More than 14 years after it brought the iPhone to people’s pockets, Apple is giving customers the option to fix the devices themselves.
The company has announced Self Service Repair, which will let owners of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 address issues with the phone’s display, battery and camera. Other repairs will be available late next year—and the self-service option will be rolled out for Mac computers that use M1 chips in the near future.
The option will be available starting early next year in the U.S., with an international rollout to follow.
“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, of course, is not doing away with its own repair program, but customers who feel confident enough in their own abilities to fix their iPhone will be able to order parts from an Apple portal and return their used part for recycling and a credit toward their purchase. Apple says the store will feature 200 parts and tools for the phones.
The option ultimately could give tech-savvy owners of Apple devices a chance to extend the lifespan of the devices, long after Apple has stopped offering repair options. The company did not say whether it planned to offer parts for older iPhone models in the future.
Two years ago, Apple extended its repair network, announcing an Independent Repair Provider Program after it faced criticism for hobbling iPhones whose batteries were replaced outside of authorized repair shops. Today, that program has over 2,800 providers in over 200 countries.
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