Say Goodbye to the Genius Bar: Your Apple Product Repairs Could Look a Lot Different From Now OnApple's new self-service option comes as a major victory for 'right to repair' advocates.
ByAmanda Breen•
In the past,Applecustomers with a brokeniPhoneor Mac on their hands had to go to an Apple store or other authorized retailer for a fix, but that changed yesterday, with the tech giant'sannouncementof its just-launched, onlineself-service repair store.
Now, U.S. customers can purchase more than 200 genuineAppleparts and tools to make repairs themselves. Per the company, "Customers who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices" will be able to fix iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups and iPhone SE (third generation). Later this year, Apple will also offer manuals, parts and tools to complete repairs on Mac computers with Apple silicon.
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The parts are the same used byApple's authorized retail network and are available at the same price. The tools available online are also the same used by its authorized retailers, and customers who don't want to purchase them for a single repair can rent a kit for $49.
Apple's new self-service option comes as a major victory for"right to repair"advocates, who have long urged lawmakers and tech companies to allow consumers to repair their products themselves. In July, President Joe Bidenpassed an executive orderrequiring the Federal Trade Commission to regulate the issue, after which the FTC unanimously voted to increase law enforcement against repair restrictions.
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At the time, FTC Chair Lina Khansaidlimiting customers' access to self-repairs "can significantly raise costs for consumers, stifleinnovation, close off business opportunity for independent repair shops, create unnecessary electronic waste, delay timely repairs and undermine resiliency."
Similarly, Samsung appears to be succumbing to the pressure; the Galaxy-maker will roll outits own self-repair programthis summer.
