You can now repair your own Apple devices

Apple makes their products notoriously difficult to repair. Over the last 10 years they have designed products that are often impossible to repair or upgrade without replacing the guts of the entire computer.

Apple also refused to make “genuine” Apple parts widely available. If you turned to aftermarket parts for your iPhone it might just stop working altogether.

Most of us in tech relied on iFixIt.com to provide the most authoritative guide to repair Apple iMacs, MacBooks and iPhones — Apple sure didn’t make this info available publicly.

For businesses this resulted extremely limited local places to have Apple devices repaired and longer repair leads times as a result. As for Apple parts? Forgetaboutit. In my opinion, Apple’s previous stance on repairs was the most limiting piece of owing an Apple device.

Today Apple changed all of that, in their own words:

Apple today 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 lineups, 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.

Not only will Apple sanction consumer repairs, they will also produce a repair guide where you can purchase genuine Apple parts straight from Apple:

To ensure a customer can safely perform a repair, it’s 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.

I am hugely bullish on Apple over the next decade. I don’t believe it is physically possible for Intel & AMD to catch up to the advances Apple has made with their own chips.

This is a strategic change that pushes Apple further out ahead effectively lets non-sanctioned computer shops work on Apple devices, vastly widening the number of companies that can perform Apple repairs — even if they lack official authorization to do so.

Businesses and consumers will now have much broader access to repair services, parts and competitive prices.

Interested in talking to Knoxville’s only Apple-first Managed Services Provider? Drop me a line: [email protected]

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Here is the entire press release:

November 17, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

Apple announces Self Service Repair

Apple parts, tools, and manuals — starting with iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 — available to individual consumers

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today 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 lineups, 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 Authorized 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 builds durable products designed to endure the rigors of everyday use. When an Apple product requires repair, it can be serviced by trained technicians using Apple genuine parts at thousands of locations, including Apple (in-store or by mail), AASPs, Independent Repair Providers, and now product owners who are capable of performing repairs themselves.

Self Service Repair

To ensure a customer can safely perform a repair, it’s 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.

Self Service Repair is intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices. For the vast majority of customers, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair.

Expanded Access to Apple Repairs

In the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and training, including more than 2,800 Independent Repair Providers. The rapidly expanding Independent Repair Provider program originally launched in the US in 2019 and has since grown to more than 200 countries, enabling independent repair shops to access the same training, parts, and tools as other Apple Authorized Service Providers.

In addition, Apple continues to offer convenient repair options for customers through its global network of over 5,000 AASPs that help millions of people with both in- and out-of-warranty service for all Apple products.

By designing products for durability, longevity, and increased repairability, customers enjoy a long-lasting product that holds its value for years. Apple also offers years of software updates to introduce new features and functionality.

About Apple

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Apple’s five software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.