Apple has been criticized in the past as hindering the right to repair movement, which is a movement where people are calling on companies to allow them to repair products themselves or through third-party stores and using genuine components and tools without suffering from any legal or technical restrictions.For example, it was recently discovered that trying to replace the display of the iPhone 13 via an unauthorized third-party repair store would break Face ID, but given how expensive official repairs cost, some customers might not want to pay that kind of money.
That being said, it seems that Apple has listened to their customers as they have officially announced a new program called Self Service Repair. This will come in the form of a special online store that will give users access to over 200 genuine parts and tools that will help them repair their own devices.
This will start with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, but it is also expected to eventually expand to more devices like Apple’s Mac computers in the future. According to Apple’s COO Jeff Williams, “Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed. 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.”
That being said, Apple does offer up some words of caution, saying, “Self Service Repair is intended for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices. For the vast majority of customers, visiting a professional repair provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair.”