Apple is launching Self Service Repair in France, and it’s not for you yet…
Eight months after launching its self-repair service in the US, Apple is making it available to Europeans, specifically the French (and Belgians, hello dear neighbors!). If the news is good, the service is still not for everyone…
What if you asked Santa Claus for a new screen for your slightly cracked iPhone? From December 6, Apple opens its doors Self-service repair In Europe and of course in France. In addition to France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Sweden also have this program, which allows the most hobbyist and DIYer among us to purchase replacement parts and tools to repair Apple smartphones ( 12 and 13, mainly) and Apple Silicon MacBooks.
Parts and labor?
There are a total of 200 spare parts available for purchase at the same price as authorized repairers. If you already have the necessary tools, these replacement parts will suffice, but if not, you can always purchase the correct screwdrivers, disassembly spatulas, or other tools from Apple. Even put your hands in repair pots, cut-resistant gloves, screen hot disassembly, and more. Yes, this can give you an idea of the seriousness of the task.
In any case, if you only have one device to repair, you can rent these tools for €59.95 for a week. The good news is that rental repair kits will be returned free of charge to your Apple account.
Additionally, you can return damaged items to Apple after the parts have been purchased and installed. Then they will be reworked or recycled. If applicable, their cost will be credited to you for your next purchase.
Interestingly, breaking the iPhone and repairing it yourself does not void the warranty. So, if you replace the screen, reassemble and everything works, after a while the Bluetooth module will work – and there is no connection between your intervention and this malfunction, you can request warranty service at an Apple Authorized Repairer or Repair. Center.
Are you really sure?
Be aware, however, that while Apple gives you the tools to repair products it designs, this option isn’t available to everyone. Disassembling an iPhone without damaging anything requires some know-how. “The Self-Service Repair program is part of Apple’s efforts to make repairs more accessible” Apple explains before launching into a little reality check. The “the great majority [des utilisateurs] lack of experience in repairing electronic devices, use of professional preparation service […] remains the safest and most reliable way to obtain a vehicle”.
Apple also says that its network of Authorized Service Centers currently has 5,000 sites worldwide and more than 100,000 technicians. Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASP) and IRPs (Independent Repair Provider). This relatively dense network means that in Europe, and again according to the Cupertino giant, users are on average less than 30 minutes away from an Apple-approved service center.
After all, if adventure is calling you and you’re feeling your shoulders, Apple isn’t leaving you alone. It provides you with the same technical documentation as authorized or independent repairers who join its program.
Moreover, Apple asks that you consult these instructions before you begin, so that you can be sure of your facts and skills. You will be asked for a unique code for each guide when you order the parts to make sure you at least read the documentation. Once the parts are ordered, you will receive them by courier along with the required materials, which can range from a few tools to several large boxes. After that, it will be up to you. Of course, if you get stuck on your repairs, you can always turn to an approved center. Apple, on the other hand, has no plans hotline Dedicated to. We told you, the American giant assumes you know what you’re doing if you start.
A matter of continuity
In November 2021, Apple announced its Self Service Repair program, but this program will launch in the US in a few months, in April 2022. Since then, there are more related products, as there are both some iPhones and Apple Silicon Macs.
Long at odds with the right to repair — and the question still comes up occasionally — Apple is making efforts to remedy the situation. The opening of its program to Europe is good news, although in reality it does not concern many. The complexity of products and their cost do not really facilitate experimental regulation.
However, it is interesting that Apple is working to make its devices more repairable. The iPhone 14 is a great effort in this sense, highlighted and applauded by iFixit, the icon of online repair. The internal design of the smartphone, the design of its structure promotes access to components. This new approach, which only applies to the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, allows you to change eleven elements of the smartphone more or less easily. Anecdote From SIM card cart to haptic motor, battery, rear camera, motherboard, screen, back panel or speakers. In comparison, on the first generation iPhone, only the SIM card holder could be replaced… You can imagine that the journey was long, and if we stop halfway on the iPhone 7, these are the six items that can be repaired and replaced, always the SIM card holder, battery, motherboard, rear camera and screen etc. So there is a trend for the better. That’s good when you know the amount of products Apple releases every year.
It is important that their products are as sustainable as possible. Original design (and the materials used) are an important part of this continuity, as is software traceability. In this regard, Apple is almost flawless, although we can always imagine better. But the ability to repair a defective or even cosmetically damaged item also helps extend the life of these products. Whether with the first owner or on the second hand or third hand market. Therefore, Self Service Repair, arriving in France today, is a new option to make Apple products more durable… even if its impact is difficult to estimate as Apple does not provide figures on its use. in the United States,
