Apple announced that Self Service Repair is now available, providing repair manuals and genuine Apple parts and tools through the Apple Self Service Repair Store. Self Service Repair is available in the US and will expand to additional countries – beginning in Europe – later this year.
The new online store offers more than 200 individual parts and tools, enabling customers who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices to complete repairs on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups and iPhone SE (3rd generation), such as the display, battery, and camera. Later this year the program will also include manuals, parts, and tools to perform repairs on Mac computers with Apple silicon.
iFixit reported that Apple is “finally rolling out self-service repair, the DIY repair parts they promised last November.”
This is a reasonable assertion, considering that Microsoft announced in December of 2012, that repair tools to iFixit independent repairers, Microsoft Authorized Service Providers, Microsoft Experience Centers, and Microsoft Commercial customers. Those groups can purchase Microsoft service tools for Surface directly from iFixit. Google announced in April that genuine Pixel spare parts would be available for purchase at iFixit for Pixel 2 through Pixel 6 Pro, as well as future Pixel models.
The iFixit article continues: Starting today, US fixers can buy iPhone 12, 13, and SE 3 parts and tools from Apple. Parts are available for the battery, bottom speaker, camera, display, SIM tray, and Taptic Engine. Over the next year, the program will extend to M1 MacBooks and from there to Europe, with other products on the horizon. It is unclear whether Apple will support older iPhone models like iFixit does.
“We are really happy to see Apple making repair manuals available for everyone for free online,” iFixit wrote. “Like, seriously happy. Like, we’ve-been-asking-for-this-for-twenty-years happy.”
In addition, iFixit pointed out that as of today, you can buy an official Apple iPhone 12 screen and install it yourself, on your own device, with no fuss. Previously, DIY repairs relied on keeping the Face ID speaker and sensor assembly intact, then very carefully moving it to your new screen, and finally ignoring some gentle warnings. If your assembly was damaged or defective, you were out of luck.
The right to repair is important. At first glance, Apple appears to be joining the other companies that have already allowed consumers to repair their phones and/or computers. According to iFixit, Apple’s program doesn’t do what Right to Repair legislation around the world aims to do. “Unfortunately, this program expands the freedom to repair with one hand, while locking the door with the other.”