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Testing Out Apple's Self Repair Program With an iPhone 12 Mini Battery Fix

crazytrain said:
To everyone saying this is 'over complicated' (or words to that effect)...

Apple have to cover themselves and make the process as robust and fool proof as possible. Yes, you could heat up the display with an electric blanket (which I don't have by the way, so would have to purchase, Apple are not going to send out heated blankets in their repair kits...) but what if it doesn't quite work properly and you crack the screen taking it off - is that then Apple's fault?? Yes you could use a 'properly weighted roller' but again, what if you apply too much pressure whilst doing it and break the screen - Apple's fault??

If Apple had sent out a typical iFixit kit, people would be complaining its too simplistic... If you want to repair it yourself, Apple are not going to advise you do it in the cheapest/simplest way possible, it just leaves them wide open for complaints/suing when things inevitably go wrong with that approach...
Click to expand...

Apple can ship a 20 lb display heater, but nope, they couldn't possibly ship an electric blanket for electronics repair.

You can:
  • Over-apply pressure using the display press.
  • Over torque the screws.
  • Over heat the display (it's 400W).

It should be obvious DIY'ers take on risk. The tools that Apple ships doesn't stop any of that.
 
I see a lot of people commenting stuff like “why would Apple do this?!?” Apple did this because if they didn’t do it of their own volition, they would have been legislated into oblivion by fanatic Congresspeople. So… instead of sitting around and waiting for that to happen, they implemented their own repair program, but did it in such a way that no one would ever want to use it. It’s actually a pretty 4D-chess move on Apple’s part and you might hate it, but you have to respect it.
 
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erikkfi said:
I wouldn't mind this being somewhat challenging. I enjoy repairs. But having 75 pounds worth of kit being shipped to me and then finding that the g-d thing is missing some necessary components?! Do better, Apple.
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I doubt it's 75 lbs worth of equipment. I'm guessing most of the weight is in the cases. It looks like some of that equipment might be fragile, in which... case... the cases need to be very beefy and well padded. And it looks like they are.
 
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I wonder what Louis Rossmann thinks about all of the required tools
 
trusso said:
Or you can go to iFixit and get functionally similar tools for less than fifty bucks. I’ve replaced the camera and the battery in my iPhone with their stuff and little bit of elbow grease. And I’m not the most mechanically inclined.

Apple could make this much less scary if they wanted to. The fact that they don’t tells me everything I need to know about this repair program of theirs. Malicious compliance at its most odious.
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Stop being disingenuous. You ar won't getting a battery press and a display press for less than $50. The fact of the matter is it's always going to be difficult for a novice to do something, even with professional tools, and manufacturer repair manuals are always designed for people who know what they are doing and not an amateur. I just had to replace some parts on my bike and the manual from Schimano was obviously pointed at a different audience than a YouTube tutorial I found.
 
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xpaulso said:
Quality tools are often expensive. The fact that third parties can acquire these tools and offer alternative services to the apple store is what really matters. This is delicate work, and really shouldn't be done by a total amateur. The built in battery has always been a compromise which is why apple does that job for cost. That being said I support anyones effort to repair their own devices. Ironically cheaper version of these tools will show up soon enough via cheap Chinese copies.
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If you've ever done work on your car you know the difference between using the tool designed for the job and of good quality and what you can use to get by. A manufacturer is going to tell you to use a speciality caliper piston retracting tool, which will make the job more straight forward, but your average Joe is going to use a C clamp and some wood. This all seems like par for the course stuff in any kind of repair. The difference is every store isn't stocking display heat presses and battery rollers.
 
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JPack said:
No one asked for the exact same process and tools.

It's like shipping a Rotary Lift to the customer when a floor jack would have done the same. Sure, the car dealership uses a lift for speed, but it doesn't mean the customer needs the same tool to do the job.

The display press is literally a roller mounted in a 2-inch metal frame for durability and hundreds of daily applications. You do not need a 2-inch frame for DIY.

View attachment 2001026
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Well apple didn't need to make a tool rental process at all. If I order parts from Toyota they don't offer to rent me everything I could need to get the job done.

Apple also offers the parts stand alone so you can use whatever tools you have or want. Renting the professional kit isn't required.
 
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ESD should mean Electro Static Discharge. It means it should be grounded.

To me it looked like Apple made a kit the average person can use to change some parts in the iPhone.

Maybe the previous user kept the heat resistant gloves.
 
TheHorrorNerd said:
Yes as a former Apple FRS and Apple Authorized ARA at Best Buy, that is the proper toolset for repair.

Maybe if customers see what's involved in the repair, they will give a little more respect to the technicians.
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That would be nice, but I doubt. It they will still act like they can do it better than you.
 
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Did system repairs. My nephew configured the network and system. What do you need done? Make it work. Before nephew, 1/3 the newly quoted price. Cleaning up DYI repairs, expect expensive cost. No free lunch for DYI education.
 
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If I wanted to repair it myself, then I would seek out and buy a device that permits such an action. As it is, I don't and I would prefer a trained professional to do it. So... go figure. YMMV

Update: Have just turned off Dan's video. So painful to watch him chimp about how hard it is... And this is why you leave it to the professionals. S'all good and well preaching about RTR, but some things are just better left alone.
 
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redpandadev said:
They will be. Apple has never charged any labor component for iPhone repairs.
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In that case, I would think the labor charge must be built into the parts cost. How else are Apple Authorized Service Providers (who are not owned by Apple) able to stay in business?

Also, I wasn't thinking just of iPhones, but of Macs as well. [Though the same may apply.]
 
All of you will still show up to the Apple Store after f***ing up the repair job and still expect a free repair.
 
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JPack said:
No one asked for the exact same process and tools.

It's like shipping a Rotary Lift to the customer when a floor jack would have done the same. Sure, the car dealership uses a lift for speed, but it doesn't mean the customer needs the same tool to do the job.

The display press is literally a roller mounted in a 2-inch metal frame for durability and hundreds of daily applications. You do not need a 2-inch frame for DIY.

View attachment 2001026
Click to expand...
That might be true but this is also a way for Apple to minimize complaints from people who self-repair. Loan them the proper tools and errors are reduced.
 
anthogag said:
ESD should mean Electro Static Discharge. It means it should be grounded.

To me it looked like Apple made a kit the average person can use to change some parts in the iPhone.

Maybe the previous user kept the heat resistant gloves.
Click to expand...
Probably don’t include the gloves since it is something the user actually wears and so somewhat personal.
 
JPack said:
Apple can ship a 20 lb display heater, but nope, they couldn't possibly ship an electric blanket for electronics repair.

You can:
  • Over-apply pressure using the display press.
  • Over torque the screws.
  • Over heat the display (it's 400W).

It should be obvious DIY'ers take on risk. The tools that Apple ships doesn't stop any of that.
Click to expand...
So apple needs to provide the tools you think they should? The real issue was always access to Authentic Apple Parts. That has been met. The
windowsblowsass said:
If you've ever done work on your car you know the difference between using the tool designed for the job and of good quality and what you can use to get by. A manufacturer is going to tell you to use a speciality caliper piston retracting tool, which will make the job more straight forward, but your average Joe is going to use a C clamp and some wood. This all seems like par for the course stuff in any kind of repair. The difference is every store isn't stocking display heat presses and battery rollers.
Click to expand...
Exactly Lots of ways to substitute. My son can literally weld and grind together his own tools. I can't so I'm going to buy a tool. But when an engineer is designing a repair process they're going to design it with what is believed to be the correct tools. In a way most likely to cause the least amount of issues. The guides and replacement parts is all apple really had to provide. Offering the exact tools used at apple stores is just a nice extra. Anyone who wants to use other tools is more than welcome to.
 
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mikethemartian said:
Probably don’t include the gloves since it is something the user actually wears and so somewhat personal.
Click to expand...
Yes, gloves would need to be washed or new for every customer. The Apple Store should make sure the customer knows what is and isn't included.
 
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