Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Apple finally launches its self-service repair program

Apple has finally opened up its self-service repair program, allowing customers access to tools and manuals to service their own phones without needing to go to an Apple Store or third-party certified repair stores. This follows an announcement made in late 2021 that has spurred a series of similar moves from industry competitors such as Samsung and Google.

The company will charge customers $49 for rental access to tools for a single repair, while also offering access to purchases of parts and tools for those who would prefer more permanent access.

“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,” Apple shared in a press release.

Apple Self Service Repair
Apple

In a further push for sustainability, the company also says that Apple will offer credits for certain parts if they are returned for recycling. Like many other tech companies of its size, Apple prides itself on using a high number of recycled parts in its products.

Apple is not the only company to start working on allowing its customers to repair their phones at home. Samsung and Google both announced initiatives in partnership with iFixit earlier this year, with Google extending it to all Pixel phones rather than a subset. But Apple remains uniquely positioned in this market due to its long software support time scales.

While someone could repair a Pixel 2 or a Pixel 3 and bring it up to working order, the lack of ongoing software support means such a phone will still remain of limited usefulness. In contrast, an Apple iPhone XR or iPhone XS would still have a year or two of utility due to its excellent hardware and Apple’s ongoing delivery of security and software updates. The situation has gotten better for Samsung and Google, with both offering up to five years of security updates, but Apple undeniably keeps an edge.

At the same time, it’s hard not to notice that the phones that would need repair most — starting with the iPhone 11s and older — can’t be repaired at home. Digital Trends has reached out to the company for clarification on this point and will update this story when we hear back.

Editors' Recommendations

Michael Allison
A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…
I don’t want Apple to announce its VR headset
A rendering of an Apple mixed-reality headset (Reality Pro) in a gold color seen from the front.

Apple’s 2023 Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is rapidly approaching, and I’m starting to get a rather unpleasant pain in my wallet. The long-rumored Apple Reality Pro VR/AR headset is apparently going to be revealed during the event’s keynote, and I’ve got a terrible feeling I’m not going to be able to resist it.

Why? Because Apple makes great products, I'm sure it’s going to be presented exceptionally well, and I'm doubly sure I’m exactly the person it’ll be targeting. It’s not a good combination, and I worry the only thing that's going to stop me from potentially handing over $3,000 for one is for Apple not to announce it at all.
Take the exciting concept of AR and VR ...
Apple headset render Ahmed Chenni, Freelancer.com

Read more
Let’s be clear, Apple — it’s time to make a transparent iPhone
Deep Purple iPhone 14 Pro with Beats Studio Buds+ in Transparent

Apple has released a new product that's gotten a lot of attention because of an awesome new color option. No, it’s not an iPhone, iPad, or even an Apple Watch. Heck, it’s not even the AirPods Pro 2. So, what am I talking about?

Apple acquired Beats by Dre in 2014, and this week, Beats dropped the new Beats Studio Buds+, which are pretty similar to the AirPods Pro 2, but cost less dough. And they come in one of the coolest colors I’ve seen in a long time: transparent.

Read more
A highly requested Apple Card feature finally went live today
Apple Card sitting on top of an iPhone 14 Pro with the Wallet app open to digital Apple Card

After total radio silence when it came to the Apple Card high-yield savings account following its initial announcement in October 2022, Apple finally launched the service today for all Apple Card holders.

The Apple Card Savings account gives Apple Card users a personal Goldman Sachs savings account that can hold Daily Cash and be used to transfer funds to and from other bank accounts. Essentially, the service functions to give users another way to manage their finances in conjunction with their Apple Card.

Read more