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

[theorist9]

Has anyone had a non-Apple-care repair done on an iPhone 13 camera and, if so, how much did it cost? Under this program, that would run you $114. From Apple, it might or might not fall under the $449 "other repair" category:

Apple's Self Repair Program vs. Genius Bar: What it costs to fix an iPhone 13 | AppleInsider

iPhone users can repair their device in-home with certified tools provided by Apple, but it'll cost you not just money, but time too. Here's what you'll spend trying to fix a broken iPhone 13.

appleinsider.com

 

[DeepIn2U]

This seems like too much work and hassle. I rather go to the Apple store and have them take a look at my iPhone. I honestly don't think this self repair program is worth it.

Makes no sense why Apple came up with this program. Who is the target market?

Oh you know … those whiners that WANT to do it all just because.

Now when they see the cost for the rental and the security deposit and why the boxes are so heavy … they’re gonna loose it on Apple for given them what they wanted. Unfortunately for them they didn’t specify exactly how they wanted it through and through. BUT they’re willing to expect Apple to take in-store repair that they failed using these tools and step by step instructions.

 

[d5aqoëp]

Does it need any special tool to validate the battery? It might show non-genuine after replacement?

 

[ttyRazor]

I expect these are the exact same tools and processes a Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Center use.

As such, they're designed for trained service professionals, not your average consumer. And that is why your average consumer would stay far away from this and use a Genius Bar or AASC - which I am sure is what Apple wants.

Yeah, this whole thing has a “be careful what you wish for” vibe, as if Apple did it on a dare just to show right to repair advocates what they’re really asking for.

 

[macduke]

I just realized that peanut butter in the background of your video says Gif, instead of Jif.

Nice.

You think this is bad, just wait until they send you a 150lb $4200 kit to repair that new iPhone that unfolds into an iPad.

 

[ian87w]

Apple's "Self Service Repair" is such a joke. Makes it look good when they launch a program like this but still being expensive and returning the toolbox once you're done.

So all you want is cheap parts and free tools? You can scour aliexpress, as you can already done before this self repair thing.

Thus is still a good thing. Now people can obtain proper parts instead if relying on fake parts from China. And the more important part, the manuals being accessible. Overall, this is still positive for right to repair.

Go check the chinese. They're not any better. Huawei glued the whole front assembly of their phone together (display, glass, fingerprint sensor, and battery. Literally half of the phone). So if you only had a crack screen, you have to pay and replace for half of the phone (including the battery as it is glued to the front panel).

 

[Aston441]

This makes me laugh so hard I can hardly see or type this

 

[abhibeckert]

Apple's repair business is not profitable. It's break-even at best.

They charge up to $500 to repair a broken screen on an Apple Watch.

If they're losing money on that repair job, then that's their own fault and they should take along hard look at the repair process. I can buy a brand new watch for less money than that (a cheaper model, but with the same screen).

 

[doolar]

This seems like too much work and hassle. I rather go to the Apple store and have them take a look at my iPhone. I honestly don't think this self repair program is worth it.

Makes no sense why Apple came up with this program. Who is the target market?

In my country, Sweden, with around 10 million citizens, we have exactly two Apple Stores for the entire country. Sure there are Premium Resellers and Service Centres, but they’re also not everywhere and it can take a long time to repair an iPhone.

Cumbersome as it seem to be, it’s a step forward. I happen to have one of the two Apple Stores in my town, but I can appreciate the possibility to mend my phone with the proper tools and genuine spares, using the correct process.

 

[maerz001]

I'd like to see what the process for replacing the actual screen would be. Something surprising to learn though was that it only costs $69 for the newer iPhones to replace the battery. Honestly, that's an amazing price! As someone who used to replace the batteries and the screens myself on all the older iPhones, $69 for an apple brand battery and a technician to do it for you is a great price. Can't say the same for a new screen but knock on wood it's been a while since I cracked one of those.

Yes thats not too bad. It was even cheaper before. Let alone the $29 for the iphone 6s after cpu throttling back fired on Apple.

 

[44267547]

I think the considerable risk(s) are, the consumer that doesn’t have any type of general knowledge to make this type of repair, (even though it seems rather simple), which can turn overly complex relatively quick.

Personally for me, I would be comfortable making this repair, but I wouldn’t recommend to non-tech users, given the amount of tools, detailed instructions and overall risk of possibly making the situation worse with the device if you don’t complete the repair properly.

I know Apple is offering this service at a ‘cost’, however; I don’t strongly suspect the majority consumers are going to take advantage of this repair kit, unless they have some type of technical acumen and comfortability on making smart phone repairs, especially Apple has to fix the consumers mistakes during the repair process.

 

[testcard]

Was the hoodie replacement tool part of the kit?

 

[AppZ.Zero]

The tools you need are a complete joke. I repair iPhones for family and friends, the only thing i need are some things from ifixit and the battery packs.
Ofc, if Apple wants stupid people to believe that the tools they provide are neccessary...
But this is not reality.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Superficially it's difficult to make an argument that this isn't a good thing, but as consumers we will soon rue the day that we wished for Apple to kowtow to the every whim of meddling letter-agency regulators with an insatiable lust for control over absolutely everything.

 

[one more]

That means it costs a total of $95.84 to do a battery swap on the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌, and comparatively, it's $69 to have Apple swap it out, so it's not really cost effective to do that repair on your own.

We could stop reading here, but if we factor in how much time an average person would need to spend figuring things out and finding how to use Apple’s repair tools properly, the whole self-repair process becomes a waste of time and money. Apple came up with this scheme to please upcoming “right to repair” laws and initiatives, while making more money in the process. Good business on Apple’s part, yet no real benefit to their customers, except the very few.

 

[mrochester]

The tools you need are a complete joke. I repair iPhones for family and friends, the only thing i need are some things from ifixit and the battery packs.
Ofc, if Apple wants stupid people to believe that the tools they provide are neccessary...
But this is not reality.

You don’t need to use Apple’s tools. They are optional. You can use your own existing tools if you want.

You can’t, and shouldn’t, expect Apple to supply anything other than the official tools used for repair. You’re either naive, or stupid, if you thought Apple were gonna send you an I fix it equivalent kit to do self repairs.

 

[citysnaps]

That means it costs a total of $95.84 to do a battery swap on the ‌iPhone 12 mini‌, and comparatively, it's $69 to have Apple swap it out, so it's not really cost effective to do that repair on your own.

We could stop reading here, but if we factor in how much time an average person would need to spend figuring things out and finding how to use Apple’s repair tools properly, the whole self-repair process becomes a waste of time and money. Apple came up with this scheme to please upcoming “right to repair” laws and initiatives, while making more money in the process. Good business on Apple’s part, yet no real benefit to their customers, except the very few.

Spot on! Though the money Apple makes is relatively mice nuts and mostly used to recover the cost of rolling out the program and resulting overhead administering it.

Also... Cracks me up no end some people thinking a company as large as Apple would roll out a self-repair program recommending electric blankets, rolling pins, X-acto knives, iFixIt tools, whatever, be used to repair their customers' products. Especially with the majority of those customers having zero training and experience. Even if Apple didn't have to provide warranty service afterwards.

Can't think of anything more unprofessional and reputation-damaging than that. Imagine the resulting whine-fests of epic proportions on tech forums that would result with thousands of customers complaining about ruining their phones.

Apple is supplying the proper tools and first class illustrated repair procedures to do the job properly. If somebody wants to futz around with substandard procedures and tools, that option is always available. As it has always been. Ruin your phone, that's on you.

Smart people, even those who are technically proficient, will have Apple replace their battery

 

[citysnaps]

You don’t need to use Apple’s tools. They are optional. You can use your own existing tools if you want.

You can’t, and shouldn’t, expect Apple to supply anything other than the official tools used for repair. You’re either naive, or stupid, if you thought Apple were gonna send you an I fix it equivalent kit to do self repairs.

Also spot on and speaks to my post right above.

 

[AppZ.Zero]

You don’t need to use Apple’s tools. They are optional. You can use your own existing tools if you want.

You can’t, and shouldn’t, expect Apple to supply anything other than the official tools used for repair. You’re either naive, or stupid, if you thought Apple were gonna send you an I fix it equivalent kit to do self repairs.

Then this article is utter garbage. No one who is prone to do DIY would rely on Apples tool.
And if apple sells the parts without the tools, i am fine with what they offer.

 

[joecomo]

Well if I ever retire and have some time to spare - that looks like a cool way to pass your time …
Probably won‘t beat maintaining vintage cars though

 

[citysnaps]

Then this article is utter garbage. No one who is prone to do DIY would rely on Apples tool.
And if apple sells the parts without the tools, i am fine with what they offer.

How is this article "utter garbage?" Perhaps you missed the purpose of the video, conclusion, and resulting message, as a service to MR readers (Hint: It's two words, in huge letters on the splash screen of the above video).

 

[mrochester]

Then this article is utter garbage. No one who is prone to do DIY would rely on Apples tool.
And if apple sells the parts without the tools, i am fine with what they offer.

Probably true. But Apple has to cater to everyone in this program because by making it available to the public they need to cater to the lowest common denominator, which means offering to supply all the tools to make the process as easy as possible whilst minimising the possibility for error.

 

[Foggy82]

That's great to see how a battery replacement should be made, and what tools are needed to do it in a professional, safe way and maintaining 100% the characteristic of your device. This seems exactly what they do at the Genius Bar.

Luckily, for who doesn't care much about the quality of the repair, the kits on eBay/Aliexpress/ifixit are still available, just go there and everyone is happy. I have no doubts they work in most cases too, and probably I would do the same if I had an old iPhone with little residual value.

 

[Ashbash75]

Apple devices are mostly disposible products. They are designed to be assembled and not really repaired.

 

[toomasjoamets]

I'm pretty amazed how many people react to this. The toolkit allows you to make self repairs and do it by Apple's standards, disassembling the phone without the risk of damage and restoring the assembly to factory level quality. Who said that it supposed to be easy and quick, cheap and efficient without proper training? There is a possibility to buy this much loved iFixit kit where the success is fully dependant on your fingers. Are your fingers steady enough not to break the display? Do your fingers have force gauge to apply proper pressure during the assembly? If it's your phone, then who cares. You break it and call it a bad day and buy a new phone. With official repairs this is out of the question. The goal is to achieve factory quality without damaging anything. The goal is not to be easy and quick and doable without proper training. I support the right to repair, but I totally disagree with those people who have illusions about it.