We reported late last year that Apple was planning a Self Service Repair program to allow tech-savvy individuals to fix their own iPhones at home.
That program is now live in the US, meaning genuine Apple parts and tools can be purchased from a new online store. These kits will allow the repair of commonly-broken iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 components such as the display, battery, and camera.
But this doesn’t mean the average Joe will no longer have to visit a repair shop – fixing your own tech isn’t for the faint of heart. Apple recommends that only customers with experience repairing electronic devices attempt a home repair, and you’ll have to get your head around some hefty documentation and complicated tools in order to give it a try.
It’s also not likely to save much money, with some repair kits actually costing more than a certified replacement service from the Apple Store. That said, rental kits will be available for $49 for customers who don’t want to purchase a load of tools for a one-off fix, and Apple is offering partial refund credits for users who return the broken components for recycling.
But we do applaud Apple opening up access to genuine replacement parts and detailed repair manuals. For a company that’s often criticized for making its devices difficult and expensive to fix, this feels like a step in the right direction.
For more information on the program, head to Apple’s Self Service Repair micro-site.
Apple will expand the program later this year to cover Mac repairs.