowledge that it must function exactly as intended.
Apple previously warned that his DIY improvement program was intended for "individual technicians with knowledge and experience to improve electronic devices" and that "most customers" still had to go to a professional repairman. But no one stopped usb wall chargers customers who were confident from trying to repair themselves, and Apple offers manual improvements available to be seen before buying spare parts.
Apple said spare parts will be sold to customers at the same price as existing official repair providers and that, in some cases, it will offer credit if the customer returns the replaced part for recycling. For example, Techcrunch noted that the iPhone 12 or 13 battery worth $ 69 with a credit of $ 24.15 potential to restore the replaced part. The display for the same price ranges from $ 225.96 to $ 309.96 with a potential credit of $ 33.60. The price of DIY Apple is not much cheaper than just paying the company to make the improvement itself, though, even though it is better after you take into account the discount to send the replaced part.
IFIXIT improvement specialists have also raised problems with Apple's requirements that customers provide IMEI or serial number of their device when buying a substitute section for it. Requirements have raised questions about what happens if you try to install the smartphone replacement parts section purchased using the number one cellphone number in one second, an identical phone. "Integrating the serial number examination into their checkout process is a terrible sign and can allow Apple for strength to block more improvements in the future," Elizabeth Chamberlain wrote from IFIXIT.
The launch of the Apple Mandiri service improvement program is present amid the wave of announcement of DIY improvements from other smartphone manufacturers. In recent months, Google and Samsung have announced partnerships with IFIXIT to sell spare parts for their temporary devices, on the computer side, Valve also works with organizations to facilitate DIY improvements from Deck Steam.
This initiative follows years of pressure from repair activists and regulators for producers to make their wireless phone chargers devices more easily repaired, which is expected to prevent them from eradicating prematurely in landfills. Apple specifically faces additional pressure from activist shareholders to re -evaluate his attitude to the independent improvement of last year.