Consumers and government agencies have been putting increasing pressure on consumer electronics, agricultural, and medical manufacturers to make their products easier and more affordable to repair. Following recent announcements by Samsung and Google, tech giant Apple has launched the Apple Self Service Repair Store. Consumers have been anticipating the release of this program since its initial announcement in 2021.
The Apple Self Service Repair Store was announced via an online press release and a 12-page white paper that touches on Apple’s commitment to sustainable and ethical manufacturing – particularly with regard to longlasting and repairable products.
What does the store carry?
This new digital marketplace carries genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals – the same ones used by Genius Bar technicians and authorized repair shops. You can rent a professional toolkit for $49 if you don’t want to shell out an abundance of cash for a single repair.
Which devices have parts available?
Currently, these devices have genuine parts available on the Apple Self Repair Store:
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Mini
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 Mini
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
For now, only parts for devices that support 5G networks are provided. Later in 2022, expect support for computers rocking Apple silicon. This will include devices like the M1 MacBook Air and the new Mac Studio. There are currently no announcements about supporting older devices.
Which countries have access?
This pilot program is currently available in the United States. Expansion to more countries, starting in Europe, will be rolling out later this year.
Why isn’t this part of Apple’s main website?
It’s clear that the Self Repair Store has a unique domain name and doesn’t quite follow Apple’s established brand image. If you notice the bottom left corner of the website, you’ll see a logo that says “SPOT.” While Apple has made no mention of this company, it appears in the Privacy Policy and is the provider of customer service pertaining to this particular store. We’ve reached out to SPOT for clarification on their affiliation with Apple.
Why did Apple launch this program?
The Right to Repair movement has been sweeping the globe over the past several years, with actionable steps being taken in recent months. Smartphone manufacturers in France have already been required to participate in the repairability index, with most iPhones ranging between a 4-6 out of 10. Apple’s announcement comes off the heels of competitors Samsung and Google striking deals with iFixit that provide consumers with the tools and parts to fix devices from home.
Is self-repair cheaper than going to the Apple Store?
Let’s take an iPhone 13 Pro battery repair, for example.
| With Apple Care | Without Apple Care | Self Repair |
| $199 for coverage $29 for repair | $279 | $269.96 |
Altogether, a broken iPhone display will still set you back more than $200.
What’s next?
As this exciting news unfolds, we’ll continue to field your burning questions about the implications the Apple Self Service Repair Store and what’s next for the Right to Repair movement. With consumer access to more reliable and affordable battery replacements, old phones won’t have to be sent to the landfill and needlessly replaced.
Look out for a review of the repair experience coming to the blog soon!
