Apple Expanding Self-Service Repair Program to iPhone 14 Lineup and More Macs

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that its self-service repair program will be expanding to the iPhone 14 lineup, 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip, and 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips starting June 21.

First launched in April 2022, Apple's program provides customers with access to parts, manuals, and tools to repair select devices. Apple says the program is designed for anyone with "experience repairing electronic devices," but says the "vast majority" of customers are better off visiting an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Apple also announced that customers can now complete the post-repair System Configuration process by placing the device into Diagnostics Mode and following the on-screen prompts. Users no longer need to contact the program's support team to complete this step, which verifies that the parts are genuine and working properly.

"Running System Configuration after a repair authenticates genuine Apple parts, updates firmware, and calibrates parts to ensure maximum performance and quality," says Apple. "Additionally, for repairs involving biometric authentication, such as Touch ID or Face ID, System Configuration links the biometric sensors to the Secure Enclave on the logic board to ensure device security and customer privacy."

Last, Apple said it is expanding the program to Mac desktops with M1 series chips in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K., and making parts available for the TrueDepth camera and top speaker on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models.

Article Link: Apple Expanding Self-Service Repair Program to iPhone 14 Lineup and More Macs

 

[contacos]

The EU already put a stop to glued and non easily removable batteries in electronic devices last week anyway. Will be interesting what that means for Apple a few years from now

 

[nt5672]

Excellent news. This needs to be expanded to all Apple devices.

 

[Blackstick]

All fun and games until ham-fisted amateurs destroy the inside of their Mac or iPhone and Apple consequently charges them out-of-warranty prices to address their repair mistakes or denies service entirely.

Macs are challenging to work on, iPhones being even smaller with tinier components and tolerances, are even less pleasant to work on.

I was a Mac Genius from 2007-2014... Apple was very harsh about unauthorized repairs then, and from what I hear from the few pals I still know working the stores, they're even less tolerant of unauthorized repairs or tampering these days.

 

[EmotionalSnow]

All fun and games until ham-fisted amateurs destroy the inside of their Mac or iPhone and Apple consequently charges them out-of-warranty prices to address their repair mistakes or denies service entirely.

Macs are challenging to work on, iPhones being even smaller with tinier components and tolerances, are even less pleasant to work on.

I was a Mac Genius from 2007-2014... Apple was very harsh about unauthorized repairs then, and from what I hear from the few pals I still know working the stores, they're even less tolerant of unauthorized repairs or tampering these days.

I don't think self-service repair would qualify as unauthorised. But yes, if you **** up they'll happily charge a lot to clean up the mess.

 

[Blackstick]

I don't think self-service repair would qualify as unauthorised. But yes, if you **** up they'll happily charge a lot to clean up the mess.

If the damage is too severe, a Lead Genius can pronounce it Beyond Economical Repair (BER) and really screw that customer over.

Now, I would think the typical customer undertaking these repairs has some semblance of familiarity with precision electronics, but I'm not so sure. I think a lot of folks don't realize the extent of what they're signing up for.

With every iPhone display replacement we did, the device would need to pass "display calibration"... quite a few per day failed and need a complete replacement. A customer in that scenario would be SOL until they got one mailed or went to the store.

 

[FNH15]

All fun and games until ham-fisted amateurs destroy the inside of their Mac or iPhone and Apple consequently charges them out-of-warranty prices to address their repair mistakes or denies service entirely.

Macs are challenging to work on, iPhones being even smaller with tinier components and tolerances, are even less pleasant to work on.

I was a Mac Genius from 2007-2014... Apple was very harsh about unauthorized repairs then, and from what I hear from the few pals I still know working the stores, they're even less tolerant of unauthorized repairs or tampering these days.

Yup. In the automotive world this is going to be analogous to someone who buys a used BMW, thinking they can throw some Autozone parts in and work on it themselves with only a cursory understanding of how things work. Then, when they inevitably screw it up, complain about the high cost of maintenance when someone else has to fix their mess.

This isn’t your grandfather’s Mac Plus. Can’t wait for the forum posts from people who really shouldn’t be working on computers (just like certain threads on BMW forums…)

 

[segfaultdotorg]

They need to roll this out to the iPhone 15!

 

[vertsix]

Paging Louis Rossmann...

Seems like this is good if there are no strings attached. Similar to Google's Pixel configuration tool that runs off the browser.

 

[GMShadow]

If the damage is too severe, a Lead Genius can pronounce it Beyond Economical Repair (BER) and really screw that customer over.

Now, I would think the typical customer undertaking these repairs has some semblance of familiarity with precision electronics, but I'm not so sure. I think a lot of folks don't realize the extent of what they're signing up for.

With every iPhone display replacement we did, the device would need to pass "display calibration"... quite a few per day failed and need a complete replacement. A customer in that scenario would be SOL until they got one mailed or went to the store.

It’s okay because the customers are experts and know better!

I actually had my MBP in last week for what I expected was going to be an AC+ repair, but the tech asked to try something and managed to fix it without needing to replace the display assembly. He noted he’d also vacuumed it out as it was a little dusty inside, I replied that as long as it was under warranty I wasn’t opening it up. 😄

It hadn’t been running hot so it certainly wasn’t clogged, but I appreciated the cleaning regardless.

 

[theluggage]

The EU already put a stop to glued and non easily removable batteries in electronic devices last week anyway. Will be interesting what that means for Apple a few years from now

I suspect that there will simply be much argument and pulling of lawyerly beards over whether Apple's self repair program meets the EU requirements, maybe followed by some tweaking of the self-repair program terms (like requiring an iPhone serial number to order).

The full text of the EU ruling says that:

in an appliance. A portable battery should be considered to be removable by the end-user when it can be removed with the use of commercially available tools and without requiring the use of specialised tools, unless they are provided free of charge, or proprietary tools, thermal energy or solvents to disassemble it. Commercially available tools are considered to be tools available on the market to all end-users without the need for them to provide evidence of any proprietary rights and that can be used with no restriction, except health and safety-related restrictions.

...the usual EU word soup that will probably to be further mangled when it gets written into legislation by each state... Looking at the Apple repair manual for iPhone battery replacement, the "battery press" and tray for the iPhone sure sound like "specialised tools" to me but (a) Apple are selling them, so they're "commercially available" and (b) are they actually required? I'm sure Apple's lawyers will have fun arguing over what a "specialised tool" is (what a ridiculous term to use in a legal document without defining it!).

Frankly, though I'd be more interested in what the EU did to things like the Tragic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (the latter is pretty egregious: non-replaceable battery and no off switch so if you leave it unused for too long, like mine, it runs completely flat and bricks itself).

 

[Tokenfreak]

So if I replace my battery myself will I still get that battery message after doing so?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Wouldn't it be great if in the next redesign(s), Apple made parts most likely to need replaced as easily accessible as possible to simplify these kinds of options? I recall an early, white plastic case iMac where everything one might want to change or need to repair was positioned in easily accessible spots. Remove the back case (not fragile screen) with what I think I recall as only 4 to maybe 8 screws and it was all there at the (back) surface.

I know there is not nearly as much money in allowing people to do their own repairs and thus complication of repairs motivate people to bring them in and pay up, but it would be nice to get back to the approach Apple once embraced as a next step in this "movement."

 

[Blackstick]

Wouldn't it be great if in the next redesign(s), Apple made parts most likely to need replaced as easily accessible as possible to simplify these kinds of options? I recall an early, white plastic case iMac where everything one might want to change or need to repair was positioned in easily accessible spots. Remove the back case (not fragile screen) with what I think I recall as only 4 to maybe 8 screws and it was all there at the (back) surface.

I know there is not nearly as much money in allowing people to do their own repairs and thus complication of repairs motivate people to bring them in and pay up, but it would be nice to get back to the approach Apple once embraced as a next step in this "movement."

There's definitely a price to pay when devices are too easily accessible... that also means water has a convenient way in and IP rating suffers.

I don't wish to return to the days where people dropped their phone, the battery goes one way, the cover another, the phone in a 3rd direction.

Still, if it means Apple doesn't use as much non-replaceable, impossible to remove glue... that's a win.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Took long enough

 

[lazyrighteye]

Any expansion into self-service repair, is welcome.
But why stop there? How about self-service ram installation, battery swapping, hard drive replacement?

Honestly... I'd have to think unit sales would increase if users could get into The Ecosystem at baseline pricing, then upgrade internals as needed for far less than what Apple charges for one-time BTO. Maybe? IDK...

 

[Mac_tech]

So if I replace my battery myself will I still get that battery message after doing so?

Correct, you'll need to call Apple to have them initiate a system configuration for the newly installed battery. This also goes for a new display assembly and camera as well so the operating system knows that it's a genuine part.

 

[Mac_tech]

Any expansion into self-service repair, is welcome.
But why stop there? How about self-service ram installation, battery swapping, hard drive replacement?

Honestly... I'd have to think unit sales would increase if users could get into The Ecosystem at baseline pricing, then upgrade internals as needed for far less than what Apple charges for one-time BTO. Maybe? IDK...

I remember the days when you could upgrade the RAM, hard drive, and battery without authorization from Apple. One could purchase said parts anywhere and they would just work.

For my mid 2012 MacBook Pro, I paid $1,200 base model and upgraded when i needed to over the years. Now, I paid $4,000 for a 14" 2021 MacBook Pro which you can't upgrade so was forced to max out as much as I could without killing my bank.

 

[tripsync]

The EU already put a stop to glued and non easily removable batteries in electronic devices last week anyway. Will be interesting what that means for Apple a few years from now

thicker case which means Apple will make thinner batteries to compensate. higher costs to make which means Apple charges customers more $$$ per iphone. people were dumping their phones in 3 years anyways so the amount of people changing their own batteries are probably less than 5%.

congrats, EU has screwed over the consumer but the consumer thinks they've won. reminds me of the South Park WGA episode. bUt MuH RigHt tO RePaiR, amirite?

 

[ppj845]

let's see if they'll let you change 14 16 inch's battery without a whole top case

 

[macjoshua]

I remember the days when you could upgrade the RAM, hard drive, and battery without authorization from Apple. One could purchase said parts anywhere and they would just work.

For my mid 2012 MacBook Pro, I paid $1,200 base model and upgraded when i needed to over the years. Now, I paid $4,000 for a 14" 2021 MacBook Pro which you can't upgrade so was forced to max out as much as I could without killing my bank.

I kept a couple Macs for years because I added RAM to keep them performing at decent speeds. I think those days are long gone, though. Apple Silicon has pretty much ruled out user-replaceable RAM, since it's part of the chips and in turn, part of the logic board. Best we can hope for is easily upgradable logic boards, which they don't even do in the new Mac Pro, as far as I know.

 

[Reason077]

The EU already put a stop to glued and non easily removable batteries in electronic devices last week anyway. Will be interesting what that means for Apple a few years from now

Presumably nothing because, as far as I know, all recent iPhone and Mac models have batteries secured with "pull tab" adhesive strips that are easy to remove and replace. It's been a while since Apple did glued-in batteries, at least in iPhones.

(I do have bad memories of an iPhone 5 DIY battery replacement being a real pain many years ago...)

 

[dominiongamma]

Excellent news. This needs to be expanded to all Apple devices.

I disagree

 

[H2SO4]

There's definitely a price to pay when devices are too easily accessible... that also means water has a convenient way in and IP rating suffers.

I don't wish to return to the days where people dropped their phone, the battery goes one way, the cover another, the phone in a 3rd direction.

Still, if it means Apple doesn't use as much non-replaceable, impossible to remove glue... that's a win.

Can't they screw the battery cover on with a gasket?

 

[nt5672]

I disagree

Without a reason, the logical response is "So what!"