Apple to sell parts to consumers to repair iPhones, Macs, in win for right-to-repair

• Customers can ask for access to Apple parts and tools through the repair program, starting early next year in the U.S.

• The move follows the executive order by President Biden urging FTC to ban anti-competitive restrictions on third-party repair 

Apple Inc on Wednesday said it will, for the first time, start selling spare parts and tools for some iPhones and Mac computers to the general public to perform their own repairs, a big win for the “right-to-repair” advocates.

Under the self-service program, customers will be able to buy parts directly from Apple’s online store. The Cupertino giant said the repair manuals and components for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups will be available initially and soon followed by Mac computers featuring M1 chips.

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The online store will start with about 200 parts and tools, which will help customers to fix the most common issues with displays, batteries, and cameras on iPhone 12 and 13 models.

Right-to-repair

The self-repair program comes after years of pressure from consumer groups, repair shops, and lobbyists who support repair reform and calling on lawmakers to implement rules that would force the companies to allow increased access to manuals and official parts.

However, Apple has consistently lobbied against allowing customers to fix their own products over the years, citing concerns with performance and safety issues from third-party parts.

In July, President Joe Biden signed an executive order urging the Federal Trade Commission to limit or ban Non-Compete Agreements and consider rules preventing “unfair anticompetitive restrictions on third-party repair or self-repair of items.”

Apple’s repair program

The company sells a subscription service that offers consumers repairs to repair iPhones and Mac at a lower cost in an Apple service center than non-subscribers.

In 2019, the iPhone maker started a program where independent repair shops can buy its parts, tools, and manuals from Apple for common out-of-warranty repairs.

In the press release, Apple said there are now 2,800 independent shops in its program in addition to its 5,000 directly authorized repair providers.

“In the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and training, and now we’re providing an option for those who wish to complete their own repairs,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.

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Apple also said that customers will be offered the exact pricing on parts and tools as independent repair shops, and the company will provide credits to purchase if the customers return their used parts to Apple after completing a repair.

The parts will be available in the U.S. early next year, and the program will expand to other countries throughout 2022.

Picture Credit: Basic Thinking