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When Apple launched its Self-Service Repair program, it seemed like a good idea. After all, users were complaining about how expensive Apple repairs were. Users were also upset that Apple made it difficult to repair your iPhone yourself. This program also seemed like a response to the rising popularity of repair kits by companies like iFixit.
However, it soon became clear that Apple’s Self-Service Repair program has considerable flaws.
What Is Apple’s Self-Service Repair Program?
Apple’s Self-Service Repair is a program offered by Apple that gives you the ability to fix your iPhone yourself. With this program, you can replace your screen, battery, and even your camera.
You start out by heading to the Apple Self-Service Repair Store and selecting your phone model. Then, you order your parts along with a repair kit. This repair kit uses tools just like the one used in stores, ensuring that you’re able to repair your iPhone up to Apple’s standards.
What Are the Problems With Apple’s Self-Service Repair Program?
Unfortunately, Apple’s Self-Service Repair program isn’t perfect. Far from it. Here are some of the major issues.
1. It’s Expensive
The first issue with the Self-Service Repair program is that it’s expensive. While some may think that it’s cheaper to do it yourself, that’s actually wrong. It’s more expensive to fix your device through Apple’s Self-Service Repair program than to go to an Apple Store.
For example, say you need to replace the screen on your iPhone 13. If you purchase the screen and rent the tools from Apple, you will pay around $318. However, the cost to replace an iPhone 13 screen through Apple costs $279. This means you are paying $39 more to fix your iPhone yourself.
Apple does give you a $33.60 refund if you mail the old screen back. This means you’ll spend $5 more doing the repair yourself. So be sure to mail your screen back for extra savings.
When you get a repair done at the Apple Store, you’re also paying the Genius bar employees for the labor of doing the repair. With Apple’s Self-Service Repair kits, it seems like you are paying the labor cost and doing it yourself. So it’ll cost you time, stress, and energy as well. And you could risk making a mistake and breaking your device.
2. It’s Inconvenient and Time-Consuming
While most people would expect repairing an iPhone to be a time-consuming process, its inconveniences seem to go beyond the time it takes to do a repair.
The inconvenience starts with the fact that you need to rent a heavy toolbox from Apple to do the repair. While this kit includes everything you need, it weighs over 75 pounds and takes up a lot of space. You also need to return this toolkit after seven days, which means you’ll need to return the heavy package quickly. The instructions are also vague and difficult to read. This can make the repair process frustrating.
And on top of all of that, the repair itself is intricate, difficult, long, and easy to mess up.
3. Some Necessary Tools Aren’t Included
Some users who have rented the Self-Service Repair kit have mentioned that some tools aren’t included. When you rent the tool kit, most users expect it to have everything you need. However, it doesn’t have several important tools mentioned in the instructions.
Users who’ve purchased the screen repair kit claim that the instructions tell you to use a magnetized screwdriver. While the screwdriver is there, there is nothing to magnetize it. Not everyone has magnets strong enough to magnetize a screwdriver lying around their home.
It also doesn’t include an ESD mat, the ESD straps, or the heat-resistant gloves that are all mentioned in the instructions to protect the repairer or the iPhone. This makes following the difficult-to-read instructions even harder, as you’ll need to improvise at some parts.
What Are the Alternatives to Apple’s Self-Service Repair Program?
Let’s be honest, the Apple Self-Service Repair program has problems. In-store Apple repairs are also too expensive, and many can’t justify the cost.
There are cheaper kits available, from companies like iFixit, that promise to repair your iPhone less. However, these kits are still expensive, since Apple makes it so difficult to repair newer iPhones. As another alternative, it also might be a good idea to consider AppleCare+ if you’re worried about damaging your phone again.
Who Is the Self-Service Repair Program For?
With the price tag, inconvenient process, and difficult instructions, it seems like this service won’t appeal to many. In fairness, Apple does mention this kit isn’t for the average user. Apple claims it’s for a tech-savvy individual who wants to perform a repair themselves.
This might work great for somebody who lives far away from an Apple Store and can’t get down there to fix their iPhone or somebody who doesn’t want to mail their iPhone in. After all, Apple does allow repair by mail, as not every city has an Apple Store.
Users who are also concerned about privacy might want to do it at home since nobody will have access to their personal files. Some hobbyists might want to try this as well if they are the type to enjoy fixing things themselves. It seems that demographic is who Apple is targeting with this program.
Other than that, the average user might prefer to just head to the Genius bar. It’s cheaper, faster, and you don’t have to worry about increasing your stress trying to figure out Apple’s instructions. You also don’t need to worry about making a mistake that could break your iPhone.
Will Apple Fix the Self-Service Repair Program?
When Apple announced its Self-Service Repair program, most users expected something different. People expected Apple to sell kits and official parts to repair your iPhone at home, similar to what iFixit provides. However, most users didn’t expect to need to rent tools, figure out complex instructions, or source parts that aren’t included. The price tag was also shocking.
With Right to Repair laws looking possible in several countries, it seems like Apple was trying to get ahead of these potential new laws. However, this program is deeply flawed and it doesn’t seem like Apple has plans to fix it anytime soon. Until then, consider alternative repair kits if you can’t afford an official repair at the Apple Store.
