Apple Inc. is making tools and parts available to customers for repair of expensive gadgets. This represents a major shift in the long-standing policy regarding who can fix costly gadgets.
Self Service Repair, announced Wednesday, will first allow customers to replace the display, battery, and camera on their iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models. In the future, Mac computer repair will become possible with M1 chips. This service is currently only available in the United States beginning early next year. However, it will be expanded to other countries by 2022.
Apple and other tech firms have tightened control of repairs, limiting parts and tools availability to authorized stores. Over half of American states had considered laws to force Apple and Microsoft Corp. electronics manufacturers to allow customers to fix their devices themselves. However, most have been rejected or dismissed.
Apple stated that it has over 5,000 Apple certified service providers, and more than 2,800 independent repair professionals.
“Creating greater access to Apple genuine parts gives our customers even more choice if a repair is needed,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, wrote in the statement.
