Apple plans to sell you parts so you can repair your iPhone at home

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If you somehow missed the announcement, Apple is somewhat changing its stance on your right to repair your devices on your own. The company plans to begin selling tools and parts and instructions on fixing Apple products at home. It'll start with the iPhone 12 and 13 and then the M1 Macs. You'll be able to replace the smartphone's display, camera, and battery, with other options coming later.

The program is called "Self Service Repair," and it's launching "early next year," starting in the US and then other countries afterwards. Apple says this initiative is meant for "individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices." And it still encourages most customers to see a professional for repairs. According to TechCrunch, repairs won't void your warranty, which is an important note. But if you damage the device while repairing it, that might void it.

It's a significant shift from Apple's previous stance resisting the right-to-repair movement and any repairs happening beyond its control. But as The Verge noted, this move will entrench the company further in the repair process. It already has a program that sells "genuine" parts to third-party repair shops, and now, customers will most likely buy parts at full price from Apple instead of looking at aftermarket options.

Apple plans to sell "more than 200 individual parts and tools." It will offer repair manuals you can review before buying the components. There is no word yet on pricing, but Apple claims you can receive recycling credit if you return used parts to them after repairs are done.