Apple announced today that it will offer genuine parts, diagnostic tools, and repair manuals to independent repair shops. It’s a bold move from a company that has lobbied against Right to Repair bills, and a concession to the reality of iPhone owners’ needs. But we still have questions.
Repair businesses with a technician certified through Apple can apply to join the Independent Repair Provider program for free. Once approved, they can, according to Apple, buy genuine Apple parts at the same cost as the more than 5,000 repair stores in Apple’s Authorized Service Providers program. Independent shops also gain access to “tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics,” which presumably would allow them to overcome issues like unverified batteries, Touch ID authorization (a.k.a. Error 53), missing True Tone displays, and other issues that have dogged third-party Apple repair. But independent shops will not bear the label of an Apple Authorized Service shop, a notable, if seemingly small, difference.
Apple states that it had “launched a successful pilot with 20 independent repair businesses” around the world to offer genuine parts. This seems to allude to the Genuine Parts Repair program we saw leaked in March, and which we heard about from larger repair chains. Today’s news makes the program seem, at least on its face, open to single-site and sole-proprietor independent repair shops as well, which is big, good news.
But if the pricing is the same as the sheets we saw back then, it may be difficult to get customers to pony up for third-party repairs that cost more than a trip to the Apple Store. In those documents, batteries ranged from $16-$33 for the iPhone 6s through the XS Max, which is modest and normal. Screens, however, cost up to $350 in the case of the XS Max, which is $20 more than Apple’s own out-of-warranty repair cost, before the independent shop even factors in their own labor costs and margins.
It’s unclear from today’s release whether offering genuine parts for sale to this larger network will increase the range of repairs that shops can provide. In those leaked documents, we saw parts for screens, batteries, cameras, speakers, receivers, and vibration (aka the Taptic Engine). Some of those related repairs would typically require a phone to be sent into Apple, rather than repaired on-premises in a store or Authorized Service Provider.
Apple is offering the tools and means for independent repair shops to fully restore broken iPhones, which is as it should be. We do, however, have questions about how Apple will decide who counts as “established” and “certified.” Apple’s page about its Independent Repair Program notes that it “reserves the right to reject any application without comment,” and it asks applicants to include “Previous experience or history with Apple as a Service Provider or Reseller.” We would presume that last part is not mandatory, but it could give some shops priority if there’s a long queue, or quotas.
And while it goes much of the way toward an open repair market, high prices could still weaken the incentive for all reputable repair firms, and individuals, to have a shot at keeping iPhones working longer. By offering this program, Apple is in some ways admitting that much of the lobbying it has done against Right to Repair, on loose warnings about “safety” and “hacking,” has been inherently false. The access Apple is offering independent repair shops is the same access they said would turn Nebraska into a “mecca for hackers.” And there is a danger in allowing companies to set the terms of their own repair programs, rather than making such access to parts and tools mandatory for all firms that offer repair.
Obviously, today’s news shows that regular people are capable of fixing Apple’s phones. We’re hoping this means that soon enough, everybody will be able to.
crwdns2944067:025crwdne2944067:0
And how about Mac/Macbook parts?
Jak Ob - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Well, that is not very like because how they design their mac computer. Louis Rossmann mentioned that the solid state drive is now soldered into the system board. Let say if solid state drive became defective, you can't just pop out the solid state drive and replace it with a new one. Ditto for memory, replacing the whole system board is almost as expensive as buying a new computer. Apple had been making their product almost impossible/too expensive to be repaired by a 3rd party.
S Lam -
Louis Rossman seem to influence many in wrong way. If someone called themselves as expert should not easily make the comment like that. Why not possible? It is man made so it is possible as long as the schematic and board view is supplied without wrong information. Apple intentionally make some small twists in the schematics. If someone thought the component is missing or different and replace the component, it will cause damage or may even make the board dead with unnecessary power.
I will make the repair video and explain detail when I am done with what I have to do. Just pray for me to keep up without disappearing. I cannot take what I have when I die. Better pass on what I know so the time I spent will not be wasted.
Here is one instruction I made. I never set up for making video and that was first time I made video for YT, Took me about two days to figure out how to set up. Not clear but at least helpful for some.
https://youtu.be/aytG-V1SOZk
Truth Seeker -
The level of skills is the route issue here.
Having sub-assembly level repair is by far the simplest and for most of the personal computer industry and for most this was and still the expected method of repair.
Today Apple’s direction is fewer sub-assemblies, while I understand the desire to lessen points fo failure by removing connections, Apple has on the most part gone to far! Soldered RAM & Storage creates limitations and should be expandable beyond what is soldered. Having a base amount of RAM as well as storage is not a bad idea! But, having the ability to add shouldn’t be stopped in a high end-laptop or desktop system. A phone or low-end laptop which is size constrained makes sense.
While there are people with the skills to repair or alter a system at the component level this is brain surgery! And most people don’t have the skills or tools to do this. Which is why the dial needs to be moved back a bit otherwise all we are doing is adding more e-waste!
Dan -
Unless they’re denying access to articles on GSX related to AST 1 and AST 2, then Independent Repair Providers should be able to access the tools provided by Apple for Macs, but wouldn’t be able to order parts. I’m pretty sure the same rules that apply to Apple Authorized Service Providers would apply to Independent Repair Provider. They wouldn’t be able to service vintage and obsolete iPhone, iPad, or iPod products and they would only be allowed to use parts from Apple, which means they can’t fix individual components.
Mac -
I live in Nebraska. Thanks to apple im now a hacker.
Raymond Wright - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Me too! Norfolk proud.
Jeff Caauwe -
Scottsbluff here. My A+ BBB rating and 5 star customer service won’t count for much when Apple serializes screens to kill the 3rd party businesses they decide not to authorize. This is simply a ploy to pacify the good folks pushing for Right to Repair legislation. While everyone calms down over the R2R legislation momentarily, Apple will hastily release software to make it impossible to work on their products unless we get the authorizations and equipment from them to do so. I’m proud to say that at this point in time, I’ve never spent one cent on an Apple product and never plan to.
Jacob Miller -
… was Jony Ive leaving a good thing afterall?
rabelford - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
What about down here in Bogotá, Colombia where we only have franchise like ishop and maccenter . Can we applied for independent repair shops program
Juan Carlos Toro - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Not yet. Apple has said that this program is US-only for now, but that they will be expanding it to other countries.
Calion -
I’ve owned a couple of “authorized service centers” for the consumer and professional markets of almost all major electronics manufacturers. i.e. Sony, Samsung etc. EVERY manufacturer has requirements that must be met to qualify to be authorized, otherwise they’re putting theirselves at liability of shoddy and uneducated workmanship. They also “require” you to subscribe to their service manual plans, and attend their classes to learn how to perform these repairs correctly while teaching you the theory behind the technology. Your criticism of Apple requiring these things is nothing but negative, uneducated ,and very ungrateful nonsense, and does not do one thing to put any positive spin on at least Apple putting a foot forward. We all agree and hope Apple would stop being a closed system in terms of repair, but when they do anything in that direction, and you spew nothing but negativity, do you think that gives them any incentive to move forward any further. Show some gratitude and positivity.
Kevin Hamby - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
This makes no sense. People should be able to repair their own products even if they’re amateurs. It’s called DIY for a reason. The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act requires automobile manufacturers to provide the same information to independent repair shops as they do for dealer shops. There should be an equivalent for computers of any kind.
Mac -
“Sour grapes” and questioning Apple’s intentions won’t help the Right to Repair movement.
We’ve won a battle but the war is far from over.
Jim Chaffin - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Another possible twist might be if Apple have any requirement for such shops to only use official Apple parts. I haven’t heard anyone say that yet, but I haven’t heard that they aren’t going to require it either.
AndrewNJohnson - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Might be? There’s no question about it that they will require Independent Repair Providers to only use Apple parts and repairing components isn’t allowed.
Mac -
Will you sell official Apple components on your store?
Piero Sabino - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Some parts in the IFIXIT Store are OEM, but some are not.
Mac -
There are many ways to get the repair done without apple’ supply and I was doing all myself for long time. I rather stay low profile instead of making myself like a celebrity and screw up. When Louis Rossman speak about the SSD soldered on the board and how bad it is, I feel ashamed for how ignorance with the work around. I cannot talk or write to impress others because it is how I was born to be. So, I only do what I do in my own space without making noise. There is many ways to work on the machines and only thing you need is to invest time to find information about what it uses or how it is built. I don’t even advertise my service and only do for the people come through word of mouth or recommendations.
When i say it is not worth to repair means don’t bother to go another place. I don’t give up easily and sometimes I spend weeks to fix a dead board. If you can make it I can fix it mentality is not good for business but save what we have for out future generations. Apple pollute too much with control of tech.
Truth Seeker - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
I sent an email to Apple @ "irpapplicant@apple.com", & received. an auto response with a formal application along with request for other info to establish who we were and our experience, which is more than fine & understandable. Sent back everything in a compressed email and received an auto response that the info wasn’t complete, NO explanation whatsoever. . Sent 4 subsequent emails asking to please explain what was missing with NO response whatsoever. I have a bad feeling it might be an attempt by Apple to satisfy the Right to Repair controversy without really doing anything, which is definitely a tactic they’ve used before for similar issues. I remain hopeful, but my gut says I wasted my time with Apple again. -Jay Goldstein, Owner, YeaMac, yeamac.com
jaylgoldstein - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Personally I think that there should be parts given to you and parts that you will have to keep manufacturing because it will be sad to see you all raise prices to the more expensive side.
Charles Vaughn - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
How can Apple and other manufacturers continue to manufacture parts for a product that is 10 years old? It’s not financially feasible.
Mac -
Class Action Lawsuit potential?
brian.steven.richmond - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Please I need Apple 7 parts, where can I make order.
fela_opa - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Hi @fela_opa, do you mean iPhone 7 parts? If you scroll to the top of this page and click on store you can see the parts we have available. If you still need help, reach out to support@ifixit.com and we an help you find what you’re looking for.
Amber Taus -