what service

Thanks to the new service Self Repair users have the opportunity to purchase genuine Apple parts and tools from the Apple online store for self-repair. Apple thus secured the self-healing right demanded by users, but they were apparently dissatisfied.

Some users who managed to use the service note that repairs within the service are more expensive than repairs in the official Apple service center. An example is the replacement of the battery in the iPhone 13 Pro, while the company offers a discount on a new battery in exchange for the return of the old battery.

deposit problem

It also caused a lot of dissatisfaction among users of the $1,000 deposit, which should have unlocked a number of necessary tools to perform, such as replacing the screen. This deposit may be forfeited if the leased instruments are returned to Apple in an unsatisfactory condition or if they are returned within 7 days after the lease agreement.

A small list of models

Users were also dissatisfied with the very short list of iPhone models available for self-repair with the new service.

Currently, only the following models are available for self-repair:

• iPhone 12;
• iPhone 13;
• iPhone SE (3rd generation).

Details for a specific smartphone only

On top of all that, there’s also the fact that self-repair threatens issues with software blocking and user privacy. To order parts such as removable screens and batteries, you must specify an IMEI. This means that these parts can only be used to restore this device, nothing else.

Disclosure of personal data

When replacing the screen, the user must provide Apple with access to sensitive data, including serial numbers, model names, some aspects of call history, and data on the use of applications not only of the repaired iPhone, but also of other devices associated with it. Failure to do so will cause the Face ID feature to suddenly turn off after the repair is complete.