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Here's the Massive Kit Apple Will Send to Your House So You Can Fix Your iPhone

Danfango said:
Um, and this is going to hurt, but PR firm iFixit don't sell proper tools.
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I don't work for iFixit.

I had to do some repairs on my Macbook before, and ordered a basic tool repair kit (which comes in extremely handy for other repairs as well). If I needed random parts (like microscopic screws), then I'd just order it from them or elsewhere.

One thing that caught my eye in the article:

"While customers must order the parts needed for the repair, Apple will provide a $49 kit that includes all the essential tools required to conduct repairs for customers. The rental kit will be available to customers for one week before they're needed to be sent back to Apple and are shipped free of charge. This rental option offers flexibility to customers who may not want to fully own and purchase tools for just a single repair."

So, I interpret that as, "Apple will send you the tools. You need to buy the essential parts required for the repair."(e.g. screen.)

The moral of the story - there are options:
  1. For people that enjoy do-it yourself - look online for solutions and what it would entail. YouTube is a great source of info for knowing how to repair xyz and the essential tools (which you could probably just order on AMZ or iFixit or <insert name of site here>.
  2. For non-tech people that need immediate turnaround and can't live without their phone - just take it to a local shop (no need to take it to Apple Store or ATT/Verizon/etc) and they can fix it for you. It relieves the individual of mental burden and anxiety, provides quick turnaround, and the cost probably evens out.
And of course the final option - do this new Apple repair program!
 
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mansplains said:
I worked at an AASP in a mall, which also had a couple repair kiosks. It was sad when a customer would reject a repair then head to a kiosk, then come back in a half hour because of aftermarket garbage.

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Yep.

Pay less, pay twice.
 
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I can appreciate the professionalism they’re putting into the program, and the kit looks really authentic, it’s not just some cheap junk parts thrown into a cardboard box. Heck, I’d like to make a repair just for the sake of going through the experience of it.

I’m generally curious to see others experiences in terms of how the repair went for somebody maybe that has semi knowledge making repairs to all the way of someone having no knowledge.
 
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zorinlynx said:
Wow, just went there and my phone (11 Pro Max) isn't even in the list. No self repair for me if I need it.

Why wouldn't they have older models listed for repair parts? They're the ones most likely to need fixing, particularly battery replacements!
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Mainly because they don't want you to hold on to your older phone. Also, it makes sense to draw the line somewhere just to reduce the number of kits and parts made available to send out.
 
There is no pleasing some people is there. Many complain about wanting to fix their own iphones, Apple now provide them with that opportunity and the people still complain because it is not in a way of their liking therefore they make up excuses to complain that Apple is trying to prevent them from repairing their own iphone. It's laughable at how some people behave in here.
 
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This is hilarious to witness coming full circle.

iPhones v0-4: lower-tech phones with decent self repairability.
iPhones 5-8: higher tech with lower repairability. Starting to hear more from the cheapskate armchair commentators about "right to repair", and how they can't get an OEM screen for a cheap DIY replacement.
iPhones 10-13: Apple attempts to appease the vocal minority and stave off regulators with expanded OEM parts availability, tools, and lo and behold, 70lb of equipment on loan if you want to DIY.

I'm glad this kit exists for those who really want it, and I commend the engineering effort that went into a program like this... But this drives home the point that self-repair doesn't really make sense on these devices.
 
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Danfango said:
Yep.

Pay less, pay twice.
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Yup. I had an iPhone 10 screen replaced at a 3rd party shop (I was in a time crunch). Screen was utter garbage LCD (not oled). I was dissatisfied so he offered to use an OEM screen. I had him confirm it would function 100%, but after install he could not calibrate the True Tone, so I had him swap it back to my broken screen and do a refund. He was mad as hell. Ultimately had it done right at a best buy. All I accomplished was learned a lesson and wasted about 4 hours.

This is why authorized service and OEM parts control is a thing. Without that, you get guys trying to perform repairs with garbage parts or cannibalized OEM parts, and incorrect tools.
 
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Danfango said:
I said this before many many many times. When you go to the random dude down the local shop and get a "repair", he's not using proper tools or parts. Same as the guys on YT baking the glass and replacing it and showing you this shiny looking frankenphone which looks like the original but retains none of the quality or mechanical and resistive strength of the original.

When I worked in the defence sector years ago there were all sorts of jigs and things to make sure that gaskets were correctly fitted so the IP ratings of the devices could be maintained. This is the sort of stuff you need to use to actually correctly assemble stuff.

I'm glad they're being realistic about it and revealing exactly what is involved.

The local repairer here, my sister-in-law was sent to, didn't even know what a display calibration was when he replaced her display...
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Oh please. Don’t talk rubbish.
There are plenty of 3rd parties that will often do a better job than the OEM.
Yes of course there are fly by nights too.
 
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MICHAELSD said:
If you want it done right, do it yourself. I’m also OCD and don’t prefer technicians working on my iPhone.
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While that sounds nice, I'm not quite sure that applies here. I, for one, would have no confidence in my ability to do a better job than a professional. In my case, the opposite is true. "If you want it done right, have a qualified person do it."
 
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But iFixit told me all I needed was one of their similarly priced kits that fits an an envelope. Surely the most disingenuous third party in the history of Apple couldn't be wrong.
 
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I thought that the Self Service Repair program was supposed to be environmental friendly.
 
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