Apple Expands Self Service Repair Program to MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

[Cameront9]

People criticize the tool rental program but...you're paying to get the same tools that Apple uses. Sure, you can use your own tools, but the fact that the company offered its own internal tools for use by the public is nothing short of remarkable.

 

[rpmurray]

Still nothing on when we'll be able to repair the 27 inch iMacs.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

It’s a lot cheaper (and energy efficient) than me driving 150 mile round trip to the nearest Apple Store. I guess I could try the local Best Buy or drive a 40 mile round trip to the nearest Apple authorized reseller if I had any confidence in them. I don’t want to mail it in since I will be without my main communication device for a few days.

It’s not cheeper, and it’s most definitely not more efficient.
They ship you a huge heavy kit, and you have to ship it back.
Not efficient at all.
Iirc most Best Buy’s are Apple certified, just go there

 

[IIGS User]

I used to be all about taking everything I ever bought apart, fixing things myself, etc.

Now I'm old(er) and just say the heck with it and get AppleCare+. I may never ever use it, but $99/yr buys enough security that if my cat knocks the MBP off my desk (or bed, or sofa) I'm not on the hook for the WHOLE repair.

Yeah, it's lazy, I know. So be it.

 

[GumaRodak]

Apple will not allow it unless there is a big money behind that 🙂 i think they hope that ppls will damage the hardware even more during the repair, so a complete replacement is needed … double profit

 

[needsomecoffee]

Very pleased to be able to buy Apple OEM batteries. Have replaced a lot of batteries in Apple products despite the FUD spread by Apple and others. If you are competent re: repairs it is not that hard. Just need time and guidance (thx IFixit). Hardest part is sifting thru all the non-OEM battery options. So Apple fixed that issue, and I presume their guides will be well done re: drawings & steps.

Side note: I clicked on the link wanting to find the battery replacement guide for the M1 MBA as we have one. All I got was links to sales literature. Presumably it is there, but Apple is not putting it front & center.

 

[mikethemartian]

I weigh a lot more than the tools they ship and me driving a 150 mile trip uses a lot more resources and dollars than the tools shipped through a common carrier.

 

[The Clark]

I like that they're doing this but I wonder how many people would actually do it. I looked into the practicalities of replacing an iPhone battery myself and it just wasn't worth my time or the risk involved.

I'd much rather take it to Apple and have it done there, that way if something goes wrong, it's their responsibility and if they break it, I get a new [refurb] device. Plus, I can be sure it's been done properly.

Lots of people will be doing this, this program can literally stop business from going under.

 

[TMRJIJ]

Very curious though if they'll include a data transfer tool like previous models had to shuttle data to/from the internal drives 🤔

M1 Macs don't have the ability to use the Data Transfer Tool. You would have to boot into Recovery in order to get your data. There's not even an option for it in the Diagnostics Suite.

 

[Blackstick]

I was a Mac Genius from 2007-2014... the average person won't enjoy working on this stuff. Even back then, it was a pain in the rear - and we got trained for it in Cupertino.

 

[Will Co]

You'd have to change the entire Apple Silicon SoC. Processor, RAM and GPU. So your "RAM upgrade" would cost you an *arm* and leg.

I see what you did there! 🙂

 

[Spike1999]

Here's the MBP repair vehicle that will be dispatched to your home. It includes all parts and tools needed to perform the repair yourself.View attachment 2045828

Is the lorry included? I can use it for a weekly shop at Sainsburys.

 

[hans1972]

Would I repair my own M1 MacBook Air?

Yes, as long I was paid 15 490 NOK (≈$1580) + 49$ per repair.

 

[Mousse]

Isn't the RAM built directly into the SOC (system on a chip) of the M1?

This is part of the reason the performance and efficiency is so good, from what I understand, since it isn't off by itself as a separate part.

Old chips had built-in memory as well, just very little 512K to 1M in most cases. It was known as L2/L3 cache RAM back in the day. I wish Apple would allow us the use of traditional RAM cards again. Keep the built in high speed RAM (call it L4 cache) and give us expandable RAM modules.

Gimme an M2 16M cache and 512M RAM modules in a cube shaped chassis.😁

 

[_Spinn_]

Good to see this expanding to more products.

 

[FrankeeD]

One of the things that's kept me using my 2012 MPB is that I can add RAM and internal storage. As far as replacing the battery goes, I've always felt that there's a risk buying a battery from an unknown 3rd party, so I prefer to get them from Apple.

I can understand how the RAM is irreplaceable because integrated with the chip in the M1 and am fine with that, but am wondering about the storage module and whether that might be user-replaceable, particularly if having less RAM means there's more memory swap to the drive, shortening its life.

 

[russell_314]

I don't get why people are complaining. If you want to repair it then you need the correct tools. You can't properly repair it with tools out of your kitchen drawer. Also if Apple didn't do this you would have people saying that they were purposely providing inferior tools to make DIY repairs more difficult or impossible.

I won't touch the inside of my MacBook because if something breaks I'm taking it to the Apple Store and it's their problem. I can see why someone might not want to do this but that's my choice. I've taken apart Windows laptops and I can say it was not fun. I'll repair my desktop PC any day but not a laptop.

 

[planteater]

Good. I’ll have my MBP M1 long enough to need a battery, and I don’t trust an average tech to do the job correctly. 😉

 

[SSDGUY]

Here's the MBP repair vehicle that will be dispatched to your home. It includes all parts and tools needed to perform the repair yourself.View attachment 2045828

Beat me to it!

 

[madebybela]

I don't get why people are complaining. If you want to repair it then you need the correct tools. You can't properly repair it with tools out of your kitchen drawer. Also if Apple didn't do this you would have people saying that they were purposely providing inferior tools to make DIY repairs more difficult or impossible.

I won't touch the inside of my MacBook because if something breaks I'm taking it to the Apple Store and it's their problem. I can see why someone might not want to do this but that's my choice. I've taken apart Windows laptops and I can say it was not fun. I'll repair my desktop PC any day but not a laptop.

Yeah, your mileage may vary, but I think it's good that we have OPTIONS again.

 

[Macalway]

I'm having real trouble with this.

Let me get this straight, Apple is letting 'anyone' do this?

Warranty be damned.

 

[russell_314]

I'm having real trouble with this.

Let me get this straight, Apple is letting 'anyone' do this?

Warranty be damned.

Well if you damage something while making the repair it’s obviously not covered under warranty. Apple is doing it for the half dozen people who either just want to or perhaps don’t live anywhere near an Apple authorized repair facility

 

[abhibeckert]

I'd much rather take it to Apple and have it done there, that way if something goes wrong, it's their responsibility and if they break it, I get a new [refurb] device. Plus, I can be sure it's been done properly.

I broke my phone over a year ago - there is no Apple Store near me, and I'd rather use a broken phone (it still works, just has a several massive cracks and a smashed in corner) than not have a phone at all for however many weeks their mail in repair process takes... and I even have Apple Care, so the repair would be free.

If self service repair was an option, I'd absolutely do that. Since it's not, I'll probably just use a broken phone until AppleCare is about to run out (another year and a half?) and then I'll buy a new one, send this one in for repair, and finally sell it.

 

[svish]

Good to know. But with the extensive repair kit and complicated manuals, the self repair is not for everyone. Better to go to Apple for any kind of repair.

 

[v0lume4]

Remember when you didn’t need any kind of expensive gear to open up and swap out components in your MacBook? Oh, those were the days…